Connor set for Courtwood job
Courtwood have acted quickly in their preparations for 2010, as they are expected to confirm former Laois and Offaly boss Richie Connor as the new manager of their intermediate team at the club's AGM on December 4.
Connor, who captained Offaly to their All-Ireland success in 1982, has returned to teaching at Rath NS and he will succeed George Doyle and Mick Behan who had been in charge of the side for the last two years.
Speaking of Connor's appointment, club chairman Alan O'Halloran hoped it would provide the side with an extra edge for next year, "Hopefully Richie will be able to get us over the final hurdle, George Doyle and Mick Behan have done a great job but we just don't seem to be able to make that step up. It's hard to get out of the intermediate championship."
The team which claimed the Intermediate championship last year, Clonaslee St Manman's, could be on the look out for a new manager as it is thought John Strong will not remain on for a second year. The team who replace them in the intermediate championship, Timahoe, are hoping to retain Tony Maher for another year although no definite agreement has been reached as of yet.
In the senior championship, there are a number of managers who have already decided to step down from their positions, with Mountmellick duo Danny Reddin and Brian Dempsey the most high profile of those to resign so far. The two had been involved with Mountmellick for the last four years, and in that time helped them to the intermediate title and two senior semi-finals. With the Mountmellick AGM not scheduled until January of next year, there is no one, as of yet, lined up for the position.
Ballylinan are also on the lookout for a new manager after John Kearns decided not to return for next year. The Eire g club man and former Carlow goalkeeper had been over the side for the last two years, but oversaw a mixed bag of results this year with a first round replay victory over Graiguecullen but subsequent losses to The Heath and Portarington ended their season.
Some clubs have confirmed they will be retaining their managers, with Nicky McGrath (Arles Killeen), Gabriel Lawlor (Emo), Martin Kelly (Crettyard) and Seamus Hunt (Portarlington) all in line to stay on, while Arles Kilcruise also hope Mick Byrne, who guided them to this year's county final, will remain on.
Eddie Kelly, last year's Laois U-21 manager will take over his home club O'Dempsey's next year, while decision have yet to be made on Sammy Kelly (Ballyroan Abbey), Richard Booth (The Heath), Dave Hickey (Graiguecullen), PJ Dempsey (St Joseph's), Gerry Kavanagh (Stradbally) and Johnny Irwin (The Rock). With AGMs being held around the county in the coming weeks and months however, most clubs will hope to have their management teams in place by the new year.
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Friday 18 May 2012
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