NEWS:THE FOOTBALL managerial recruitment process continued to take shape last night with Glenn Ryan succeeding Luke Dempsey as Longford manager on a two-year term.
This is Ryan's first senior intercounty position but he guided his native Kildare to the under-21 All-Ireland final this year, where they were defeated by Kerry. Ryan only retired as a player after the 2006 championship.
Jim Maguire, manager of Ryan's local club Round Towers and part of the Kildare under-21s backroom comes on board as the physical trainer, while Longford men Mickey Harkins and Ambrose McGowan are named as selectors.
Harkins hails from the St Mary's club but managed Abbelyara to the Longford title in 2006 while McGowan from Ballymahon took Dromard to the same success in 2005 and was previously in charge of the Westmeath minors.
Ryan's career in the Kildare defence coincided with the county's most successful period in modern times. Part of the side that made the 1991 National League final, the same year Mick O'Dwyer came on board, he went on to claim Leinster medals in 1998 and 2000, appearing in the All-Ireland final in '98. He was also recognised as an All Star in 1997 and 1998.
The new set-up replaces Dempsey, who remains in line for the vacant Meath position, after his four-year term with Longford.
The big football positions that still need to be filled for 2009 are in Kerry, Dublin and Meath. Pat O'Shea appears to have the option of continuing in Kerry while Eamonn O'Brien remains favourite to be named new Meath manager on October 13th.
It appears Brian Mullins has ruled himself out of the Dublin position, citing exterior commitments as head of sport in UCD and as chairman of St Vincent's club.
Mullins was unavailable for comment yesterday but seems to have joined a substantial list of men to sidestep replacing Paul Caffrey, including 1995 All-Ireland winning Dublin manager Dr Pat O'Neill, Joe Kernan and Jack O'Connor.
All-Ireland-winning junior Dublin manager Mick Deegan has expressed a desire to take on the job and unless an outstanding candidate is unearthed in the coming weeks he could well be confirmed at the county board meeting on November 3rd. Deegan may come with the entire junior management team of Mick Galvin and Jack Sheedy. All three men played for Dublin during the 1990s with Galvin and Deegan part of O'Neill's All-Ireland winning side.
Dublin County Board chairman Gerry Harrington and permanent secretary John Costello are responsible for recruiting a new manager but they have consulted with O'Neill and Kevin Heffernan during the process.
Meanwhile, the GAA have announced an investment of €260,000 in their national bursaries scheme for students attending higher education colleges; €155,000 of the total is contributed by the provincial councils with each bursary grant worth €1,000. "Such students may often feel the necessity to work during their college years, but these grants will now allow them to work with their college GAA club in a variety of areas without having to find work outside the college," read the GAA press release.
Finally, Seán Boylan will announce the Irish touring panel today for the upcoming two-Test series against Australia on October 24th and 31st. Boylan is expected to favour physically big footballers to counteract the obvious power and size of the professional AFL opponents. Tyrone's Conor Gormley, Joe and Justin McMahon, Enda McGinley and team captain Seán Cavanagh recently joined up with the squad and are all expected to travel.
The only ever foreign recipient of the Brownlow medal, AFL's highest individual accolade, Jim Stynes has advised Boylan to utilise the knowledge of his brother, 1995 All-Ireland winner Brian, who is now based in Melbourne.
"Brian should be Ireland's assistant coach," said Jim Stynes. "He opened the eyes of the Australian players a few years ago when they were struggling to adapt to the round ball and master the skills needed to win International Rules Tests.
"He put the players at ease and explained the tactics to them. In the same way, he would be the right man to help Ireland come to terms with Australia's tackling."
Boylan has already used the expertise of former Toulouse and Ireland flanker Trevor Brennan with regards to helping Irish players with tackling technique.
