Kerry ratify O'Shea as new manager

GAELIC GAMES:The executive of the Kerry County Board last night ratified Pat O'Shea as their senior footballer manager, ending the long process to find a replacement for Jack O'Connor.

County chairman Seán Walsh had called the specially convened meeting last Friday after a county sub-committee (Walsh, Eamonn O'Sullivan and John Carroll) had nominated O'Shea as their sole candidate.

O'Shea's appointment was approved unanimously and it is initially a one-year term. But it will be another week before O'Shea's full backroom team will be finalised, and that management team will go before the county convention on Monday, December 11th. O'Shea is due to meet several people this week to finalise his selectors whom he has the authority to appoint.

The main stumbling block in O'Shea's appointment had been his role as games officer with the Munster Council, and despite early indications that O'Shea would not be able to pursue both roles, agreement on that matter was reached on Thursday. That agreement was also on a one-year basis subject to review.

O'Shea will continue to manage his Killarney club Dr Crokes for as long as they remain in the club championship. Last Sunday they beat Nemo Rangers of Cork to set up a Munster final date on Sunday week.

He shares one thing in common with his predecessor O'Connor in that he doesn't come from the Kerry school of multiple All-Ireland winners. He has been in charge of the Dr Crokes team for the past three years, losing two county finals, both to South Kerry - including this year. They are representing the county, however, as South Kerry are a divisional concern and not allowed compete in Munster.

Aged 40, has also coached the Kerry minors, and is also known previously for scoring the decisive goal that won the All-Ireland club final in 1992. His brother Seánie captained Crokes to that victory.

Meanwhile, the Kildare County GAA Board have completed their negotiations with the Kildare County Council and secured a site for a 23,000-capacity stadium to serve as the new county grounds.

A meeting of the county board on Tuesday night unanimously approved in principle the plan to construct the new stadium on a 26-acre site at Old Connell, just outside Newbridge. The site has been procured free of charge following the negotiations with the council, and in accordance with the Newbridge Development Plan.

It is expected that the project will be financed solely by the sale of the site of the existing county grounds of St Conleth's Park in Newbridge town centre, which has a capacity of just 13,000. Given its prime location St Conleth's Park is expected to attract significant business interest.

The new county ground will also provide Kildare GAA with modern training facilities along with all-weather training and playing pitches.

When completed, the stadium and surrounding facilities will form part of the proposed Citygate development, which will encompass various retail, residential, industrial and office units, along as well as a hotel and leisure centre.

It is envisaged that the entire project can be completed within three to four years, with the existing county grounds remaining in use in the interim.

Munster club hurling finalists Toomevara will tomorrow launch plans to develop their facilities. The project will include four new dressingrooms, a first aid and physio room, a referee's room and new offices - with an estimated cost of €700,000. The launch takes place at the parish hall at 8.30pm.

Both Toomevara and their opponents Erin's Own will be at full strength for Sunday's showdown at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds, with Toomevara welcoming back Paddy O'Brien and Padraig Hackett who missed the semi-final win over Mount Sion through injury.