Could Louth possibly win Mickey’s heart?
THE inter-county managerial merry-go-round is in full swing and Louth are just one of the counties who are on the lookout for a new manager.
A five man subcommittee consisting of County Board Chairman Peter Fitzpatrick, Vice-Chairman Sean McClean, Secretary Bob Doheny, Treasurer Aidan Berrill and Operations Manager Francie McMullen has been set up to oversee the process.
Interviewed at the weekend on local radio Peter Fitzpatrick spoke about the subcommittee seeking an ‘ambitious appointment’ with 50 names currently being considered.
That number he said will be whittled down to five or ten candidates in the next few days. He added that no stone would be left unturned in the search, but categorically ruled out early front-runner former Armagh player Tony McEntee who was in attendance as a guest at last month’s county final in Darver.
When asked about the recently departed Tyrone boss Mickey Harte, Fitzpatrick said they will be contacting him if he was available.
Speaking to the BBC at yesterday’s Cavan/Down Ulster semi-final Harte expressed his disappointment at not being granted the opportunity to lead
Tyrone for one more season after the Management Committee turned down his request.
He hinted, however, at a possible swift return to GAA management saying he is ‘not putting the slippers on just yet’.
Now that would be some coup for Fitzer & Co if they could land the three time All-Ireland winning manager for Louth in 2021.
In what was a really awful weekend of wet and miserable weather thank God for the TV coverage of GAA championship matches.
Our neighbours Cavan and Meath reached provincial finals for the second year in succession with remarkable semi-final victories at the weekend over Down and Kildare respectively.
Trailing by six points at the break Meath looked on the verge of a disappointing championship exit but were completely transformed in the second half blasting five goals to comfortably brush aside a surprisingly poor Lilywhite effort.
That’s twelve goals in two championship outings for the Colm Nally coached side and they’ll need to raise plenty more green flags in next Saturday evening’s decider if they’re to have any chance of troubling champions Dublin, who earlier trounced Laois by 22 points.
Meath have improved significantly from last season but are still some way short of what the Dubs are capable of. Dessie Farrell’s men didn’t need to get out of second gear for Westmeath or Laois and probably won’t need to for Meath either.
This lack of quality preparation could prove costly later in the competition.
The Breffni men staged a stunning comeback against Down at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh to overturn a ten point deficit to prevail by a single point.
The victory sets Mickey Graham’s side up for a repeat of last season’s Ulster decider following Donegal’s impressive twelvepoint hammering of Armagh. I expect Cavan to push them hard next weekend but favourites Donegal under the direction of Declan Bonner and Stephen Rochford simply have too much quality within their ranks.
Elsewhere Mayo claimed their 47th Connacht title , their first since 2015, as they held off a late Galway rally in Salthill to prevail by 0-14 to 0-13. James Horan’s side now have a two week rest before they tackle either Cork or Tipperary in the All Ireland semi-final.
The other semi-final is likely to throw up a repeat of the 2014 last four clash of Donegal and
Dublin where Jim McGuinness masterminded Dublin’s last championship defeat (3-14 to 0-17).
WOEFUL LUCK
STEPHEN Kenny is somehow remaining optimistic despite the woeful luck he’s had with injuries, withdrawals and missed chances since taking charge of the Ireland setup. Following last Thursdays 3-0 loss at Wembley his team again failed to find the target in a 1-0 defeat to Wales in Cardiff. Despite another encouraging performance Ireland are still seeking the first victory under Kenny and return to Dublin to face Bulgaria in their final Nations League Group H game on Wednesday.
NO JOY FOR IRISH
THERE was no joy either for Shane Lowry or Rory McIlroy at Augusta as World Number One Dustin Johnson obliterated the field to win his first Masters title by five shots in a new record low round of 20 under par. McIlroy’s first round Major woes continued with an opening 75 but he recovered strongly to finish in a tie for 5th. Lowry started and finished poorly with rounds of 74 and 73 sandwiched between two excellent rounds of 68 and 69.