Kelly expected to be re-appointed as Offaly GAA begin hunt for football manager
Rochford won’t be new Offaly senior football manager
JOHNNY Kelly is expected to be re-appointed as the Offaly senior hurling manager in the coming weeks.
While he will be meeting with a review committee this week, the Portumna man will have the right of refusal after leading Offaly to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final in 2026.
Cork gave Offaly a bad beating there but finishing third in the Leinster championship was a big step forward for Offaly but Kelly has hit all of his targets during his four year reign in charge and a fifth year will be his if he wants it.
Kelly is likely to go for another year and the target next year will be to take another step forward by making the Leinster final – even if that happens, his term could well come to a natural end at that stage but the only concern for both the manager and County Board is 2027 – there is a possibility of changes and additions to the backroom team and all that will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The County Board have also began the process of seeking new Offaly senior football management after the decision of Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte to step away.
County Board officials, Tom Parlon, Padraig O'Meara, Frank Fitzpatrick, John Hackett and Michael Duignan have been joined by former Rhode GAA secretary and player, Eoghan Hickey and a 1990s star Cathal Daly (Tullamore) to seek new management.
The inclusion of a Rhode man Hickey on the committee is pointed as there had been a lot of disatisfaction in that club at the previous management, particularly Declan Kelly – for the first time in many years, Rhode had no one on the Offaly senior football panel in 2026.
They have held preliminary discussions but haven't met anyone yet and any speculation that is circulating is very much in the “idle” category.
It is almost certain that an outside manager will be appointed and they are likely to want local personnel on the backroom team.
Mayo man Stephen Rochford will not be the new manager and it is understood that he has ruled himself out. The former Mayo manager was the name on many people's lips as he was brought in as a surprise, high profile coach with Tullamore last year and is very familiar with club football in the county as a result of that.
Another Tullamore man, Niall Stack has also been at the centre of some speculation. Stack managed Tullamore to senior football titles earlier in the decade but whatever about being asked to be involved in some role, he is very unlikely to be the new manager at this moment in time – he was on the short list for the Offaly minor football manager's job last year but didn't let his name go forward.
There is no other standout candidate in the county at the moment. Rhode's Paschal Kellaghan went for the job when it went to John Maughan a few years ago and is now back over his home club – he has Rhode going very well this year but in terms of county management, his star is not flying as high as it was a few years ago. Tullamore boss Paul McConway and Shamrocks' manager Nigel Dunne are building a quick reputation but are very much in the apprenticeship phase at the moment and it is too early for them to be considered for this job - all the smart money will be on an outside man getting the job.
It is a very important appointment and crucial that Offaly get it right. They have produced great people from the left field before but have also walked into haymakers and they can't afford to take risks.
The selection committee won't be rushing things either. While some people would like to see a man in place by the time the local football quarter-finals take place in a few weeks time, that almost certainly won't happen and it remains to be seen if it is all sorted by finals time.