Harte commits to Offaly for second year as senior football management to be reappointed

TYRONE legend Mickey Harte has committed to Offaly senior footballers for another year. His re-appointment as joint manager with Kilclonfert club man, Declan Kelly has to be rubber-stamped by a full County Board meeting but is a formality.

A shock appointment as joint manager with Declan Kelly last year, Offaly improved significantly last year after a poor 2023 – Tailteann Cup defeats by Limerick and London left a sour taste in 2023 and Harte was brought in by Offaly GAA chairman, Michael Duignan to help bolster up things.

Despite initial doubts, the set up worked very well as Offaly were promoted to Division 2 of the National Football League, winning the Division 3 title, beating Kildare in the final.

They were very close to Meath in the Leinster Senior Football Championship, losing a ten point half time lead while they treated the Tailteann Cup with much more respect, qualifying out of the group and reaching the quarter-final where Kildare beat them by a point – that was the big disappointment of the year as there was a great opportunity to win the second tier competition.

Harte was in Tullamore on Sunday for the Division 1 Football League final between Tullamore and Edenderry and watched it with Declan Kelly.

As usual with Harte, there was speculation that he could be tempted elsewhere but it was very much of the low level variety, lacking any substance. He confirmed to this reporter before throw in of Edenderry's dramatic win over Tullamore on Sunday that he will be back in Offaly for a second year – Sligo man Luke Bree will also be the coach and he was also in O'Connor Park for the league final, meaning that the same management will be at the helm.

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Portumna man Johnny Kelly will also be reappointed as Offaly senior hurling manager and the underage managements will be finalised in the coming weeks – it remains to be seen if Limerick man Leo O'Connor will be back as under 20 hurling manager after a very successful few years over the minor and U20s.