Caffrey steps into the hot seat

GAA: Paul Caffrey was duly appointed as the new Dublin football manager last night. The events of a fast-moving day culminated in an emergency county board meeting which endorsed Caffrey's appointment, along with that of selectors Dave Billings (St Vincent's), Paul Clarke (Whitehall/Colmcille) and Brian Talty (Parnells).

The new management team have been given a three-year term to try to revive the county's fortunes and are expected to meet the panel tonight at a training session already organised by the players before yesterday's announcement was made.

As the rain pelted down on Parnell Park the delegates departed after a meeting that lasted just under an hour. Dublin chair John Bailey emerged to brief what was a substantial media turnout.

"They were announced with the full and unanimous support of the county board and the county committee is in total support of everything that had taken place," he said.

"I'm delighted. Brian Talty is one of the best coaches in Dublin and he's been here for all of 20 years and has done fantastic work at all levels. Paul Clarke is a shining example. He has an exemplary playing record, won an All-Ireland and takes out a team in Whitehall. Paul Caffrey managed Na Fianna to win a Leinster title.

"He's been very involved at all levels both as a player and a mentor. What can I say about Dave Billings? He works 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the GAA at all levels. He's been a great servant and a great ambassador.

"I think it's a fantastic team. Major things will happen. There's a bit of passion, a bit of enthusiasm and determination and great good will going forward."

He confirmed that Caffrey had accepted the position when it was offered yesterday. Discussions took place on Wednesday and the management team was put together.

The new manager and Billings were selectors in Tommy Lyons's management team that stepped down in September. Paul Clarke was on the last Dublin team to win the All-Ireland and captained the minors to Dublin's last success in the grade 20 years ago.

Clarke, still playing with Whitehall, whom he also coaches, is expected to be a popular choice with the players.

Talty has worked with under-age players at a variety of levels. He was involved with the team that reached the All-Ireland under-21 final in 2002 although he had stepped down by the time the All-Ireland was won a year later.

The former Galway player is familiar to many of the current Dublin players and his reputation amongst them is high. He is regarded as a top-class coach and took Malahide club St Sylvester's to a county title in 1996.

The management team was put together over the past couple of days. There will also be a support team put in place to provide medical and sports science back-up, and among those involved will be well-known former players but their identities will not be immediately revealed.

For the time being the management will work with Dr Niall Moyna in DCU, who this week has drawn up a training programme for the players.

Originally the management team approached Fran Ryder, trainer of the 1995 All-Ireland winners, but he declined the offer.

According to Bailey, players had been kept informed on the process. "Some of the players have been consulted. Everybody's very happy. They'll get together with the players over the next days," said Bailey.

"I'd also like to thank the players, who have been very supportive. They've been inconvenienced but I've no doubt that they'll all get behind and the county will be galvanised going forward."

Last night's meeting was also briefed on the circumstances that led to Brian Mullins's candidacy for the post being withdrawn at the weekend. There had been criticism of the county executive for the handling of the matter, but Bailey said that delegates had supported the officers.

"The county committee fully endorsed and gave a vote of confidence to the management committee for the manner in which they managed the whole affair. The county board was fully informed of every event up until today. The county secretary outlined the full sequence of events and the county board were very happy with that.

"They thanked Brian Mullins for coming forward and wished him well in future and hoped that at some stage he would again be available to serve in some capacity, whatever that may be."

It was also announced that the third selector in Lyons's management over the past three years, Paddy Canning, who led Erin's Isle to a county title in the early 1990s, had been appointed as manager of the under-21s.

Canning's selectors are Brian Ladden (Raheny) and Shane O'Hanlon (St Vincent's).