London boss Deely in frame for Louth job
LONDON manager Ciaran Deely has emerged as a surprise candidate for the vacant Louth manager’s job.
The Wexford native has been in charge of the Exiles for the past three seasons and works for QPR as a sport scientist, but the indications are that he may be considering a return to Ireland and it’s believed he was nominated for the vacant Louth position by a Dundalk club.
One man who won’t be taking over from Pete McGrath is former Reds’ goalkeeper Colm Nally. The current Castleknock chief would have been a popular choice amongst supporters given his background and coaching acumen, but he confirmed this week that he didn’t apply for the job.
Other local names doing the rounds include Peter Fitzpatrick, Wayne McKeever and Wayne Kierans, but while the latter two still lack experience, the former has been out of the loop of GAA management since departing the Louth hotseat in 2012 to concentrate on his political career.
Last week Colin Kelly refused to rule himself out of a return and it has since emerged that he was in fact nominated by a mid-Louth club.
Whether by accident or design, the selection committee to find a new manager have been afforded a bit of breathing space after the Louth CCC put the Senior Championship quarter-finals back until mid-September.
Chairman Des Halpenny revealed at last month’s county board meeting that he hoped the new manager would be appointed in time to run the rule over players in the championship knockout stages.
The CCC have since performed a partial U-turn, bringing the relegation play-offs forward to the last weekend in August, but the quarter-finals are still fixed for September 15/16.
While the move has been widely criticised, one club it should suit is St Patrick’s, who now expect to have Paddy Keenan, and possibly Darragh Lafferty, back in time for their quarter-final date with Sean O’Mahony’s.
Clubs are back in league action this weekend as the final rounds in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 go down for decision on Saturday and Sunday.
In Division 1 Newtown Blues, Dreadnots and Mattock Rangers are already assured of O’Donnell Cup semi-final places, but the final spot will be decided by a winner-takesall showdown between Naomh Mairtin and Clan Na Gael at Monatserboice. The latter currently trail their hosts by two points, but can overhaul the Jocks on head-to-head if they win on Saturday night.
The permutations are a lot more complex at the other end of the table. Dundalk Gaels and Geraldines currently fill the relegation and play-off places respectively, but mathematically they can still catch both Cooley Kickhams and St Mary’s.
At the moment the Gaels are bottom on head-to-head from the Gers, but if both were to win their final game and either Cooley or St Mary’s were to lose, they could flip positions as the Gaels boast a better score difference.
In Division 2 Kilkerley can pip long-time leaders O Raghallaigh’s to the title if they beat the Drogheda side on home soil on Sunday afternoon. Further back, Naomh Fionnbarra can force their way into the play-off spots if they beat O’Connells, denying their neighbours a top-4 spot in the process.
The relegation places in the second tir are already decided with Roche already doomed and Glen Emmets heading for the play-offs.
In Division 3, Dundalk Young Irelands can claim the title with a win over Naomh Malachi in their final game, but Na Piarsaigh will be ready to pounce if their neighbours slip up.
The latter have since been awarded the points from their abandoned match with Lannleire last time out, which brings them level with the Irelanders.
Whoever doesn’t win the title is guaranteed a play-off spot along with third-placed St Kevin’s. Lannleire are still favourites to hang on to the final play-off spot with Naomh Malachi and Stabannon Parnells hoping to profit if the mid-Louth men slip up.