Johnny Kelly has been confirmed as the new Offaly senior hurling manager.
Kelly succeeds Michael Fennelly, alongside whom he had worked as a coach over the past three years as Offaly won promotion from the Christy Ring Cup at the second attempt before missing out on a place in the Joe McDonagh Cup final this year.
It emerged in July that Fennelly, who appeared keen to continue in the role, would not be offered a fourth year at the helm.
READ MORE: Benny Coulter appointed as Down minor football manager
There is no confirmation as to the make-up of Kelly’s management team though it is believed that there may be a role for former Tipperary manager and coach Eamon O’Shea in the coming months.
O’Shea was strongly linked to Offaly some weeks ago along with Liam Sheedy, with the pair having worked together when Tipperary won All-Irelands in 2010 and ‘19, though while Sheedy subsequently withdrew his interest, O’Shea may yet be drafted in.
Considering that Offaly’s McDonagh Cup campaign ended way back on May 21 with a surprise home defeat to Carlow, the appointment process was rather drawn out, with 107 days passing before Fennelly was succeeded by his right-hand man.
Kelly has extensive experience on the club circuit having led his native Portumna to successive All-Ireland titles in 2008 and ‘09, while he has enjoyed success in Offaly too having steered Coolderry to the county title in 2015.
His last notable achievement was winning Tipperary and Munster titles with Borris-Ileigh before they went on to lose the 2020 All-Ireland club final to Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Kelly, who has also managed Galway under-21s and Roscommon, is currently in charge of another Tipp club, Eire Og Nenagh, and becomes the first Galway man to manage Offaly since Michael Bond, who led the county to the last of their four All-Ireland titles in 1998.
Meanwhile, Colm O’Rourke has completed his Meath senior football management team.
As had already been reported, Paul Garrigan has been drafted over from the county’s much lauded ladies football set up as coach while Eugene Eivers, who was also part of the ladies management team, joins as strength and conditioning coach.
Former Dublin goalkeeper Shane Supple, who also played soccer professionally in both Ireland and England and even earned an international call-up under Martin O’Neill, will be O’Rourke’s goalkeeping coach.
Elsewhere, ex-Down star Benny Coulter has been named as the county’s minor football manager.
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