Offaly Senior Managers Staying On For 2021 Season

Wednesday, 16 December 2020 at 07:17

The county's management committee made the recommendation last night.

John Maughan and Michael Fennelly will remain on as Offaly's senior managers for the 2021 season.

Offaly's management committee made the recommendation for both to continue on ahead of last night's virtual convention on Microsoft Teams.

Former Mayo football boss Maughan is heading into his third season in charge of the Faithful County, having again kept them in Division Three, defeating Carlow in the Leinster Championship before narrowly losing to Kildare in the quarter-finals

Michael Fennelly will be hoping to improve on a maiden year in management where his team missed out on promotion in both Division Two A of the League and the Christy Ring Championship.

At Convention, Edenderry's Colm Cummins succeeded Pat Horan as secretary, leaving a development officer vacancy heading into the January County Board meeting. An assistant treasurer will also be appointed next month.

A vote was required to determine the two Leinster Council delegates for 2021 with Joe Higgins returned on the second count - and Kilcormac Killoughey's Dolores Slevin edging out Clara's Brian Gavin on count three to take the second position.

Chairman Michael Duignan, vice-chair James Murphy. treasurer Dervill Dolan, PRO Brendan Minnock, Children's Officer Elaine Kelly-Dunne and Cultural Officer Michelle Hogan were all returned to their positions unopposed.

A loss of gate receipts to the tune of 270-thousand Euro contributed largely to a 542 thousand Euro drop in revenue in 2020 and chairman Michael Duignan stressed the need to fundraise in the coming year rather than relying on assistance from Central or Leinster Council funding.

He added that the amalgamation of the women's GPA and GPA is a "very positive step" and expressed his preference for the county season to commence ahead of the 2021 club campaign.