Paul Kelly set to be announced as new Tipperary manager

VACANCY FILLED: Paul Kelly during the Dublin County Senior Club Football Championship semi-final match between Thomas Davis and Kilmacud Crokes in 2019. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Former Naas and Thomas Davis manager Paul Kelly is set to be confirmed as the new Tipperary senior football manager.

The position has been vacant since David Power’s resignation last June and Kelly, who was a selector with Oisin McConville’s Wicklow in 2023, is now the leading candidate with a backroom team nearly finalised.

In 2019, Kelly led Thomas Davis to their first senior Dublin final in 28 years. 

They were beaten by Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-15 to 0-9. He later managed Naas but resigned before their 2021 semi-final victory against Maynooth. 

The Balrothery native was previously linked with Laois and Offaly before they appointed Justin McNulty and Declan Kelly respectively.

Tipperary were comprehensively beaten by Kerry in the Munster SFC semi-final last April and failed to progress from their Tailteann Cup group. They will compete in Division 4 of the NFL in 2024 and face Waterford in the quarter-final of the Munster SFC. 

With confirmation of Kelly’s appointment expected shortly, Waterford are now the only senior football county yet to secure a manager for next season. 

Ephie Fitzgerald stepped down in August after two seasons in charge.