Gilroy confirmed as Dublin manager

Pat Gilroy has been officially confirmed as the new manager of the Dublin footballers. His appointment, for a period of two years, was ratified at a meeting of the Dublin county committee tonight. The 36-year-old will be joined by selectors Paul Nugent, Paddy O'Donoghue and Mickey Whelan, who managed Dublin for a period in the late 1990s, on the management team.

Gilroy emerged as the suprise choice to succeed Paul Caffrey yesterday afternoon and has little management experience to speak of - he looked after the St Vincent's senior side in 2003 and was in charge of DCU for this year's Sigerson Cup.

Brian Mullins had been the favourite to secure the job while Mick Deegan and Paul Bealin were also understood to be in the frame.

The meeting to decide Ger Loughnane's future as the Galway hurling manager, meanwhile, has been postponed for a second occasion.

The county board will now meet on Monday where it is expected the former Clare coach will be ratified for a third year in charge of the Tribesmen.