NATIONAL LEAGUE/News:Shelbourne seem certain to unveil Pat Fenlon as their new player-manager at a press conference tomorrow. Fenlon replaces Dermot Keely, who resigned from the club on the last day of the season following their shock 4-0 defeat to Bohemians.
There was also speculation yesterday that Johnny McDonnell, who has left his position as manager of Dublin City, will join Fenlon at Tolka Park as assistant-manager.
While refusing to confirm the appointment, Shelbourne chief executive Ollie Byrne admitted yesterday that everything had been "done and dusted", but that they were obliged to go through the proper channels and wait until tomorrow to unveil their new man.
Meanwhile, Liam Buckley is the new favourite to become manager of Shamrock Rovers following the recent departure of Damien Richardson. The club have called a press conference for this afternoon.
Buckley has been interviewed by the Rovers board and is anxious to make a return to Premier Division football.
He has, of course, enjoyed success already as a top-flight manager. Winner of two caps for the Republic of Ireland, the 42- year-old Dubliner led St Patrick's Athletic to the League Championship title back in the 1998/99 season.
Buckley also won a couple of winners' medals as a player, with Shamrock Rovers in 1984 and then with St Patrick's in 1996.
Keely, mentioned in connection with the Rovers post, is not now in the running and, instead, is being linked with new First Division side Kildare County FC.
Meanwhile, the six nominations for the Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Personality of the Year award have been announced.
They are last season's winner, Glen Crowe (Bohemians), Liam Coyle (Derry City), UCD manager Paul Doolin, Dundalk's Cup final hero Garry Haylock, Drogheda boss Harry McCue and St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Paul Osam.
The winner will be announced at tomorrow night's ceremony at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin.
The Republic of Ireland's under-16s rounded off their two- match tour of Slovakia with a 2-0 win over the host nation in Kosice yesterday. The Irish dominated the game and took the lead on 55 minutes with a Niall Flynn penalty, and secured the win five minutes later when Andy Keogh rifled home a Pat Gregg cross.
REP OF IRELAND U-16: Quigley (Man City); Kelly, McFaul (both Cherry Orchard), McShane (St Joseph's Boys), Lyng (Wexford Celtic), Hammond (Cherry Orchard), Cregg (Stella Maris), Foley-Sheridan (Aston Villa), Flynn (Stella Maris), Ronaldson (Riverside Celtic), Keogh (St Joseph's Boys). Subs: Elebert (Stella Maris) for McShane, Carroll (Corbally) for Ronaldson.
