Conflict denied as Fennelly steps down

Dublin are searching for a new senior hurling manager after the announcement yesterday that Kevin Fennelly would not be continuing in the position for another year.

The former Kilkenny goalkeeper and manager had been in charge of Dublin for the past two years and was in negotiations with the Dublin County Board to continue for a third, but their final discussions on Tuesday night ended with Fennelly's term coming to an end. The county board will now start the process of finding a replacement, although there are no obvious candidates at this point.

Fennelly admitted yesterday that he was interested in staying on for another year. "It was never quite a clear-cut situation," he said. "I had considered staying on but in the end that wasn't to be.

"Still I have no regrets at getting involved with Dublin at the time I did. I always had an excellent relationship with the players and of course they are the ones that count. Unfortunately though, there wasn't the total level of support within the county and without that it was always going to be an uphill struggle."

County board chairman John Bailey dismissed any suggestion of friction or animosity during Fennelly's term and instead praised his work and impact over the last two years.

"I know the players have benefited greatly from Kevin," he said, "and we're all deeply grateful to him. And he did bring a new buzz to Dublin hurling.

"The fact is that when Kevin started he didn't actually want a contract, but instead work year to year. Over the past few weeks and days we've had a number of conversations and it was mutually agreed that he would cease to be manager.

"He has also informed us that he would still be happy to be of some assistance to us in the future, and I'd certainly take him up on that, because we do need all the help we can get in Dublin."

Bailey added that no one had been approached to replace him, though the county board hope a replacement will be found before Christmas.

But in the meantime advertisements will be in the national newspapers from today for a new full-time director of hurling in Dublin, a position which Bailey says will radically improve the state of hurling in the county.

"This position is part of the development plan we put together, to get someone that could take over the senior plan. That means the strategy, the development, and the analysis of hurling in Dublin. The whole lot really. Call him a hurling dictator if you want.

"As soon as we get the right person we will take him up. It's a unique position, the first of its kind in the country. It's also full-time, and will involve big money as well but we're prepared to pay whatever is necessary to get the right person."

Bailey also stated that those who say Dublin hurling was all doom and gloom at the moment were being unrealistic: "I honestly think Dublin hurling is on the way up. Our minor team lost to Kilkenny by two points this year, and they went on to win the All-Ireland. And our under-21s lost very late in injury time to Wexford in the Leinster final.

"There is talent coming through, and we also have the Michael O'Grady plan to reorganise hurling coming before the county convention on December 9th. We also have a plan in the pipeline to appoint 16 hurling coaches in Dublin, and I think all this sends out a clear message that Dublin is serious about improving its state of its hurling."

Part of the problem during Fennelly's last year in charge, however, was the decision by new football manager Tommy Lyons not to allow players to take on dual roles in both senior codes. That resulted in the likes of Shane Ryan and David Henry concentrating on football, and sacrificing their hurling.

"Whoever the new manager is can still sit down with Tommy and try to work something out," said Bailey. "Tommy is also interested in the development of the GAA in Dublin and there doesn't have to be a conflict."

Fennelly, though, can still look back on his two-year term as a period when Dublin hurling did make some progress. His panel was built on younger players, and there were some encouraging results despite their inexperience.

This season they survived a relegation play-off in Division One of the National League when pulling off a great escape in coming from behind to defeat Derry 2-16 to 5-6 in Enniskillen last April. After emerging from the round-robin section of the Leinster championship they defeated Meath 1-24 to 2-12 in the quarter-final before falling to Wexford in the semi-final, and then to Clare in the qualifiers.