February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Sean Creedon
The Kilkenny County Board are looking for another hurling manager, the second in 12 months.
Kevin Fennelly, who was offered a second term in office, has decided to step down.
"It was a decision I made with some reluctance, but I just could not see myself getting the time to make the commitment I feel would be needed if Kilkenny were to make a positive bid to win the All-Ireland final next year," Fennelly said last week.
That’s the official line, but obviously Fennelly was upset at stinging criticism from former county players Eddie O’Connor and John Power after the All-Ireland loss to Offaly.
Meanwhile, Corkman Gerald McCarthy is staying on as manager of the Waterford hurlers. But the Decies county have a new football boss. He is John Cummins, the father of dual Tipperary star Brendan.
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Also, despite some criticism of the Munster council during the year, Ger Loughnane has been reappointed manager of the Munster hurling team for the Interprovincial Series (old Railway Cup).
Another manager staying put is Michael Conneely. There had been speculation that he would leave Roscommon and return to his native Galway to replace Cyril Farrell. But he has now decided to stay with "Ros" and the search for a new Galway boss goes on.
Good draw for Galway
The restructured National Football League gets under way on Sunday, Nov. 1. All-Ireland champions Galway should be happy with the news that they will have four of their seven League games at Tuam Stadium. The newly crowned champions will play their first competitive game against Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon a week from Sunday.
Neutral grounds sought
It now looks like the Republic of Ireland’s European championship game against Yugoslavia will be played at a neutral venue on Nov. 17. Grounds in Italy, Switzerland and Germany have been mentioned as likely venues for the game, which was originally due to be played in Belgrade on Nov. 10.
Marathon draws a crowd
The 19th Dublin City Marathon will be held over the streets of Dublin on Monday, Oct. 26. Race director Jim Aughney says the numbers are up again this year. After a boom in the early 1980s, the numbers have dropped off in recent years. But the organizers are now hoping to reach the 10,000 mark again for the Millennium Race.