Kerry native John Evans is expected to be confirmed tonight as the Tipperary football manager after being put forward for ratification by the county board.
A detective Garda based in Killarney, Evans comes into his first senior intercounty job after an impressive club and underage record with the Kerry under-21s, but most notably in guiding Laune Rangers to the All-Ireland club title in 1996. He was also at the helm for three county titles in 1993, 1995 and 1996.
In the past two seasons he has managed Kerins O'Rahillys, who lead Division One of the Kerry league, and was a candidate to succeed Jack O'Connor as senior manager before the position went to Pat O'Shea. O'Rahilly's lost in the quarter-final of the championship this season to eventual champions Mid-Kerry.
It is to be a two-year term but it will be reviewed by the football board after the 2008 season. Evans will be charged with attaining promotion from Division Four of the National League, starting against Kilkenny on February 3rd, and then finding a way past Limerick in the Munster championship first round.
The task facing him became more daunting by the recent retirement of Tipperary's only football All Star (in 1998 and 2003) Declan Browne. Captain of the Tipperary footballers when they won the Tommy Murphy Cup in 2005, Browne ensured Moyle Rovers' progression to the county final with an eight-point contribution in last weekend's victory over Aherlow. They face Fethard in Sunday's decider.
Considering Browne is still only 29, Evans will surely seek to change his mind ahead of next year's championship.
Meanwhile, floodlit matches are an even more pronounced feature of the 2008 National Football League with Saturday night fixtures taking prominence.
The Kieran McGeeney era in Kildare begins with a trip to Healy Park, Omagh, to play Tyrone under lights on Saturday, February 2nd. The other opening matches in the newly-structured league see Kerry travel up to Donegal and Derry host Mayo. Laois go to Galway on Sunday, February 3rd.
In Division Two, Dublin host Westmeath at Parnell Park on the Saturday night. They also finish their campaign at home to Meath, in round seven, on Sunday, April 13th.
The National Hurling League also has some enticing opening round ties on Sunday, February 10th, with All-Ireland champions Kilkenny travelling to Cork, league holders Waterford entertain Wexford, while Antrim make their way down to Parnell Park. There are five rounds of matches culminating on Sunday, March 23rd.
Unlike football, the hurling fixtures are all a 2.30pm throw-in, predominantly on Sundays.
The hurling final and football semi-finals will take place on the weekend of April 19/20th, with the hurling pencilled in for the Sunday afternoon. The football final takes place seven days later.
Crossmaglen Rangers' ever-present All Star forward Oisín McConville has declared himself fit for Sunday's Ulster club quarter-final against Clontibret. McConville suffered a recurrence of a back injury last weekend but having played a key role in the Armagh champions' four All-Ireland titles, dating back to 1997 and captaining them last season, he will feature this winter. He has also declared his availability for intercounty selection in 2008.
Galway star Pádraic Joyce says he wants to concentrate on Killererin's bid for the Connacht club title before turning his attention to the county team for next year.
Joyce is in line to be the Galway captain next year but it remains to be seen how the 30-year old features in the plans of new manager Liam Sammon.
In Galway the club champions have the right to nominate the county captain - Joyce and his cousin, Nicky Joyce, were Killererin's representatives on the Galway team this year.
"I will have a chat with Liam Sammon about it down the line but for now I want to concentrate on things with the club," said Joyce following Sunday's county final win over Milltown.
Joyce captained his club to their fifth county title and picked up the man-of-the-match award after scoring 0-6 and having a hand in most other scores in their 1-9 to 0-10 win over Milltown.
