MAHER IS NEW LAOIS CHIEF
“A lot of players talk about it being a difficult course and struggle to get a way around it, but Shane sees it nicely and it just fits his eye.”
There was also no hiding Lowry’s admiration for Manchip, speaking warmly once again about their relationship after maintaining a knack for his successes being big ones.
“I’ve known Neil for over 18 years and it’s been a long kind of relationship,” said Lowry.
“We’re very close and it’s much more than a golf or business working relationship.
Friendly
“We are very friendly. He probably knows more about me than anybody else. Any time I’m struggling, he knows what I’m doing to get me back.
“Out on tour, it’s easy to get distracted by coaches, and what everyone else is doing.
“I feel like if you’re good enough to get on tour and you own yourself and commit to that, you’ll get further than chopping and changing from coach to coach trying to get better.
“You very rarely see players under-coached. You see a lot of players being over-coached. Yeah, we keep it simple and have our own way to do it.”
WILLIE MAHER has been confirmed as the new Laois senior hurling manager.
The Tipperary native’s appointment concludes a lengthy process to find Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s (pictured) successor, with his fellow countyman Ryan O’Dwyer appearing to have been in pole position for the role at one stage.
“Laois GAA are delighted to announce that Willie Maher’s name was submitted to the Laois GAA Executive by the hurling selection committee tonight for the position of senior hurling manager and was ratified accordingly,” read a statement from the county board.
Linked
It’s Maher’s first assignment as a senior inter-county manager having been linked with the job in Tipperary following Liam Sheedy’s departure last year.
He previously managed Tipp at minor and under-21 level, his biggest successes being the Munster and All-Ireland minor titles back in 2012.
He was also part of Derek McGrath’s management team in Waterford for the 2014 season and has been active on the club circuit.
He led Cuala to Dublin titles in 2019 and 2020 and is currently in charge of Kilkenny club Bennettsbridge.
The Ballingarry man will be tasked with restoring Laois to hurling’s top tier after they endured a difficult season this year with relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup.