GAELIC FOOTBALL:Former Westmeath manager Tomás Ó Flatharta is reportedly the favourite, but is challenged by three Galway locals: Pete Warren, who was a selector with John O'Mahony's All-Ireland winning management in 1998 and 2001, current Galway minor manager and former Offaly manager Gerry Fahy, who lives in Galway and also coaches Barna, and Matt Duggan. Former Mayo player Pat Fallon, one of the original candidates, withdrew last week.
GALWAY REMAIN one of the last high-profile football counties without a manager in place for 2011 but hope to have that position filled before the end of the week. The four candidates have now been interviewed and the announcement as to who will succeed Joe Kernan is now pending.
The sub-committee charged with interviewing the candidates was headed by football board chairman John Joe Holleran.
“The interview process went very well,” he said. “We were very happy with how they all went. There is a possibility that we could re-interview some of the candidates if we are undecided.
“We don’t know yet, but there may be an announcement this week.”
The new manager will definitely be in place ahead of the Galway football final, which is set for October 17th, and features two-time defending champions Corofin taking on Killererin.
Meath are now the only other county without a football manager in place for next season. Mayo and Fermanagh filled their vacancies last week – with James Horan and John O’Neill respectively – while Monaghan last night appointed Eamonn McEneaney.
McEneaney will take charge of both the senior and under-21 teams in the county in what will be his second stint as Monaghan manager. He has been given a three-year term with a review after two seasons.
Nominations for the vacant Meath post are also due this week, following the county committee delegates’ controversial refusal to reappoint Eamon O’Brien despite his two years having yielded an All-Ireland semi-final place and then this year a Leinster title, albeit won in highly-disputed circumstances.
Finally, the GAA yesterday launched a revamped third level colleges’ website – www.he.gaa.ie – to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Sigerson Cup in 2011. The Ulster Bank Higher Education Sigerson Cup Centenary Sevens tournament takes place tomorrow in DCU and at Trinity College Playing Grounds on Santry Avenue.
The matches begin at 11am and continue until 4.30pm with 22 teams from third-level institutions from around the country competing.
