Dublin close in on Fennelly

Kevin Fennelly has become the leading candidate to take over as manager of the Dublin senior hurling team. The former Kilkenny player and manager is due to sit down with Dublin County Board officials this morning and may be confirmed in the position within a matter of days.

Fennelly was first approached about the job three weeks ago, but at the time was heading off for a holiday in Spain and only returned on Tuesday night.

An All-Ireland medal winner from 1979, and winner of three All-Ireland club medals between 1981 and 1990, the Shamrocks man first managed Kilkenny's under-21 side. He then made a big impact with the Young Irelands club. As manager of Kilkenny in 1998, he ended the five-year run of defeats at the hands of Wexford and Offaly in the Leinster championship, only to lose the All-Ireland final to Offaly after they reentered the championship.

That period, however, wasn't without its problems for Fennelly. He resigned soon after the championship due to criticism surrounding relationships within the Kilkenny camp.

"That experience did leave a sour taste of managerial hurling," he said yesterday. "I had an awful lot to deal with at the time, and I was more or less fed up with things at the end of the year.

"But I'm not going to say that I'm not interested in the Dublin job," Fennelly added. "I'll see what they have to say. It may suit to get involved outside Kilkenny."

Meanwhile, Michael Walsh has been appointed the new Carlow hurling manager. The former Kilkenny goalkeeper takes over from Eddie Byrne, and also fills a position that was held by his father Ollie Walsh in the late 1970s.

Kilkenny midfielder Andy Comerford will not be available to the county during the league. The 27-year-old struggled last season with a groin injury and will sign in at Dublin's Mater Hospital for surgery on January 31st, the day after the All-Ireland champions return from a holiday in Thailand.

New Carlow football manager Pat Roe will be without O'Hanrahans players Mark Carpenter, Alan Bowe, Andrew Cordon, Ken Walker and Breffni Hannon for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup tie with Wicklow as they are preparing for the All-Ireland club semi-final against Nemo Rangers on February 18th. O'Byrne Cup holders Longford host Laois, also on Sunday.