Crisis Management

Offaly footballers on strike: Gerry Fahy's decision not to accept another term as Offaly manager means the county is searching…

Offaly footballers on strike: Gerry Fahy's decision not to accept another term as Offaly manager means the county is searching to fill their football senior management position for the third time in two years.

Fahy replaced Paul O'Kelly at the end of last year and set about leading Offaly to promotion and the Division Two title. They lost the first round of the Leinster championship to Westmeath by a point - albeit controversially as one of Westmeath's scores had actually gone wide. In the qualifiers they beat Kildare before being knocked out by Wexford.

O'Kelly had been unceremoniously voted out after one year, having taken over from Pauric Nolan, who had survived three years. Before that, Tommy Lyons was in charge for three championship seasons.

With Mike McNamara also deciding against reappointment, the Offaly hurling management continues along an even more unsettled road. There have been eight managers since 1990.

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The former Clare and Galway trainer took over two years ago from Fr Tom Fogarty, who had lasted just a single season in charge. Before that, Michael Bond had returned for a year in 2001, and before that Pat Fleury had taken charge for just a year.

Bond's previous two-year term ran before that, while Babs Keating, John McIntyre, Eamonn Cregan and Padraig Horan had also held the position since 1990.