Laois begin search for fifth boss in nine years

Laois GAA top-brass will meet later this week to begin the search for a fifth county football manager in nine years.

Tomás Ó Flatharta became the first inter-county football manager to tender his resignation this summer, quitting the Laois post on Tuesday night.

The position is not expected to be filled until later in the summer and a board official said there would be no preference as to whether or not Ó Flatharta’s replacement is a Laois native.

Ó Flatharta’s decision had been expected in the wake of their disastrous qualifier defeat at home to Antrim on Saturday afternoon. The 2-15 to 1-16 loss, in which the O’Moore County threw away a nine-point advantage, arrived off the back of a heavy Leinster quarter-final defeat to Kildare seven-days earlier.

Said Ó Flatharta in his parting statement: “I have enjoyed immensely my two years with the county and will look back on my time with fondness for the progress that we have made during that time.

“However, I will look back on the last few weekends with a huge sense of ‘what might have been’, but ultimately the buck stops with me and I take responsibility for that.

“I would, however, like to place on record my appreciation for the work of the players over the two seasons and indeed thank my backroom team for their help and support during that time.”

Of the three other inter-county managers whose summers came to an end last weekend, Waterford’s Tom McGlinchey and Turlough O’Brien of Carlow have both intimated their desire to continue at the helm into 2016.

Paul Coggins, who has served as London boss for the past five-years, refused to be drawn on his position following their 16-point whipping at the hands of Cavan.