Former Offaly manager in the wars after taking up new appointment

A FORMER Offaly senior football manager found himself in the midst of a Christmas social media storm after being appointed as the new senior football manager of Sarsfields in Kildare.

Pat Flanagan was unveiled as the new Sarsfields manager in Kildare on December 22 but controversy quickly erupted as it emerged that Ballinabrackey in Meath also thought they had secured his services for the 2023 season.

Sarsfields announced Flanagan's appointment on Twitter on December 22 but Ballinabrackey responded later that evening with a tweet stating: “Ballinabrackey GAA wish to note its disappointment in the news that our manager for 2023 Pat Flanagan lasted only four days in the job after meeting the players and executive to finalise the coming year.”

Several critical comments were passed on social media forums after the dual tweets while Derry football legend and one of the GAA's top analysts Joe Brolly sarcastically tweeted that “Pat Flanagan will be available in three days” as he responded to a post from St Colmcille's in Meath seeking a new senior football manager.

Pat Flanagan could not be contacted on Tuesday morning for comment.

One of the most successful and experienced managers in Offaly, Flanagan will be ambitious about what he can achieve with Sarsfields in Kildare – the Newbridge based club will have hopes of both county and provincial success.

He was Offaly senior football manager from 2014 to 2017 and also managed Westmeath and Sligo. He was linked with the Roscommon vacancy this year, having enjoyed great success with Padraig Pearse's there. He has been a prolifically successful club manager and has won Senior Football Championship titles with his native Clara in Offaly and Tyrrellspass in Westmeath.

He was a very solid defender for Clara in his own playing career, playing throughout the 1980s and winning Senior Football Championship medals in 1991 and 1993.