Tyrone's O'Neill to refuse medal

GAELIC GAMES: TYRONE PLAYER Stephen O'Neill has revealed that he will refuse to accept the All-Ireland medal he won last September.

O'Neill made a sensational comeback for the final against Kerry, having quit the squad in a stunning move at the start of the season.

He came on as a substitute in the decider following a first-half injury to Colm McCullagh, and set up the Tommy McGuigan goal that eventually decided the tie and clinched Tyrone's third Sam Maguire Cup triumph in six seasons.

"I was only there for the two weeks before the final and I did not deserve to be going up those steps," he said.

O'Neill already has two All-Ireland medals, having been one of the star attackers on the 2003 and 2005 teams, winning the footballer of the year award in the latter season.

He is now firmly back in the Red Hand fold, having committed to the squad for next year's season.

Meanwhile another inter-county hurling manager's job needs to be filled with David McConn stepping down in Roscommon.

McConn leaves the post after two successful years in charge which saw Roscommon capture the 2007 Nicky Rackard Cup beating Armagh in the final.

Waterford native Kevin Ryan is the new Carlow senior hurling manager. Ryan, takes over from Jim Greene, another Waterford native, who resigned less than a month ago. Ryan was manager of Wexford clubside, Oulart-the-Ballagh who failed to retain the Wexford senior hurling title this year.