Wicklow opt for caretaker duo

One of the men behind the construction of the O'Connell Street Spire has been handed the task of rebuilding Wicklow's championship summer.

Jimmy Callaghan and Gerry Grehan have been appointed as caretaker managers of the Wicklow senior footballers - succeeding Hugh Kenny who resigned immediately after last Sunday's Leinster first round drubbing at the hands of Carlow.

The decision was made easy for the Wicklow County Committee as two of Kenny's three selectors - Conan Daye (An Tochar) and Anthony Gray (Shillelagh) - also stepped down at the weekend.

The remaining selector Callaghan, a contracts manager with SIAC Construction for 'The Spire' project, originally hails from west Dublin.

Married to a Wicklow woman, he played and managed Blessington and one of his sons Wesley lined out at centre back for Wicklow last Sunday.

The Templeogue-based Grehan, who played with An Tochar and Laragh, was originally brought in by Wicklow in November 2004 - along with Callaghan - after the retirement of then selectors Mick Murtagh and Edward Jameson.

Wicklow could still ressurect their summer with strong performances in the All-Ireland qualifiers and the Tommy Murphy Cup.

Wicklow Chairman Mick O'Hagan has called for a special meeting of the County Committee on June 16 - the day before the All-Ireland qualifiers series begins.

The Wicklow panel are back in training after the June bank holiday and the first round of the senior county championship.

A new manager is expected to be put in place later in the year.