O'Kelly is new Offaly manager

NEWS ROUND-UP: The season of managerial shifting continued yesterday with Offaly announcing the appointment of Paul O'Kelly as their new senior football manager, and Tyrone beginning the search for a replacement for Art McRory, who has quit his joint position with Eugene McKenna just a month after being reappointed.

O'Kelly's name has been forwarded by the Offaly committee established to find a successor to Padraig Nolan, who stepped down during the summer and has since been appointed as new Kildare football manager. Though O'Kelly's nomination still has to be ratified at the full meeting of the county board next Tuesday week, the position is certain to be his.

The Edenderry clubman has a low profile in inter-county management, though previously he worked in the county as a selector under manager Tommy Lyons - the management team that led Offaly to the National League title in 1998 and the Leinster title the year before. It is, however, O'Kelly's highest profile management position to date.

It was also announced that his three selectors would be Eddie Fleming of Clara, Kevin Gavin of Ferbane and John Moran of Tubber. Fleming, like O'Kelly, acted as a selector under Lyons before Nolan took over in 2000, while Gavin had previously been Offaly manager in the early 1990s.

O'Kelly is more experienced at club level. The 46-year-old won a senior title with Edenderry back in 1985 and later spent time coaching Round Towers in Clondalkin. Currently a management consultant based in Tullamore, he was also involved in the Offaly under-21 side last year. Fleming also led Clara to a county title in 1993, while Gavin won five county titles with Ferbane.

The search to find a new Offaly hurling manager is described by county PRO Pat Teehan as "a lot slower". A similar committee was established to find a replacement to Fr Tom Fogarty, who stepped down after a year in charge, and Nicky Cashin is the latest candidate to opt out. The committee is still hopeful that a nomination can be found ahead of the next county board meeting.

Tyrone's quest to find a new senior football management team to replace McRory-McKenna is sure to be less troublesome. Already a list of likely candidates has developed, including under-21 and Errigal Ciaran manager Mickey Harte, and former Donegal player and former Cavan manager Martin McHugh, but it remains to be seen if McKenna is willing to put his name back up for selection.

McRory cited personal reasons for his decision to step down, and the county board confirmed that a new football management team would have to be sought.

Both men were handed another year in charge by the county board last month, but a work group has already been established to begin the task of finding a new manager.

In a statement from the county board it was said that McRory informed the board on Tuesday that he was stepping aside for "personal reasons, would be unavailable for an indefinite period, thus making it impossible for the Senior Football Management Team, as recently appointed by the County Board, to continue.

"This effectively means that the Tyrone County Board is seeking someone to agree to manage the County Senior Football Team. The members of the Tyrone County Board and the clubs have been informed in writing by the county secretary and he will receive their views and suggestions."

Elsewhere, it has been announced that Tom McGlinchey has been reappointed for another term as Tipperary senior football manager. It was also confirmed that Mickey Moran would return to the Derry management position in succession to Eamonn Coleman having spent the last two years with Donegal.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

SATURDAY

Leinster SHC (First round replay): Carnew (Wicklow) v Castletown (Laois), Aughrim, 3.0. Connacht SHC (First round): St Mary's (Leitrim) v Ballyhaunis (Mayo), Carrick-on-Shannon, 2.30; Four Roads (Roscommon) v Tubbercurry (Sligo), Tubbercurry, 2.30.

SUNDAY

Ulster SHC (Final): Dunloy (Antrim) v Portaferry (Down), Casement Park, 3.0. Munster SHC (First round): Mount Sion (Waterford) v Adare (Limerick), Walsh Park, 2.30. Leinster SFC (First round): Mattock Rangers (Louth) v Starlights (Wexford), Ardee, 3.0; Garrycastle (Westmeath) v Portlaoise (Laois), Mullingar, 3.0; Ballymahon (Longford) v Rathnew (Wicklow), Ballymahon, 3.0. Ulster SFC (Quarter-finals): Ballinderry (Derry) v Mayobridge (Down), Newry, 3.0; Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) v Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh), Omagh, 3.0; Enniskillen Gaels (Fermanagh) v St Gall's (Antrim), Enniskillen, 3.0; Gowna (Cavan) v Clontibret (Monaghan), Breffni Park, 3.0. Munster SFC (First round): Nemo Rangers (Cork) v Kilmurray-Ibrickane (Clare), Quilty, 2.30.

Saturday's county finals: Waterford SFC - The Nire v Stradbally, Dungarvan, 2.30. Sunday: Carlow SFC: Palatine v Rathvilly, Dr Cullen Park, 3.0. Dublin SHC (Replay): Craobh Ciaran v O'Tooles, Parnell Park, 2.30. Kilkenny SHC: Dunnamaggin v Young Irelands, Nowlan Park, 3.0. Other Saturday fixtures: Dublin SFC (Quarter-finals) - Kilmacud Crokes v UCD, Parnell Park, 1.30; Na Fianna v Raheny, Parnell Park, 3.0. Sunday: Galway SFC (Semi-finals) - Annaghdown v Mountbelloew-Moylough, Tuam, 2.0; Corofin v Milltown, Tuam, 3.30. Kerry SFC (Semi-finals): Dr Crokes v Kerins O'Rahills, Tralee, 2.0; An Ghaeltacht v Kilcummin, Tralee, 3.30. Meath SFC (Semi-final): Dunshaughlin v Seneschalstown, Navan, 1.45. Galway SHC (Semi-final): Portumna v Sarsfields, Ballinasloe, 2.25. Tipperary SHC (Semi-final): Loughmore-Castleiney v Thurles Sarsfields, Templemore, 2.0.