Dublin to unveil their man

GAA: Both the Dublin and Cork senior hurling management positions are now known to be filled, with Dublin set to unveil their new man at a press conference at Parnell Park this morning, and Cork set to confirm Donal O'Grady for their position at the county board meeting next Monday night.

Interviews for the Dublin position concluded on Wednesday night, and while the county board has reached a decision, chairman John Bailey was holding back on an announcement yesterday.

"We still have a few Is to dot and Ts to cross," said Bailey yesterday, "but we very hopeful that the new man and the selectors will be in place by tomorrow morning."

Among the known candidates is former Wexford under-21 hurling manager Seamus Murphy, along with Marty Morris from the O'Tooles club and former selector Mick O'Riordan.

Outgoing selectors Jim Galavan, Canice Hennebry and O'Riordan have been taking the team training sessions in recent weeks since Kevin Fennelly ended his two-year term last month.

The Cork County Board had been similarly quiet regarding their potential list of candidates, though O'Grady's name was accepted yesterday pending confirmation at next Monday night's county board meeting. It thus ends the controversial search for a replacement for Bertie Óg Murphy which coincided with the difficult relationship with the players.

O'Grady will benefit from new freedom in choosing his selectors, a break from the long-standing Cork tradition whereby the county executive decided who would work with the manager. It is expected those selectors will also be known on Monday, including the nomination from Cork hurling champions Blackrock.

Veteran trio Stephen McDonagh, Ciarán Carey and Joe Quaid have pledged at least one more season to new Limerick hurling team manager Dave Keane who has announced a panel of 45 players to go into training in preparation for the National League. It had been speculated the three might to call it a day. The panel will be whittled down to 30 players at the end of January.