McNamee’s return delayed for league

NIALL McNAMEE has not been named in the Offaly squad for next month’s Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup but is expected to return to county colours during the Allianz Football League.

The star forward quit last October over the manner in which the county board had handled the process to find a managerial replacement for Tom Cribbin. However, despite not being selected by new boss Gerry Cooney for the pre-season competition, McNamee is set to line out in 2012 with a comeback date likely during their Division 3 campaign next spring.

Long-serving duo Karl Slattery and Scott Brady have also been omitted which could signal the end of their inter-county careers.