Kildare to meet on McGeeney

Kieran McGeeney could be ratified as Kildare football manager by next Tuesday, when the county board delegates convene for their monthly meeting.

Speculation about the former Armagh back making an immediate conversion from player to manager has been mounting since he announced his retirement less than a fortnight ago with Kildare and Carlow the immediate options. However, it is believed the 2002 All-Ireland winning captain is on the verge of agreeing to take the Kildare job having met county board chairman Syl Merrins over the weekend.

The McGeeney ticket becomes more attractive with the inclusion of former Armagh trainer Paul Grimley, although yesterday he was unable to confirm any deal had been agreed.

"That's the only way I would be going in," said Grimley. "I heard a wee bit on the radio today but I think they've jumped the gun maybe. There are a few bits and pieces still to tidy up so it is too delicate to talk about."

Grimley recently stepped down as Cavan trainer when declaring his intention to succeed Joe Kernan as Armagh manager but that task was instead handed to Peter McDonnell.

Fermanagh are also believed to be interested in getting Grimley's services as a replacement to Charlie Mulgrew.

Merrins has been given a free hand to unearth a successor to John Crofton, who had an undistinguished term. It is the chairman's duty to bring a candidate before the executive and then the club delegates for formal ratification. As yet, he has made no public pronouncements indicating who he hopes to take over Kildare football in 2008.

"All the information on this has come from the Armagh side and not Kildare at all," said county board secretary Kathleen O'Neill. "We are not privy to anything. Basically the chairman has been given the job and has to come back when it is sorted. He hasn't come back with anything official to us as of yet."

Meanwhile, Liam Sheedy was ratified as Tipperary hurling manager for a two-year term at last night's county board meeting in Thurles.

Sheedy, who played in the 1997 All-Ireland final against Clare, takes over from Michael Babs Keating and will be assisted by coach Eamon O'Shea and selector Michael Ryan.

Sheedy, from the Portroe club, is a former Tipperary intermediate team manager and was a senior team selector alongside Michael Doyle in 2003. Last year he guided the Tipperary minors to a first All-Ireland title in 10 years.

O'Shea, a Professor of Economics at NUIG, won a senior All-Ireland club hurling medal with Kilruane McDonagh's in 1985. He was a member of the Tipperary team that won the 1976 All-Ireland minor title and he won Munster under-21 medals in 1978 and 1979.

Ryan, from the Upperchurch-Drombane club, won an All-Ireland senior medal with Tipperary in 1991.

It was also confirmed that Sheedy's former minor selectors - Gerry Maguire, Martin Gleeson and Noel Russell - will make the step up to under-21 next year, with 1991 All-Ireland winning captain Declan Carr appointed as manager. Eamon Kelly (Kildangan) completes the management team.

Meanwhile, the assault of linesman Brian O'Shea was expected to be considered by the Dublin competitions control committee at last night's scheduled meeting. O'Shea was knocked unconscious near the dressingroom in the aftermath of Saturday's Dublin senior football championship meeting between St Vincent's and Na Fianna.

Referee Andrew McAllister consulted with O'Shea before sending off Na Fianna player Aidan Downes in first-half injury-time. The referee's report will determine whether the Dublin CCC can take immediate action or initiate an investigation.

Tyrone forward Stephen O'Neill is to undergo surgery and could miss next season's National Football League. The former footballer of the year is to have an operation on his knee to eradicate a tendonitis problem that dogged him throughout 2007.

The recovery time from the treatment is up to seven months so the Clan na nGael club man is likely to miss the league campaign.

"He has had the tendonitis condition for a while," said manager Mickey Harte. "There is a bit of a tear behind the kneecap and that's caused Stephen great problems.

"In trying to compensate for it to play football, the condition has caused other problems with his hamstring and it looks at the moment that he will have surgery to sort out the problem in the near future."

Harte said O'Neill is likely to undergo surgery before the end of this year, before embarking on a rehabilitation programme that should have him back in action in time for the 2008 championship.

Dublin footballer Darren Magee has been employed by the Arklow Geraldines/Ballymoney club as a full-time coaching development officer.

Magee will be working with the juvenile players - both boys and girls - and will visit schools as well as assist the various team coaches.