O'Sullivan to regain number 11

Kerry football captain Declan O'Sullivan is poised to return to the starting line-up for the All Ireland final against Mayo on Sunday week. A loss of form resulted in O'Sullivan dropping to the bench after the Munster final replay defeat to Cork. As a result, the captaincy was handed to Colm 'Gooch' Cooper.

After several notable appearances as a substitute, and more significantly a return to the centre forward position in training games, O'Sullivan is set to regain the number 11 shirt. That switch would see Eoin Brosnan revert back to midfield, with Tommy Griffin dropping down to the bench.

The captaincy issue may not be quite as straightforward, but it does seem likely that O'Sullivan will resume the duty.

Elsewhere, the managerial merry-go-round season continues with several names hopping on and off in recent days. Joe Kernan yesterday confirmed his intention to remain as Armagh football manager for next season, even though he lost his cohort Paul Grimley.

Kernan is set to bring in St Gall's and former Armagh player John Rafferty as his number two, and the early indications are that all of the county's more seasoned players, including Kieran McGeeney and Oisín McConville, will also continue for another year.

In hurling, the Galway job vacated by Conor Hayes looks set to be eagerly contested with former Clare manager Ger Loughnane confirming his interest having being nominated by the St Thomas club.

Loughnane indicated he would only be interested in taking the job if he could bring in his own backroom team, and the matter could be decided by the Galway hurling board next Wednesday.

Among the six nominations were minor and former senior manager Mattie Murphy and former county star Seán Treacy from Portumna.

One position already ratified for next year is John McIntyre, who will continue for a third season with the Offaly hurlers.

Finally, the special committee set up by the Limerick County Board to select a candidate as replacement for Joe McKenna as manager of the hurling team last night announced they would be proposing Richie Bennis at next Tuesday's county board meeting.