NEWS ROUND-UP:THE INCUMBENT Leitrim football selectors, Barney Breen and George Dugdale, are to take over the management of the senior panel in 2012. Following Mickey Moran's enforced resignation, citing health problems, county board sources indicated yesterday the former players will continue their involvement.
The Leitrim County Board executive has not initiated proceedings to appoint a new manager but there may be additions to the set-up. One of the current selectors may be elevated to manager, or potentially both in a dual role, before the new season begins on January 1st.
Moran was a hands-on coach for the past three seasons with Leitrim, as he was in previous inter-county managerial roles with his native Derry (twice), Donegal, Sligo and Mayo. Dugdale may be qualified to take on the physical training – he is a PE teacher – and he also brings the experience of previously serving in Declan Rowley’s Leitrim management that ended in 2004.
Breen and Dugdale are well known in the county GAA circles having been apart of the 1994 team that ended the 67-year wait for a Connacht title. Breen joined the management set-up last year, as a replacement for Moran’s long-time side-kick John Morrison, while Dugdale was the latest addition after Martin McGowan stepped aside.
Moran was recently ratified for a fourth season in charge only for a press release last Saturday to confirm he has stepped down due to illness, which is not deemed life threatening.
Elsewhere, Mickey Harte was yesterday able to confirm there will be no more retirements from the Tyrone panel. Two-time All-Ireland winning captain Brian Dooher (36) took leave of the inter-county scene after defeat to Dublin in last summer’s All-Ireland quarter-final. Dooher was followed off the squad by Brian McGuigan, Philip Jordan, Enda McGinley and Ciarán Gourley.
Three-time All-Ireland winners Stephen O’Neill and Conor Gormley have confirmed they intend to play on for at least another season. Both recently turned 31 but O’Neill, in particular, has been plagued by injury during a 12-season career that has been recognised with three All Stars.
The other concern was veteran defender Ryan McMenamin, who is unavailable for the start of the National Football League as he will be on honeymoon.
“I don’t expect any more (retirements), and that means there will still be a lot of experience within our squad,” said Harte. “I would be fairly confident that you have heard the most of it now to date.
“We still have a huge amount of experience within the team, when you look at people like Joe McMahon, Seán Cavanagh and people of that vintage, just going 29 years of age now, who have been playing county football for eight or nine years or more.
“We still have a lot of experience and quality players there, we have a good core base for the younger players to come on with.”
Despite relying heavily on the old guard during the 2011 championship, Harte incorporated new players into the team like Martin Swift, Seán O’Neill and Mark Donnelly, while minor sensation Kyle Coney contributed sporadically.
“If we can go through this transition that has been ongoing and build a bit of momentum now with the new faces that are going to emerge, we can all look forward to it,” Harte continued.
“There has been a transition right throughout the years that I have been involved. There’s been a few players that have come and gone nearly every year. Maybe it wasn’t as noticeable, because it was only one or two at a time then. If you look back over the years, there has been a huge transition in the Tyrone team. It’s the way things happen in life. We still remain among the top eight, certainly in championship respect.
“Yes, there is an opportunity for younger players now, more opportunity than there was in the past few seasons, where they can stake a claim for a first-team place and hold it down for themselves. And if there are enough players with the enthusiasm and desire to do that, sure it could be a good thing for Tyrone.”
Sunday
Munster Club SFC Final – Dr Crokes (Kerry) v UCC (Cork), Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 2pm, Live TG4.
Munster Club SHC Final Replay – Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) v Crusheen (Clare), Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2pm – Deferred TG4.
All-Ireland Club SFC Quarter-final – St Brigid’s (Roscommon) v Fulham Irish (London), Ruislip, 1pm.
Leinster Club SFC Semi-finals – St Brigid’s (Dublin) v Portlaoise (Laois), Parnell Park, 2pm; Athy (Kildare) v Garrycastle (Westmeath), Newbridge, 2pm.
Leinster Club IFC Final – Éire Óg (Wicklow) v Confey (Kildare), Aughrim, 2pm.
Leinster Club JFC Final – St Fechins (Louth) v Ballivor (Meath), Drogheda, 2pm.
Weekend Fixtures
