News round-up: Mick O'Dwyer is expected to announce his return to intercounty management - with Wicklow - at a media conference to be held in Dublin's Westbury Hotel this afternoon. Whereas the news was unexpected, it was known Wicklow were interested in recruiting a high-profile name; the county had been linked with the former Meath and current Ireland manager, Seán Boylan, as well as the Waterville man.
O'Dwyer spoke to Wicklow officials, who had been looking for a manager in recent weeks, and though the county board declined to comment, it is believed he is about to be launched in his fourth intercounty managerial position - after Kerry, Kildare and Laois.
O'Dwyer has been an intercounty manager in Leinster for longer than he spent in Munster when leading Kerry to eight All-Irelands, but this would be the greatest challenge of his career, albeit the one with fewest expectations.
Wicklow's footballers struggled this season and manager Hugh Kenny stepped down after the championship defeat by Carlow. But the county have had some success at club level, Rathnew winning Leinster five years ago and Baltinglass the All-Ireland in 1990.
At junior level, Wicklow have been All-Ireland champions in 1936 and 2002 but they are one of only two counties - with Fermanagh - never to have won a senior provincial title, though they did win the senior B All-Ireland in 1992, defeating Antrim in the final.
Meanwhile, there is likely to be a review of the decision to stage the Dublin senior football semi-finals this Thursday. The games - Kilmacud Crokes-UCD and Na Fianna-St Vincent's - were fixed for midweek rather than Saturday and this has not been well received by the clubs.
A county board source yesterday denied the scheduling had been forced on the activities committee by next weekend's Railway Cup hurling semi-final between Leinster and Ulster, advertised for Parnell Park.
"That isn't the case," said the source. "That match was published for Parnell Park but it was made clear to Croke Park that it might be needed by Dublin and that availability would be confirmed or not this week."
Whereas no official representations had been received by yesterday afternoon, it is expected both Kilmacud and Vincent's will protest the Thursday fixture, and a review of the semi-final arrangements is likely.
Meanwhile, over the weekend the death was announced of the former intercounty referee John Moloney from Tipperary. The last man to have officiated at All-Ireland football as well as hurling finals, he had charge of football deciders in 1967 (Meath-Cork), 1969 (Kerry-Offaly), 1973 (Cork-Galway), 1975 (Kerry-Dublin) and 1977 (Dublin-Armagh) as well as the hurling final between Kilkenny and Limerick in 1974.
Moloney also has the distinction of having refereed 60-, 80- and 70-minute finals as well as All-Ireland finals at all grades in both codes.
During a refereeing career that lasted 46 years Moloney also took charge of 11 provincial finals in Munster, nine football and two hurling.
A member of Galtee Rovers St Pecaun's club in Tipperary, he was club president at the time of his unexpected passing and was one of the recipients of the first President's Awards in 2004 for his many achievements.
His death follows closely on that of another All-Ireland referee, Simon Deignan of Cavan, who passed away last month.
Another death to have occurred in recent days is that of Down All-Ireland winner Jarlath Carey, who played at centrefield in the All-Ireland victories of 1960 and 1961 and won five Ulster medals as well as two National League titles (1960 and 1962). A native of Antrim, he was 74.
The former Wexford and Cork hurling star John Meyler has joined the race to become the next Wexford hurling manager.
Meyler, who played inter-county hurling with his native county, before throwing in his lot with St Finbarr's and the Rebel county, has been interviewed for the vacant post.
