GAELIC GAMES:THE LONG-RUNNING saga to appoint the next Armagh manager remains unresolved but it has been confirmed that Paul Grimley will not be taking up the role.
A group representing the county board and headed up by former captain Jarlath Burns approached Grimley, a selector with the 2002 All-Ireland winning team, recently with a view to persuading him to consider taking on the role.
Grimley was overlooked for the position two years ago when Peter McDonnell was named Joe Kernan’s successor. Until recently, he was Kieran McGeeney’s assistant in Kildare and last month he told The Irish Times that no approach had been made from Armagh.
“There has been no approach and I certainly haven’t sought the job,” said Grimley. “It is well known that I went for the job two years ago and didn’t get it. As far as I’m concerned it passed me by at that point.”
Grimley has since committed to Monaghan as a coach and assistant to manager Séamus McEnaney for 2010.
Burns’ involvement in the process is now finished, although it is conceivable he may be included in a committee that is expected to be convened next week to find a manager. Another former player, Paul McGrane, was part of the original committee that failed to present a suitable candidate for ratification.
It is believed that Grimley was simply approached too late.
McGeeney made it know from the start that he was committed to Kildare for at least another year, while Kernan also pulled out of the running very early, citing work commitments, but he has since been appointed by Galway.
The latest big name in the frame is Pete McGrath. The former International Rules manager guided his native Down to All-Ireland titles in 1991 and 1994 and publicly voiced his disappointment at not being reappointed to the position. James McCartan was named as Ross Carr’s successor.
“If I was approached, I would give the offer serious consideration,” McGrath said. “If Armagh were interested in me, I would certainly think about it.”
Armagh chairman Kevin Brady confirmed that nobody has been approached. “And there is no committee in place. everything is pure speculation. Of course we would like to have a manager in place by now.”
Meanwhile, Liam Sammon, who stepped down as Galway football manager last month, is returning to a front-line role as the Tribesmen draw up a blueprint for success in the future.
Sammon is to form part of a team which has been assembled by Galway Football Board to draw up a master plan for the game in the county.
Brendan Colleran, a former Galway team-mate of Sammon’s, is chairman of the Galway Football Task Team and he said the main purpose was to consult all parties from underage football to the senior county team.
Colleran, who is the chief executive of Galway City VEC, will be joined by Sammon and another former player and manager John Tobin, who is employed as the Connacht GAA Football Development Manager.
New Zealander Will Mallard, a management consultant who is involved with the Fr Griffins GAA club in Galway city, has experience of developments in rugby and the task team is completed by Séamus O’Grady, who is secretary of the football board.
Aer Arann managing director Pádraig Ó Céidigh, who is the main sponsor of Galway football, will also make an input.
“We want to get to a stage where there is a continuous line of improvement across all levels of Galway football and that there is then consistency of performance,” said Brendan Colleran.
“To achieve this we need to have wide consultation with clubs, players, media, referees and all the other stakeholders,” he said.
Colleran said that areas they highlighted included coaching, administration, refereeing, volunteers, development squads, underage activity, school and colleges, and county teams.
This weekend’s top GAA fixtures
Saturday
Armagh SFC Semi-final – Armagh Harps v Granemore, Athletic Grounds, 7pm.
Fermanagh SFC Final – Derrygonnelly v Roslea, Enniskillen, 7.45pm.
Antrim SFC Final – St Galls v Casements, Casement Park, 7.45pm.
Sunday
Women’s Football
All-Ireland JFC Final – Antrim v Limerick, Croke Park, 12.00, T Lennon (Dublin); All-Ireland IFC Final – Clare v Fermanagh, Croke Park, 2pm, J Murray (Dublin); All-Ireland SFC Final – Cork v Dublin, Croke Park, 4pm, D Corcoran (Mayo). All three matches live on TG4.
Longford SFC Final (replay) – Clonguish v Dromard, Pearse Park, 3.15pm.
Cork SFC Final – Clonakilty v St Finbarrs, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm.
Cork SHC Semi-final – Sarsfields v CIT, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.15pm.
Waterford SHC Semi-finals – Mount Sion v Ballygunner, Walsh Park, 2pm; Lismore v Ballyduff Upper, Fraher Field, 5pm.
Kerry SHC Final – Brendan’s v Kilmoyley, Austin Stack Park, 3.30pm.
Roscommon SFC Final – Castlerea St Kevins v Western Gaels, Hyde Park, 4.15pm.
Leitrim SFC Final – Carrigallen v Glencar/Manor, Carrick-on-Shannon, 2:50pm.
Armagh SFC Semi-final – Pearse Óg v Clann Éireann, Athletic Grounds, 7pm.
Monaghan SFC Final – Clontibret v Latton, Clones, 3.45pm.
Antrim SHC Final – Ruairi Óg v Dunloy, Casement Park, 3.15pm.
Down SHC Final – Ballycran v Ballygalget, Downpatrick, 3.30pm.
