Michael Bond is to remain on as manager of Offaly's senior hurling team for another year. Agreement was reached last night after Bond, who guided Offaly to an epic championship triumph this year after taking over as manager midway through the season, met with county board chairman Brendan Ward and secretary Christy Todd.

The Galway school headmaster took the Offaly job after Michael `Babs' Keating resigned in July. His first match in charge was when the beaten Leinster finalists won a low-key quarter-final against Antrim. A three-match saga followed in the semi-final against Clare before Offaly eventually progressed to the final where they beat Kilkenny.

Bond only made a commitment to stay until season's end when he took the job and indicated soon after the All-Ireland win that he might not be available to continue because of pressure of work.

The Offaly County Board's determination to retain Bond's services paid off last night when Bond finally agreed to stay on for another year.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive development plan to take camogie into the next century was outlined yesterday. Among its recommendations are that teams should be increased to 15 from 12, that full-sized GAA pitches be used, that shorts rather than skirts may be worn and that there be a merger between camogie and the GAA.

Founded in 1904, Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael is looking forward to its centenary in 2004. Camogie has had a long and fruitful relationship with the GAA and established a development committee a year ago, headed by the camogie association's policy and planning committee chairman, Sean Mac Thaidhg.

The other members of the development committee were: Kathryn Davis, a former player who is a freelance journalist; the former Minister of State Eithne Fitzgerald, a lecturer in UCD; Fionnuala McGrady, a solicitor who is chair of the Down Camogie Board; Therese O'Callaghan, a civil servant who won All-Ireland camogie medals with Cork in 1992, '93 and '95; and Miriam O'Callaghan, a county councillor, referee and health services administrator. The development committee's remit included the game's structure, membership, competitions, public image, sponsorship, financial resources and management and administration skills.

Among the recommendations made are that camogie should merge with the GAA and operate as an autonomous unit within the GAA, the merger to be phased over a three-year period.

Meanwhile, the prospect of widespread disruption of fixtures at the weekend is increasing as the Meteorological Office outlined a grim weather outlook for the week.

Deirdre Lowe of the Met Office said last night that more heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow and that there would be little or no drying out of sodden pitches. "There is a rain belt coming in which is likely to hit us on Saturday. Frankly, it doesn't look great. There may also be some breezy weather and further spells of rain and generally soggy conditions with a lot of rain in total, up to and including the weekend," she told The Irish Times.

Of particular concern will be Saturday's Connacht club football championship match between Ballina Stephenites and Corofin. Should the match end in a draw, the replay is scheduled for the following day. The winners of Saturday's Offaly hurling final between Seir Kieran and St Rynagh's are also out the next day, in the Leinster club hurling championship against Kiltegan of Wicklow at Arklow.

Connacht have made two changes to the team which beat Ulster for their Railway Cup final against Leinster at Nowlan Park on Sunday. Noel Kenny comes in at left half forward for Mayo's Dominic Greally while Kevin Broderick will play at left corner forward in place of his Galway team-mate Alan Kerins.

Two members of the Roscommon team which played so well in the Connacht final against Galway are included. They are Michael Cunniffe at midfield and Adrian Kelly at full forward.

Connacht (SH v Leinster - Galway unless named): K Devine; G Kennedy, B Feeney, V Maher; R Walsh, N Shaughnessy, P Hardiman; T Kavanagh, M Cunniffe (Roscommon); J Rabbitte, C Moore, N Kenny; O Fahy, A Kelly (Roscommon), K Broderick. Subs: A Tully (Roscommon), L Hodgins, F Forde, A Kerins, M Kerins, P Walsh, G Lynskey, D Greally (Mayo), P Seevers (Sligo),, E Cloonan, T Healy (Roscommon), L Murphy (Roscommon), G Glynn.