JIM GAVIN was ratified as Dublin senior football manager on a three-year term last night, while it was also confirmed Anthony Daly will remain in charge of the hurlers for 2013.
Gavin replaces Pat Gilroy, who revived Dublin’s fortunes, evolving their style of play during his four-year tenure, and capturing the All-Ireland last year to go with three Leinster titles.
Gilroy stepped down after defeat to Mayo in this season’s All-Ireland semi-final.
Declan D’Arcy and Mick Bohan have been mentioned as potential members of Gavin’s backroom team but there has been no confirmation of that as yet. There is not expected to be any continuity in personnel from the previous management. Many of the current panel will be familiar with Gavin’s approach having played under him at under-21 level.
The ratification was unanimous last night as the county board did not put forward another candidate, mainly due to Gavin’s impressive record with the under-21s over the past four years. Dublin contested three of the last four All-Ireland finals at that level, beating Donegal in the 2010 decider and Roscommon this season.
Gavin also has pedigree as a player having been a part of the All-Ireland winning side in 1995. He is a pilot by profession.
John McEvoy and Vincent Teehan will not be rejoining the hurling set-up for Daly’s fifth year in charge. However, Richie Stakelum and Ciarán Hetherton remain on the ticket.
With both the senior appointments flagged well in advance, the next task for Dublin is to find under-21 managers in football and hurling. Dublin county board chairman Andy Kettle has made no secret of his desire to keep a line of succession intact by promoting minor managers Dessie Farrell and Shay Boland.
The success of both minor squads these past two years has been hugely encouraging for Dublin’s sustained success. Four Leinster titles have been banked while the hurlers lost the 2011 All-Ireland final to Galway and forced Tipperary to a replay in 2012, which they lost last Sunday.
After a surprise defeat to Tipperary in last year’s minor football All-Ireland final, Farrell guided Dublin to their first national title at the grade since 1984.
“Dessie indicated after winning the minor All-Ireland that he is stepping away but I would hope to meet both him and Shay in the near future to convince them to consider the under-21 roles,” said Kettle.
A decision also has to be made about the strength and fitness coaches to be employed by senior squads. Sammy Dowling (football) and Martin Kennedy (hurling) are currently in these positions.
Meanwhile, Cork are expected to ratify Conor Counihan for a sixth year as football manager this evening. Under Counihan’s tenure Cork have won three Munster titles, including this year, and the All-Ireland in 2010.
All-Ireland champions Donegal are to make a special appearance in memory of the late Michaela McAreavey, daughter of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte.
They will take on an Ulster selection in a fund-raising match for the Michaela Foundation at Casement Park on November 3rd.
POWER TO TAKE OVER UNDER-21 TIPPERARY POST
David Power will be confirmed as Tipperary’s new under-21 football team manager later this month, with former Finn Harps soccer manager Charlie McKeever replacing him in the minor job.
Power guided Tipp to All-Ireland minor football glory in 2011 and spent four successful years at the helm, masterminding back-to-back Munster championship successes in 2011 and 2012.
The natural progression for the Kilsheelan-Kilcash clubman is to step up to the under-21 ranks – and that move will receive the green light at a county football board meeting next week.
Power, 29, will be assisted by Gerry McGill, a senior selector and manager of the Dublin women’s senior football team that won the 2010 All-Ireland title. Power and McGill will be joined by Aherlow’s Pat Moroney on the management team.
Meanwhile, Donegal native McKeever is the Premier County’s new minor football team boss.
The ex Finn Harps supremo has been living in Clonmel for a number of years and has worked with local soccer club Clonmel Town as well as Clonmel Commercials GAA club.
