February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
DUBLIN — The uncertainty over the appointment of a Dublin hurling manager dragged on last week with Pad Joe Whelahan claiming to be "in the dark" over the job despite being nominated for the position by the management committee of the Dublin county board.
Whelahan, father of Offaly stars Brian and Simon, had won the vote by 7-6, but he subsequently wasn’t appointed and no reason has emerged for the decision.
"I’m not too happy over the way things have gone," said Whelahan, who coached both Birr and Toomevara at club level this year. "All I know is what I’ve read in the papers and nobody in Dublin has contacted me."
Both Liam Griffin and Babs Keating had been linked to the job at one stage, but Whelahan has been the only candidate in the frame since he was approached by the Dublin county board two months ago.
Club play
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Hot favorites Nemo Rangers had to battle to overcome London’s Tir Chonaill Gaels in last Sunday’s All-Ireland club football quarterfinal at Ruislip.
In the end, the Cork club came through by 2-8 to 0-6, with two fortunate goals against the run of play making the difference. The first came midway through the first half when Joe Kavanagh fisted home Niall Corkery’s free. The vital second was scored by Alan Cronin 15 minutes from full-time.
With Steven O’Brien in vintage form for the winners, Tir Chonaill Gaels were best served by corner-back Michael O’Donoghue and full-back Michael Gordon.
Nemo meet Leinster champions O’Hanrahan’s in the semifinal in the new year.
The Offaly football title went to Tullamore for the first time since 1977 when a goal by substitute Kevin Martin proved to be the decisive score in a 1-9 to 0-10 victory over Shamrocks in Tullamore. The final was watched by an estimated 5,000 spectators, an impressive turnout given that the game was played out of season.