The Laois County Board have failed in a shock attempt to try and persuade former Kerry footballer Darragh Ó Sé to become the new manager of the county’s footballers.
A report in this morning’s Irish Examiner suggested that officials from the Laois County Board met with Ó Sé in a Limerick hotel on Thursday night and mapped out plans for the six-time All-Ireland winner to revive the fortunes of the O’Moore County, who have struggled to make their mark on the national stage since the departure of Mick O’Dwyer as manager in 2006.
Ó Sé, 35, whose last appearance in the Kerry colours was in last year’s All-Ireland victory over Cork, is believed to have declined the offer, citing the fact that he doesn’t wasn’t to rush into football management so soon after retiring from inter-county football.
The prospect of Mick O’Dwyer returning as Laois manager also seems to be a non-runner, with one source suggesting that it is ‘not happening’. O’Dwyer had been put forward for the managerial vacancy by former county chairman Dick Miller and was supported by ex-football board chairman Joe O’Dwyer, but it is believed that officials currently in charge are not in favour of the legendary Kerryman returning to the post.
Two men believed to be in the frame for the position are Laois under-21 manager Pat Roe, who has managed the Carlow, Wexford and Offaly footballers in the past, and outgoing Carlow manager Luke Dempsey, who has previous inter-county experience with the footballers of Longford and Westmeath.
