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Justin McNulty steps down as Laois football manager

The former Armagh footballer has been in charge since the summer of 2010.

Updated 00.15

JUSTIN MCNULTY HAS stepped down as Laois football manager, a spokesperson for the county board confirmed this evening.

McNulty indicated that he would not be seeking another term in charge after Laois’s season ended with defeat to Donegal in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

“[Justin] believes now is the time to move on and seek other challenges,” the Laois County Board said in a short statement.

The former Armagh footballer took over at the O’Moore County in the summer of 2010, replacing Sean Dempsey, and in his first season led Laois to promotion and the Divison 2 league final where they were beaten by Donegal.

But a disappointing Championship exit was followed by immediate relegation in 2012, putting pressure on McNulty which intensified when Laois were shocked by Longford in the first round of the Leinster Championship.

A run through the qualifiers to the All-Ireland quarter-finals was enough to earn McNulty a third season at the helm but Laois failed to get out of Division 2 this spring before suffering another first-round exit in Leinster, this time against Louth.

“[Justin] is grateful for the opportunity afforded to him by Laois County Board and feels incredibly honoured to have worked with such a talented and committed group of players,” the statement read.

“Justin would like to give massive recognition to the back room team for their tremendous effort and dedication over the past three seasons.

“Most of all, Justin would like to thank the Laois players. While there were periods of adversity endured together along the way, the character the team developed will stand them in good stead going forward. Justin would like to wish the players all the best for the future.

“Laois GAA wish to thank Justin McNulty for his commitment and dedication over the past three years and wish him well in the future.”

– Originally published 22.31

Limerick to lodge appeal as Hawk-Eye apologise for GAA score fiasco

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    Mute Lf
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    Feb 21st 2018, 7:58 AM

    big talent at 9 for Leinster..

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Feb 21st 2018, 11:08 AM

    Great to see Hugh doing so well. He was a key component in Belvo winning the cup for the last 2 years.
    On the wider point of GAA / Rugby crossover and any perceived hostility, I don’t see any contradictions. Both sports have similar skills re ball handling and decision making and both are full contact sports. For as long back as I can recall there has always been a crossover of guys playing both codes. From Michael Hickey in the 1970s right up to present day with David Hawkshaw, Belvos current outhalf playing minor football for Dublin, to name but 2 and there have been more. Long may it continue

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    Mute Lf
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    Feb 21st 2018, 11:10 AM

    @Tom O’Gorman: there is a huge battle at younger ages between GAA and rugby for athletes.. training being scheduled to clash forcing players to pick etc.

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Feb 21st 2018, 11:58 AM

    @Lf: very true LF and not likely to end any time soon. As a supporter of both codes I probably get less exercised about it than others who see talent migrating from their sport to “the dark side ” as they might perceive it. Even within the GAA code there’s a battle between hurling and football for the best available talent. As standards rise it’s becoming impossible for guys to meet the demands of playing rugby and GAA. It’s a pity that lads are forced to make these choices at a younger and younger age nowadays.

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    Mute EK
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    Feb 21st 2018, 1:31 PM

    @Tom O’Gorman: I agree that having played both sports, their is a lot of crossover between them. As you say, it helps with spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination.

    However, at an elite level, and particularly in the forwards, the physical demands of each sport are like chalk and cheese by the time a player is 18 years old.

    Backs can enjoy the best of both worlds up until minor level but elite rugby players are conditioned in completely different ways to GAA players by the time their 18.

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    Mute Alistair Fyffe
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    Feb 21st 2018, 8:45 AM

    I’m surprised the GAA charm offensive is still carrying on now that the RWC bid is dead.

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    Feb 21st 2018, 8:55 AM

    @Alistair Fyffe: really? There’s hostility from a lot of people with GAA roots towards rugby, but there’s very little in the other direction. The “charm offensive” has been around for a lot longer than the RWC bid, and there are a lot of players in Irish rugby with roots in GAA. It’s not an offensive.

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    Mute Tim Dawson
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    Feb 21st 2018, 4:22 PM

    @Conor Paddington: Conor, that is very simply not true. There is hostility within rugby circles towards all sports and pressure to only play it. That also applies to soccer and gaa within certain clubs( the most successful ones because they can). To say it’s only in one direction is naive.

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    Mute Talleyrand Frye
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    Feb 21st 2018, 4:22 PM

    @Conor Paddington: I have to disagree here Conor. I remember playing rugby in UCC and one fella put on a Cork GAA jersey after training and he got a pile of abuse – you know the kind that pretends to be all in good fun but reveals some actual resentment. There are always people on here moaning that our rugby team would be much better if it wasn’t for the GAA taking away all these potential athletes. The hostility is definitely a two-way street.

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