EAMONN CREGAN, manager of the Offaly team that won the All-Ireland hurling title in 1994, has resigned. One of the foremost, coaches in the game, Cregan ends his association with the county after three years at the helm. The decision follows the county's defeat in the Leinster final at the hands of Wexford earlier this month.

Cregan's philosophy of hurling - a simple, direct game - has many admirers and his loss to Offaly cannot be underestimated. His high point with Offaly - the 1994 final win - was tinged with some regret as it was his native county, Limerick, that was defeated. If that victory was the high point, the subsequent 1995 point loss to Clare, when they were overwhelming favourites, was the low.

Persuaded to stay on after that defeat, Cregan now stands aside. The search for his successor gets underway immediately.