Outsider Bealin to lead Wexford

GAELIC GAMES: The Wexford management committee announced Paul Bealin as their new football manager last night. The former Dublin midfielder was a surprise selection ahead of Louth's Paddy Carr, who was expected to get the job of building on the achievements of Pat Roe, who led Wexford to Division One.

Bealin's appointment will be rubber-stamped at next Tuesday's county board meeting.

As a player, Bealin won five Leinster titles between 1989 and 1995 before taking over as manager of Ballyboden St Enda's from 1999 to 2003. Recently, he guided Cavan club Mullahoran to consecutive county finals.

"I've been a manager for seven years now and obviously feel I'm ready to make the step up to inter-county level," he said. "Wexford are a young side, and last year the emphasis seemed to be on winning the Leinster championship, so it's important to maintain that type of hunger."

Several names had been mentioned for the post, including Val Andrews and Larry Tompkins.

Pauric McDonald from Kilmacud Crokes was another in contention, but he is expected to take over the Dublin minors.

County board chairman Seán Quirke headed up the selection committee, which also included Pat Doyle, Michael Murphy, Micheál Furlong, Paddy Wickham and Fred Casey.

As expected, John Maughan was ratified as Roscommon football manager last night.

After a drawn-out process, a four-man selection committee met the former Clare, Fermanagh and (twice) Mayo manager last Wednesday, when they agreed he would take charge of the panel for two years.

Former county player Eamon McManus has been installed as Maughan's assistant. A third Roscommon native will complete the management team next week.

Maughan and McManus intend to personally train the players.

It's a rapid return to inter-county management for the Crossmolina clubman - he only stepped down as Mayo manager in August.

"I love the thing," explained Maughan yesterday. "The fear of being stuck in watching Coronation Street on a Tuesday and Thursday night was a huge problem for me. I enjoy it and I'm at an age where I still have a huge enthusiasm for the game."

The game still loves him. Although he has been a manager of a losing Mayo team in three All-Ireland finals, Maughan's record is one of the proudest in the land. A particular feather in his cap is the Munster title to which he guided Clare in 1992.

Despite the undoubted talent within the county, the task of managing Roscommon has proved hugely difficult in recent years, high-profile acts of indiscipline having been more prevalent than championship victories.

Tommy Carr, manager before Val Daly, is a good friend of Maughan and he was supportive of the decision.

"I spoke to Tommy Carr and he was very encouraging," said Maughan. "He told me to go for it.

"Discipline? That's the least of my concerns coming in."

One incidental attraction for Maughan is he lives in Castlebar, only a short hop from training in Kilbride.

"Yeah, an hour and 10 minutes up the road. It's a fantastic opportunity. Roscommon have 19 provincial titles and are the only Connacht team to win four in a row."

Plans for trial matches will be announced this week but Maughan will be keen not to disrupt the run of county champions St Brigid's in the Connacht championship. Their replay with Leitrim champions Kiltubrid is on Saturday in Kiltoom at 2pm.

The nomination appeared to hit a glitch last week when the four-man committee of county chairman Michael McGuire, John McGowan, Séamus Maher and Mick Fahy admitted there had been tentative discussions with Páidí Ó Sé. Maher insists, however, they got their main target.

"We were too far advanced in negotiations with John Maughan to really consider Páidí Ó Sé at that stage. We're absolutely delighted to have a manager with such a proven track record."

Owen Connell will take charge of the Monaghan senior and under-21 hurlers for another year.

Connell steered Monaghan to the Ulster under-21 B title last year and just missed out on qualification for the Rackard Cup. He is expected to name the same back-room team as last year.