Laois GAA Chairman outlines the process for appointing new senior hurling manager

In the wake of Willie Maher's departure as the Laois senior hurling manager, Laois GAA Chairman PJ Kelly has detailed the process for appointing his successor. Kelly emphasised the importance of a thorough and deliberate approach to ensure the right person is chosen for the role.

Laois GAA Chairman PJ Kelly spoke to the Leinster Express/ Laois Live  at the launch of the Laois Shopping Centre Club Championships.

"The process will be very similar to two years ago where I initiated a hurling selection committee. I chaired that up myself. David O'Brien was on it, of Clonad, there was Mattie Collier from Camross as the hurling board chair. So it'll be something similar to that. Is it a good time to be looking, coming up to the start of the championship? Possibly not. We thought Willie might do one more year but for his own warranted reasons, he stood back. It's a massive commitment now doing any management but yeah, we'll go at it again," he said.

Kelly reiterated that Laois GAA's main aim will be to make sure they get the right man for the job as opposed to rushing into a decision with the club championships due to get underway.

"To be honest, my own personal view is that the club championship is important. Is it important to have somebody in place before it? I think no. My focus will be on getting the right person, not to get a person by such a date. That's the mantra I carried two years ago and I'll have the same this year," Kelly said.

He acknowledged the ideal scenario of having a new manager appointed swiftly but recognised the practical challenges involved.

"It'd be great if we had somebody that's capable of just being appointed in the next week or two and step in, that'd be brilliant. The process itself, if I speak to one man today, he has to go and consider it. He has to speak to his wife, his employer, etc. He comes back maybe in a week, a week and a half. In the meantime, we can't talk to anybody else. So the two to three weeks doesn't be long slipping by.

"So, as I say, Willie only stepped down on Tuesday evening, probably eight days before the championship starts. So it would be ideal, yeah. Is it possible? Is it realistic? I'd say no. It will be our aim to get someone in place ASAP but my primary focus would be to get the right person with the right backroom team and I think the players deserve that," the Laois GAA Chairman ended.

Clough-Ballacolla and Abbeyleix St Lazarian's are set to clash in the opening game of the Senior Hurling Championship in Colt GAA on Wednesday, July 17 from 7.30pm