KERRY WASTED little time replacing Jack O’Connor with Éamonn Fitzmaurice but some other major football and hurling counties have yet to solve the same problem.
Granted in Dublin it has only been 48 hours since Pat Gilroy bade adieu after four years and one All-Ireland title banked. Cork officials and Conor Counihan have yet to break bread over a third term, while former heavyweight counties like Meath and Down have some serious decisions to make in the coming days, weeks and potentially months.
They will also be desperate to get it right in Tipperary after the hurlers ultimately failed to carry on from the 2010 success these past two years under Declan Ryan. Back-to-back Munster crowns simply doesn’t cut it anymore.
HURLING
Dublin: Awaiting confirmation of Anthony Daly’s return for a fifth season.
Laois: Searching for a replacement since Cork’s Teddy McCarthy departed.
Offaly: Ollie Baker recently reappointed for second year.
Tipperary: The return of Liam Sheedy or even Nicky English initially floated, but the county executive is in no rush to replace Declan Ryan.
Antrim: Vacant since Jerry Wallace departed in August.
FOOTBALL
Dublin: Under-21 boss Jim Gavin is the early favourite but Pat Gilroy only walked away on Wednesday night.
Meath: Paddy Carr, club All-Ireland winning manager with Kilmacud Crokes and former minor manager, is being whispered as the favourite to replace Séamus McEnaney but this could run a little while yet.
Wexford: Jason Ryan’s relatively successful five-year tenure has just ended, making it a huge task for the county board to find someone as highly respected as both coach and man manager.
Laois: Justin McNulty to get a third year.
Kildare: Despite failing to make a significant breakthrough (no Leinster title or All-Ireland appearance), Kieran McGeeney continues for a sixth year with the Lilywhites.
Carlow: Vacant after Luke Dempsey’s departure.
Cork: Conor Counihan is not expected to seek a third term, bringing his stint up to six years, but no discussions have taken place yet. John Cleary as under-21 bainisteoir is a consideration but there would be plenty of names in the mix.
Clare: Vacant after Michael McDermott’s departure.
Tipperary: Peter Creedon poised to continue having only taken over during the league and led them through an impressive qualifier campaign.
Waterford: Vacant after John Owens’ departure.
Sligo: Would like Kevin Walsh to remain for a fifth campaign but his selector Paul Durcan would be a popular replacement should Walsh move on.
Monaghan: Aidan O’Rourke is favourite to bring his experience as an assistant boss with both Armagh and Kildare into a managerial position.
Antrim: Position vacant after Liam Bradley served a fourth term.
Derry: Liam Bradley was initially tipped to return home and manage his sons Paddy and Eoin, but Brian McIver is poised to succeed John Brennan, having already managed Donegal.
Armagh: Paul Grimley, Joe Kernan’s number two in 2002, finally gets a chance at the top job in his native county.
Down: Uncertain as James McCartan has done three years, which included an All-Ireland final appearance in 2010.
