Hurling: Tippereary are beginning the search for a new senior hurling manager with the confirmation that Nicky English is stepping down from the position. The decision was announced at the county board meeting in Thurles last night and thus ends his four-year term in management.

There had been much speculation that English was considering his future after the narrow defeat to Kilkenny in last month's All-Ireland semi-final. Several players spoke of their impression from his post-match speech that he was about to step down.

It was also reported that some players later met English to encourage him to remain on board.

Though officially he had another year to run on his term, his decision to step down is not unexpected and various names had already been thrown up as possible successors.

County board chairman Con Hogan last night accepted the decision while also paying tribute to the work English had done with Tipperary, both as a player and manager.

"The quality of commitment which marked his entire life as a hurler was also brought to the job as manager," said Hogan. "And allied with that was his human touch which made the business of handling players and people come naturally to him."

Although English didn't give any specific reason for his decision, it is known that with a demanding job in Dublin, the commitment also given to the management position was immense.

He was appointed to the position in the autumn of 1998, having retired from playing just two seasons previously after 15 years of inter-county hurling that saw him win two All-Irelands, five Munster titles, two National Leagues as well as six All Stars.

In his first season as manager he led Tipperary to the National League title but had a couple of starved summers before winning the league title, the Munster title and the All-Ireland in 2001. Originally the Lattin-Cullen clubman was given a three-year term, but then committed for another year at least after the All-Ireland success.

The Tipperary board will now begin the process of putting in place a committee to nominate a successor. Both team selectors Ken Hogan and Jack Bergin have yet to indicate their intentions but they had worked with English since his appointment and look likely to stay involved at some level.

Other names which had been mentioned while English was contemplating his position were Tipperary camogie manager Michael Cleary, under-21 manager Noel Sheehy, and Paddy McCormack of Thurles Sarsfields and the county's minors. Current Antrim manager Dinny Cahill had also been suggested but the former Tipperary player was quick to reaffirm his commitment to the Ulster champions.

There was a symbolic moment after Tipperary's defeat to Kilkenny when English went straight over to his two selectors to shake their hands. At the time it appeared a normal gesture, yet it's proved to be a longer goodbye.

Monaghan have named an unchanged team for Sunday's TG4 All-Ireland women's senior football final against Mayo at Croke Park.

MONAGHAN (SF v Mayo): M Gray; C Reilly, M Corcoran, U McNally; L Connolly, J Greenan, M Lavelle; C Mulligan, C Brady; E Byrne, N Kindlon, A Tierney; O Callan, B McAnespie, D Dempsey.

SUNDAY'S FIXTURES

All-Ireland Women's SFC final: Monaghan v Mayo, Croke Park, 3.10.

All-Ireland Women's JFC final: Donegal v Galway, Croke Park, 1.15.