Kildare trio decide to call it a day

KILDARE HAVE been hit with three high-profile retirements as they look to build on their promising run in this year's All-Ireland football qualifiers, which ended in a narrow quarter-final loss to Munster champions Cork.

Enda Murphy, Tadhg Fennin and Alan Barry have all called it a day following lengthy stints of county duty, while David Lyons has also pulled out of the panel to go travelling.

Anthony Rainbow remains committed to the county cause however, even though he will celebrate his 38th birthday next year. The Suncroft man will be involved with the Kildare panel for a 19th season, a remarkable record in the modern era.

Talented Robertstown attacker Joe Kavanagh and Two Mile House goalkeeper Robbie Kennedy have been called up but it is expected that there will be more changes come the new season's start in January.

Murphy's retirement brings to an end an unbroken run of 15 championship campaigns which began with a call-up by Mick O'Dwyer in 1994. Christy Byrne was the first-choice goalkeeper at the time and Murphy did not make his debut until 2002. Lyons is considered one of Kildare's most talented defenders and has been a panellist since 2003. A late return from another travelling stint curtailed his involvement this year.

Galway hurling manager candidate Jimmy Heverin has confirmed most of his back-up team as he attempts to take over from Ger Loughnane. Heverin, who guided Portumna to two All-Ireland club titles in the past three years, is joined on the ticket by former county hurler Anthony Cunningham, who captained Galway to their first minor All-Ireland title in 1983, led them to the under-21 crown three years later and won senior medals in 1987 and 1988.

He will be the assistant manager if the Heverin-led team are successful after nominations for the position close this Friday.

The third selector will be Damian Curley, who will be hurling coach and who is GAA officer with GMIT as well as coaching a variety of schools and underage sides.

Former Birr manager John Goode, who won an All-Ireland club title with Kiltormer in 1992, will be drafted in as hurling adviser and match analyst.

The fitness coach will be Army officer Dicki O'Hanlon who has trained Connacht rugby, Limerick and Offaly senior hurlers as well as a host of clubs in Galway, including a spell with Heverin in Portumna.

Meanwhile, Liam Dunne has ruled himself out of contention to become Wexford senior hurling manager following the sacking of John Meyler who, he said, "deserved better".

Dunne is backing the claims of Waterford man Kevin Ryan for the vacancy. The names of Nicky English, Pat Herbert and Dinny Cahill have been mooted for the post but Ryan is the only one to have made his candidacy public.