Tommy Breheny has stepped down as Sligo manager, citing work and family commitments. This year Breheny led the county to their first Connacht senior football title since 1975.

Breheny was appointed manager in February 2006, in the wake of Dom Corrigan's removal by the county board, but felt obligations to his auctioneering company made it too difficult to commit for another season.

"Initially it was a short-term arrangement but I decided to stay with it," said Breheny. "My only motivation was the interests of Sligo football. I regret stepping down but I'd like to say I'm leaving Sligo football in a much healthier than it was two years ago."

A three-man committee of county chairman John Murphy, Tommy Kilcoyne and John Clifford have been tasked with finding a replacement. Brendan Kilcoyne, who recently led St Eunan's to the Donegal county title, Mayo natives Liam McHale, David Brady and John Casey, along with Sligo IT manager Anthony Brennan and James Kearns are the initial candidates.

Meanwhile, former Offaly player Joe Dooley is expected to be named as successor to John McIntyre as manager of the county hurling team at a special meeting of the county board in Tullamore tomorrow night.

The Seir Kieran clubman, whose playing career spanned three decades, during which he won All-Ireland senior titles in 1985, '94 and '98, has no experience of intercounty management, but at club level he has taken charge of Seir Kieran and Tullamore in Offaly, and Toomevara in Tipperary in recent years.

Also expected to be confirmed as selectors at the meeting are Aidan Fogarty (St Rynagh's), Paddy Kirwan (Ballyskenagh) and Joe Errity (Birr).

The GAA have denied they are withdrawing the planning application for floodlights at Pearse Stadium in Galway. There was speculation this week the Galway County Board were set to abandon plans for floodlights at the Salthill venue and install them instead at Tuam Stadium or Duggan Park in Ballinasloe.

The chairman of the Pearse Stadium Development Committee, Frank Burke, conceded it may be necessary to withdraw their application and resubmit an altered plan. "But there is no question of us withdrawing our plans to install floodlights in Pearse Stadium. There are some planning issues to be sorted out and we want to work with Galway City Council in resolving these."

The GAA received a setback recently when Galway City Council refused planning permission for increased advertising hoarding on the upper level of the stand at the venue.

• The shinty/camogie international between Ireland and Scotland will take place next Sunday (1.0) at Fort William in Scotland.