Carlow selectors to step in after Shortall resignation

Selectors John Kearns, Jim Bolger and Willie Cullen are set to take charge of the Carlow team for tomorrow's NFL Division 2A game against Leitrim, following Andy Shortall's shock decision to quit as manager.

Shortall handed in his resignation to the Carlow County Board yesterday following a meeting with members of the Board on Thursday night.

The former Tipperary boss' reign with the Barrowsiders, which began last autumn, has been dogged by player issues and some poor results.

Midfielder Thomas Walsh's controversial transfer to Wicklow and the withdrawal from the panel of Simon Rea, Bryan Carbery and Liam Murphy, in recent weeks, will have done little for Shortall's morale.

Carlow are still searching for a league win - they sit second from bottom in Division 2A - and they were dumped out of the O'Byrne Cup by their neighbouring rivals Wicklow in January.

The Carlow County Board's management met last night to discuss Shortall's resignation and the way forward, with the team's three selectors due to take control of proceedings tomorrow in Cloone.

Shortall has yet to go public on his reasons for quitting, but he did make some positive comments about the panel in this week's Carlow Nationalist.

"There is still competition for places and I'm very satisfied with the hunger and desire being shown," he admitted. "Fellas are pushing each other and they have shown good commitment."