BREAKING: Laois GAA on the lookout for new manager as Billy Sheehan walks away

Billy Sheehan is no longer the Laois Senior Football manager after his decision to step down last night. Rumours had been circulating about his future after Down fired in eight goals in the Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

In a statement released this morning, Laois GAA had this to say: 

"Outgoing Laois Senior Football Manager Billy Sheehan  has informed Laois GAA officials following his review  meeting that he is stepping down from this position.  

Laois GAA would like to thank Billy and his backroom  team for their commitment and work with this panel  for the past two years and wish them well for the future.

Laois GAA will now establish an appointments  committee to source a new football manager for the  coming season."

He had been in the job since October 2021 when he took over from fellow Kerry man Mike Quirke. His first season as Laois manager saw them get knocked out of Leinster at the first hurdle as Wicklow got the better of them in Aughrim on a scoreline of 5-15 to 4-12. 

Laois also fell to eventual champions Westmeath in the Tailteann Cup as they lost out by three points. Their league campaign also turned out to be a bad one as they suffered relegation to Division 4, the lowest level of the Allianz Football Leagues.

Coming into the 2023 season, Laois started the season by finishing bottom of their group in the O'Byrne Cup. They did though get off to a flyer in the league as they beat Sligo, who went on to win the Division, in the opener up in Markievicz Park in Round 1. Two more wins would follow over Wexford and Carlow before a two-point defeat to Wicklow in Laois Hire O'Moore Park. That result proved detrimental as Laois would miss out on promotion and league final down to the head-to-head rule. Another defeat was sandwiched in between two victories as Laois lost to Leitrim and defeated Waterford and London.

Laois began their Leinster Football Championship against Wexford with a victory setting up a tie with Dublin at home. A four-point win was the result for Laois before a drubbing to the hands of Dublin as they fired in four goals over the course of the contest.

The defeat for Laois meant a stint in the Tailteann Cup where they were drawn into a group with Cavan, Offaly and London. Laois traveled to Breffni Park but came out on the wrong end of a nine-point defeat. Offaly would come next with Laois' neighbours somehow coming back from six points down with 68 minutes on the clock to snatch a draw. Laois' last game against London would also end in a draw with a late Niall Corbet point sparing Laois' blushes and securing a preliminary quarter-final spot. 

Laois were away to Fermanagh in the preliminary quarter-final with the O'Moore County securing a quarter-final place with a two-point victory. Another away trip would follow down to Limerick where a Colm Murphy goal proved crucial in their 1-14 to 0-14 win. That meant Laois had set up a date in Croke Park as Conor Laverty's Down side were drawn to face Laois. That game was over within the first 20 minutes as Down rattled in four goals in each half.

Following the Down game, Sheehan looked like a man under pressure as he told the media, "We'll do whatever's best for Laois". This means Laois are on the lookout for their sixth manager since 2015.