Andrews resigns as Cavan manager

Val Andrews yesterday announced his decision to step down as Cavan senior football manager, citing lack of support within the county.

A county board meeting on Monday night ended with Andrews gaining an endorsement for another year but he subsequently questioned the level of support. The club delegates voted 40-24 in favour of giving him another year in charge but that, said Andrews, wasn't good enough.

"I have to say that I was disappointed with the level of support in the county," said the Dublin man. "And I was left a little disillusioned after the vote. To have a third of the clubs voting against me meant that I did question my commitment to the position.

"And it is a huge commitment for modern managers. I've driven a lot of miles and put in a lot of hours, and everyone knows the task involved these days. When you had that many people voting to get rid of me, I decided to reconsider the position and I just felt it wasn't worth it."

Andrews took the position in January 1999 after Liam Austin was voted out in one of the more controversial county disputes of recent years. At the time, Cavan were at the bottom of Division Two but Andrew's started an immediate improvement.

In his three seasons in charge, Cavan were promoted to Division One and maintained that position. This summer they reached the Ulster final for the first time since 1997. Despite being underdogs to Tyrone, they lost out by just two points. They then fell to Derry in the fourth-round qualifier.

"I did enjoy my time and the players have been great. They have turned it around and done very well and I have full praise for them and for the selectors as well. Every year we have improved, and I think as a county some respect was restored.

"But I've driven something like 100,000 miles over the three years because I was in Kerry when I first started and to have some people question that commitment just decided it for me."

County PRO Barney Cully described the decision as very disappointing: "Val got on very well with the players and he was always very easy to work with." The executive committee of the county board had put forward no other name except Andrews' for ratification.

Meanwhile, Eamonn Cregan was last night handed another 12-month period in charge of the Limerick hurling team. The county board executive had recommended his reappointment, for a fifth year, and that of his selectors Joe Grimes, Michael Fitzgerald, Canon Willie Fitzmaurice and Mossie Carroll.

Paddy Carr, who last week was named the new Louth senior football manager in place of Paddy Clarke, has named Danny Culligan and Gerry Sheridan as his two selectors.

Elsewhere, Kilmacud Crokes have released details of this year's teams for the All-Ireland Sevens football competition on Saturday 22nd. Forty eight of the leading club from across the country will be represented this year, including last year's finalists Crossmolina of Mayo and winners Castlewellan of Down.