Damien O'Reilly has been appointed caretaker manager of Cavan's footballers. He will take charge for the remaining National League matches before the winter break, against Tyrone and Dublin. An experienced and extremely versatile player who had a fine season in the county's run to an All-Ireland semi-final, he is currently taking a rest from playing to have a troublesome knee injury looked at again before reaching any decision on resuming his inter-county career.
According to local radio reports, O'Reilly has emphatically ruled out any interest in taking the job on a more permanent basis. He steps into the breach caused originally by Martin McHugh's decision to step down, despite having led the county to provincial success last summer. Cavan's problems were exacerbated by Mattie Kerrigan's eleventh-hour rejection of the job only last Friday.
County Board chairman Brendan Keany indicated earlier this week that he expected the selection process to take quite a while and it is not surprising that officials have moved to take the team matters in hand given Cavan's poor start to the league which has seen defeats to Kerry and neighbours Monaghan.
Among the names mentioned as possible candidates are former All-Ireland winning Donegal manager Brian McEniff, Joe Kernan, who led Crossmaglen to the AllIreland club title, and former Galway player Brian Talty who took St Sylvester's to last year's Dublin county title.
Clare hurler Colin Lynch was yesterday presented with the NIB Player of the Month award for September's display in the All-Ireland final. The equivalent football citation went to Maurice Fitzgerald who was unable to travel and who will receive his presentation in Cahirciveen next week.
It has been a remarkable year for Lynch who graduated to senior championship at the relatively late age of 25, having been a regular on the panel for the last two years. His displays at centrefield were significant factors in the county's march to Munster and All-Ireland success.
An accomplished footballer who has played the big-ball game for Clare, he is the second member of his original club, Lissycasey, to win the award this summer as Lynch's friend Martin Daly was the June recipient in recognition of his injury-time goal which put Cork out of the football championship.
Tribute was paid to him by Des Crowe, the county PRO, who pointed out that Lynch would be eligible to declare in football for Eire Og, the Ennis club where he plays his hurling, but that he chooses to remain with the club where he grew up.
A virtual certainty to start for Munster in the weekend's Railway Cup in Ballinasloe, he looks back on a great year and readily chooses his favourite match.
"I would say the Munster final was the game that I'd have enjoyed the most," he says. "It was the first really massive game that I'd played in and to go out and win, beat Tipperary was great. Things fell well for me on the day."
The chairman of the Offaly Co Board, Brendan Ward last night ruled out discussions on the injury sustained by Finbar Cullen in an off-the-ball incident in last Sunday's league game against Dublin in Parnell Park.
Ward who deplored the incident which resulted in Cullen having three teeth knocked out, told delegates at last night's meeting that discussion should wait until the referee submits his report.
D J Carey has confirmed that he is taking a break from hurling. "I feel I need a break at this stage, and I won't be returning until next March," said the former All-Star who feels drained after six years of constant activity.
Carey has struggled recently after picking up a bad bout of food poisoning while attending the Ryder Cup in Valderrama. He lost over a stone in weight.
Friends of last year's Galway manager Val Daly have organised a function tomorrow night to pay tribute to his contribution to Galway football. Having made his debut for the county in 1981, Daly was an ever-present on Galway teams for 16 years, including last May when he appeared as playermanager in the championship against Mayo in Tuam. He was surprisingly not given a second year even though the team performed well in defeat.
Taking place in the Great Southern Hotel, Eyre Square, the event starts at around 9.30 and all are welcome.
Centre back Bernard Morris has been selected as player of the year by the Dublin branch of the Cavan Supporters' Club.
Munster (SH panel v Connacht): D Fitz- gerald (Clare), J Quaid (Limerick), P Shelly (Tipperary), D O'Sullivan (Cork), S McDonagh (Limerick), B Lohan, F Lohan, M O'Halloran, L Doyle (all Clare), M Ryan, Conal Bonnar, Colm Bonnar (all Tipperary), T Browne (Waterford), C Carey (Limerick), T Dunne (Tipperary), C Lynch, P J O'Connell (both Clare), M Galligan (Limerick), J Leahy, L Cahill (both Tipperary), N Gilligan (Clare), O Moran, J Moran, M Foley (all Limerick), D Forde (Clare).
Ulster (SH panel v Leinster): G Clarke (Down), S Baillie (Antrim), S Murray (Down), C McCambridge (Antrim), M Mallon, P Coulter, M Coulter (all Down), J Connolly, N Elliott (both Antrim), G McGrattan, B Coulter (both Down), J Carson, A Elliott, Gregory O'Kane (all Antrim), N Sands (Down), S Elliott, J El- liott, S P McKillop (all Antrim), G Savage (Down), D McDermott (Donegal), J Hamill, C Guckian, R McNaughton (all Antrim).
