Kearns steps down as Aherlow boss after defeat

FORMER Limerick and Laois football boss Liam Kearns has confirmed that he is stepping down as manager of Tipperary champions Aherlow following Sunday’s controversial Munster Club SFC semi-final defeat to Dr Crokes.

The Kerry native spent two years in charge of Aherlow, guiding them to successive county finals against Moyle Rovers and Loughmore-Castleiney.

Kearns said: “I love training players and all of that but it’s been busy this year. I’m going to take a break — I need a break. I can’t take moral victories any more. I can’t understand how we didn’t win that game on Sunday.”

Crokes’ equalising point was timed at 63 minutes and 24 seconds, after referee Rory Hickey had originally indicated an additional three minutes. And Kearns insisted that time-keeping needs to be handed over to an independent timekeeper, as is the case with Ladies Football.

Kearns said: “I’ve said it time and time again and I cannot understand it. It will sound like sour grapes now but I’ve been on the record about this long before last Sunday. My players produced an incredible display of defending and I’m so sorry they didn’t get the reward. And to see Dr Crokes playing the football they’re capable of in extra-time rubbed salt into the wounds. But my guys were spent by then — they had given everything.”