Search begins for new senior football manager

THE Football Board, led by chairman John Galvin and secretary Sean McAuliffe, have begun the search for a new senior football manager.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, the 58-year-old Kenmare man who has guided the fortunes of the Limerick senior football team for the past five years, informed Football Board officials on Thursday evening that he did not wish to be considered for a sixth successive season in charge.
Speaking on behalf of the out-going management team Mickey Ned O’Sullivan told Leader Sport that Limerick now needed a “new voice” and that he his decision to step down was in the “best interests of the team”.
“From my point of view five years is a long time to be involved with one team,” Mickey Ned O’Sullivan said.
“I want what is best for the team and what is best for Limerick football now is a new voice and a new approach.
“And, I hope that new voice can refresh and re-energise the team,” O’Sullivan said.
“I don’t think that as a management team we could have been any better this year.
“At the start of each year we asked ourselves how we could improve as a management team and how we could take it to the next level. And, in everything we did this year I thought we were excellent.
“I find it very difficult to see how we could improve on that. I hope a new appointment can take Limerick to that next level,” O’Sullivan added.
O’Sullivan’s term in charge came to a technical end when the Shannonsiders suffered a defeat at the hands of Cork in an All-Ireland qualifier on July 24 (0-16 to 1-11 after extra-time at the Gaelic Grounds), but the Football Board had been hopeful of tempting the Kerry man back for at least one more year.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan was appointed manager of the Limerick senior footballers prior to the 2006 championship. While Limerick won the National Football League Division Four title this year the efforts of Mickey Ned’s men in the championship proved ultimately frustrating.
Meanwhile the group phase of the senior football championship will come to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday next when six games throw-in at 6.45pm. Over the weekend, in group one, St. Patrick’s hammered St. Kieran’s (4-13 to 0-12), Claughaun lost to Drom-Broadford (0-4 to 0-9) while Ballysteen got the better of Monaleen (1-10 to 2-5).
Those results essentially mean that Drom-Broadford have won the group with a game to play, that Claughaun must beat Ballysteen or hope that Monaleen get the better of St. Patrick’s to stave off their relegation play-off fears. St. Patrick’s however are more than capable of putting one over on Monaleen in what promises to be a terrific game in Claughaun.
In the intermediate championship Mungret, thanks to a 0-16 to 1-5 win over Cappamore, face Athea next Sunday at 6.45pm knowing that a win would guarantee them a play-off spot. Na Piarsaigh will be hoping Athea can do them a favour in that tie, but must also beat group leaders Mountcollins in Newcastle West to have any hope of making progress.
Na Piarsaigh drew with Hospital-Herbertstown on Friday night - 2-7 to 1-10.

BRIAN MCDONNELL