McDonnell’s short reign as Armagh manager ends

ARMAGH football was rocked last night after county senior manager Peter McDonnell brought an end to his two-year tenure in charge.

McDonnell informed Armagh GAA chiefs last week of his decision to step down after a disappointing season for the Orchard men, when they bowed out of the All-Ireland qualifiers at the opening round with a defeat against Monaghan. McDonnell had led Armagh to provincial honours last year with a final success against Fermanagh, but they exited the All-Ireland stages with a shock defeat against Wexford.

County chairman Kevin Brady paid tribute to McDonnell’s “unquestionable commitment, passion for the county, and dedication to a very demanding post over the last two years”.

“The support and application of his backroom team have also been second to none and have demonstrated the strong volunteer ethos in Armagh GAA,” said Brady. “He showed tremendous conviction in accepting the role, given the challenge of the team’s success in recent years. This was a test he met head-on, and a number of new faces from his highly successful Under-21 squad and from the county club scene were integrated comfortably to the panel.”

The chairman added that the winning of an Ulster title in his first year in charge “could not be underestimated”.

“Peter himself is firmly of the opinion that despite the continuing transition period, following the retirements of key players in recent months, the current senior panel is more than capable of competing for major honours. However, he feels after considerable deliberation that even at this stage of development he should step aside, and that the time is right for change at the helm of Armagh senior football.”

But Brady lashed out at the manner in which details on McDonnell’s future in the job “have been drip fed to the media from elements within the county”.

“Peter is a very honourable and dignified man and after all he has contributed to Armagh GAA, he deserves better. It’s stating the obvious that there would be disappointment for any team if their season was over in July. But some people have very short memories. Look at where we were before 1999 or 2000. The people now who are doing the gurning and seem to expect automatic success, where were they before those occasions?

“I don’t think they were involved at all, judging by the kind of things they are saying at the moment. Peter McDonnell has been responsible for a degree of success in Armagh football. As well as last year’s Ulster title, he took us to the brink of an All-Ireland Under-21 final when we were very narrowly beaten by Cork in the semi-finals. And with the seniors, he has been responsible for bringing through a lot of young players. Look at the emergence of Brendan Donaghy this year and there have been others as well.”

Elsewhere Cork’s All-Ireland football hopes have been boosted by the addition of senior hurler Eoin Cadogan to Conor Counihan’s panel. Cadogan played at full-back for Cork in last Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC tie against Galway, but following Cork’s defeat and their exit from the championship, the way has been paved for Cadogan to link up with the football squad.

WITH Anthony Lynch and John Miskella continuing injury worries for Cork, Cadogan’s inclusion is a major boost to Cork’s defensive options and he linked up for the first time with the squad last night. Cadogan won an All-Ireland U21FC medal with Cork in 2007 and also featured on the county senior squad during their run to that year’s All-Ireland SFC final. Last season Cadogan opted out of the football setup and joined the senior hurling panel, but he still starred in a football capacity last autumn as his club Douglas reached the Cork SFC final.

Meanwhile it emerged at last night’s Cork County Board meeting that no decision has been made on the identity of the next manager of the Cork U21 hurling team despite intense media speculation linking former All-Ireland senior winning coach Jimmy Barry-Murphy with the post. Cork County Board chairman Jerry O’Sullivan hit out at such media reports and branded them “incorrect and unhelpful”. An appointment is not set to be made until the next county board meeting on August 18.

John Considine, who served as Cork U21 hurling boss and temporary Cork senior manager this season, was appointed as the Cork minor hurling manager at last night’s board meeting. Considine succeeds Ger Manley who held the position for the last two years, with former Cork captain Pat Mulcahy a notable inclusion as one of his selectors.

Finally, county senior hurling panellists Brian Murphy and Martin Coleman, along with senior footballer Paudie Kissane, have been appointed Games Promotion Officers by the board. The other two posts have been filled by Kevin O’Donovan (Kilmeen/Kilbree) and Paudie O’Brien (Midleton).

* The All-Ireland SFC qualifier between Kerry and Antrim will start at 2pm on Sunday and not 3pm. The game is fixed for Tullamore, with Jimmy White of Donegal named as referee.

Antrim requested the change on the grounds that the team will stay overnight in Dublin on the Saturday and did not want to be kept waiting too long for the game to get underway the next afternoon.