Tipperary hurling now in Hogan's hands

Gaelic Games News and Fixtures: Tipperary have handed their vacant senior hurling management position to Ken Hogan, the former county goalkeeper and selector. He succeeds Michael Doyle, who resigned from the position last month after just one season in charge.

Hogan had become the leading candidate in recent days, and last night's meeting of the county board ended with him being handed an initial two-year term. An eight-man committee had been established to nominate the new manager, and also his two selectors - who were confirmed as Jack Bergin and Colm Bonner.

Hogan had been targeted for several reasons, not least his popularity within the senior hurling panel. A member of the Lorrha club, he has already established a reputation for effective training methods, which were utilised when serving as a selector with two previous Tipperary managers, Fr Tom Fogarty, from 1995-96, and then Nicky English, from 1998 to 2002 - thus playing a part in Tipperary's All-Ireland success of 2001.

He heads the physical training programme at the Garda Training College in Templemore, where he also trains the Garda Fitzgibbon Cup team, and is still involved in the playing side of the game - featuring in the Tipperary team that earlier this month captured the All-Ireland Masters title over Kerry.

As a senior player with Tipperary, Hogan won two All-Irelands playing in goal, first in 1989, and again in 1991. He was also an All Star, winning in 1987 after helping Tipperary to their first Munster title in 16 years. He retired from inter-county hurling in 1996.

The move into management should prove easy for Hogan. Doyle resigned in controversial circumstances, citing "unfair criticism" from certain circles after Tipperary's collapse against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final, but there has been no player fall-out from that resignation, and Hogan can expect the full backing of the senior panel.

In other managerial news, it has been confirmed that Dominic Corrigan will continue as Fermanagh football manager for another year. There were doubts about his future commitments despite a largely successful season that saw Corrigan direct Fermanagh to a league semi-final and All-Ireland quarter-final.

Dublin football manager Tommy Lyons, meanwhile, has come under fresh pressure to explore the possibilities of securing the services of Rory Gallagher. The former Fermanagh forward, who played a major role in helping St Brigid's secure their first Dublin senior football title on Sunday, has already indicated his interest in playing for Dublin, where he is now based.

Gallagher, a cousin of Fermanagh forward Raymie Gallagher, also playing with St Brigid's, dropped off the Fermanagh panel last season. Earlier this year Lyons dismissed the possibility of inviting Gallagher into the Dublin panel, but last Sunday's performance, where he scored 0-4 from play in the six-point win over Kilmacud Crokes, has raised the issue once again.

Yesterday, however, Lyons resisted any temptation to be drawn. "The whole thing is a matter for the Dublin County Board," he said, "And it wouldn't be my decision."

While Lyons admitted Sunday's final was a "cracking game of football" he said his top marks went to Declan Lally and Paul Griffin, both of whom featured with Lyons in Dublin's recent All-Ireland success at under-21 level.

St Brigid's, meanwhile, will start their Leinster provincial campaign on November 9th when they play the winners of Sunday's first-round game between The Downs (Westmeath) and St Patrick's (Louth).

With the provincial club championships now gathering pace, it has been confirmed that newly crowned Tyrone champions Killyclogher have sought to get their Ulster football first-round game put back by a week.

Having secured their first ever venture into provincial football, Killyclogher are due to meet the Armagh champions - either Crossmaglen or Dromintee, who play on Sunday - in the Ulster quarter-final on Sunday week, November 2nd.

But that means they will be without their manager, Peter McGinnity, formerly of Fermanagh, who left immediately after Sunday's win to take up his position with the International Rules team that plays Australia over the next two weekends. It is anticipated, however, that the Ulster Council will re-fix the game for the following weekend.

Longford champions Clonguish had their Leinster football first-round meeting with Killanerin of Wexford put back until Monday to avoid a clash with Sunday's FAI Cup final, which features Longford Town against St Patrick's Athletic at Lansdowne Road.

This week's GAA fixtures

SATURDAY

Connacht SH club championship second round: St Mary's (Leitrim) v Athleague (Roscommon), Carrick-on-Shannon, 3.0, P McGuire (Sligo)

Hurling Shinty International: Senior - Scotland v Ireland, Inverness, 3.0, D Kerr (Scotland); Under-21: Scotland v Ireland, Inverness, 1.0, E Morris (Ireland)

Clare SF county final replay: St Senan's, Kilkee v Kilrush Shamrocks, Ennis, 3.0

Leinster SF club championship first round: James Stephens (Kilkenny) v O'Hanrahans (Carlow), Callan, 2.30, F Barrett (Kildare).

SUNDAY

Munster SH club championship quarter-finals: Clarecastle (Clare) v Patrickswell (Limerick), Ennis, 3.0, J McDonnell (Tipperary); Toomevara (Tipperary) v Kilmoyley (Kerry), Thurles, 3.0, D Richardson (Limerick)

Leinster SF club championship first round: Rathnew (Wicklow) v Clara (Offaly), Aughrim, 2.30, M Monahan (Kildare); The Downs (Westmeath) v St Patrick's (Louth), Mullingar, 2.30, S McCormack (Meath);

Ulster SH club championship semi-final: Dunloy (Antrim) v Ballygalget (Down), Casement Park, 1.30, G Devlin (Armagh)

Ulster SF club championship quarter-finals: Enniskillen Gaels (Fermanagh) v St Gall's (Antrim), Casement Park, 3.0, C Broderick (Down); Loup (Derry) v Bryansford (Down), Maghera, 3.0, S McGonagle (Donegal);

Ulster SF club championship first round replay: Four Masters (Donegal) v Castleblaney (Monaghan), Clones, 3.0, M Kolbohm (Tyrone), extra-time if necessary

Kilkenny SH county final: Young Irelands v O'Loughlin Gaels, Nowlan Park, 3.0, D O'Sullivan; MH county final: James Stephens v St Martins, Nowlan Park, 1.30, D Connelly

Kerry SF county final replay: An Ghaeltacht v Laune Rangers, 3.0, Tralee

Armagh SF county final: Crossmaglen v Dromintee, Crossmaglen, 3.00.

MONDAY

Leinster SF club championship first round: Clonguish (Longford) v Killanerin (Wexford), Longford, 2.30, P Finnegan (Louth)

Leinster SH club championship first round replay: Naomh Eoin (Carlow) v Knockbridge (Louth), Carlow, 2.00, B Gavin (Offaly), extra-time if necessary