Caffrey tops Dublin list

With confirmation that the Dublin County Board was limiting its renewed search for a senior football manager to within the county boundaries, there is an increasing likelihood that one member of the previous management team of Tommy Lyons will be appointed his successor.

Chief among them is Paul Caffrey of Na Fianna, one of three selectors under Lyons along with Dave Billings and Paddy Canning. Caffrey has long been known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the club scene in the county, and has continued to be very prominent at club level in recent years.

His main managerial success was with Na Fianna, and he was behind the team that in 2001 completed the first three-in-a-row in Dublin for a decade. Back in 1999 he also led Na Fianna to the Leinster title, and from there to the All-Ireland club final, where they lost to Crossmaglen Rangers.

A Dublin corner back in the mid-1980s when he was dogged by injury, Caffrey's experience with Lyons has brought him to the top of the Dublin board's list of candidates. County chairman John Bailey remains confident the appointment will be made some time next week.

Meanwhile, nominations for the vacant Tipperary senior football management position have closed and Seamus McCarthy has emerged as the leading candidate. McCarthy previously held the position during the mid-1990s, and the county selection committee are expected to ratify the new appointment next week.

Some effort had been made to give Andy Shortall another term in charge, despite his controversial resignation mid-season because of club hurling fixture conflicts.

Shortall, however, has been appointed manager of the Laois minor footballers, replacing 2003 All-Ireland winning manager Sean Dempsey, who has taken over the under-21 side.