Boylan turns down post with Dublin hurlers

Seán Boylan has turned down the opportunity to become the next Dublin hurling manager. Having recently resigned after a 23-year stint in charge of the Meath footballers, he was informally approached regarding the vacant position but opted to stay out of intercounty management next year.

"I was asked to consider it but said no," said Boylan. "I was flattered to be asked but I'll be standing back for the next while."

This audacious move by the Dublin County Board was not completely off the chart. Although the Dunboyne herbalist's place in GAA history was secured with four All-Ireland football titles, his roots lie in hurling.

Dublin County Board chairman John Bailey is confident of appointing a successor to Tommy Naughton - who took the job on a temporary basis after Humphrey Kelleher's disastrous period in charge ended during this year's championship - some time next week.

"The process is coming along nicely," said Bailey. "We hope to be in a position to announce a new manager within seven to 10 days, at worst a fortnight. We are just finishing off work on the overall package."

Bailey refused to confirm whether the forthcoming appointment would be from outside the county but former Offaly player Vincent Teehan has been linked with the position as have Mick O'Riordan and Andy Cunningham.

Dublin under-21 manager Seán Lane and former manager in the late 1990s, Michael O'Grady, are also potential candidates.

Meanwhile, London have withdrawn from Sunday's match against an Ulster selection at the O'Donovan Rossa GAA club in Belfast after promised funding for the trip never came through from Croke Park.

The match was organised as a reward for winning the Nicky Rackard Cup but a statement was released from Croke Park yesterday cancelling the fixture.

"The problem is with funding that has not come through from Croke Park," said London County Board secretary, Tommy Harrell.

"The issue has been put on hold. It was supposed to be a reward for winning the Rackard Cup. Like the winners of the Christy Ring (Westmeath) won a trip to America, we won a trip to Ulster but it was very expensive and the situation is still not resolved. It's still ongoing."

Croke Park officials were unavailable for comment yesterday.

The Westmeath hurlers and Tommy Murphy Cup winners, Tipperary, depart for New York this weekend as a reward for success in their respective competitions.

Due to the trip, the Westmeath County Board have postponed their hurling final replay between Lough Lene Gaels and Castlepollard until Saturday week. This has the knock-on effect of the winners having to play Wicklow champions Glenealy 24 hours later in the Leinster club championship.