On the subject of a possible switch to the managerial chair in Dublin, Offaly manager Tommy Lyons said once again that he is not interested in the job. "I really have no interest in such a move and it is highly unlikely that I will change my mind. I have enjoyed working with Offaly and I haven't really given the future any thought," he said. Lyons, who managed Kilmacud Crokes to an All-Ireland club title, was high on the list of candidates when Dublin appointed Mickey Whelan in the wake of the county's 1995 All-Ireland success and following the resignation of Dr Pat O'Neill.

Asked about the new set-up for the National League, Lyons admitted that he didn't pay any attention to the draw as far as Offaly are concerned. "To tell you the truth the only thing which interested me in the past two or three weeks, as far as football is concerned, was our championship commitments. The league wasn't on our agenda," he said.

Told that Offaly were in the same group as Kerry, Cavan, Dublin, Tyrone, Wexford, Sligo and Monaghan, he said with a laugh: "In that case I will certainly resign. That looks a very tough group indeed. It will take a lot of very hard work to get into the quarter-finals out of that group."

Former Monaghan manager Michael McCormack has been appointed to take charge of the Longford football team. McCormack has agreed to a two-year contract.