Roscommon hurling manager steps down

Roscommon GAA has confirmed that Ciarán Comerford has stepped down from his position as Roscommon senior hurling team manager.

Comerford (pictured above) was in his final year at the helm of the senior team, but rather than complete the season when inter-county training resumes in September, he has brought the decision forward to facilitate a smooth transition into next year.

The former Laois and Borris-Kilcotton player has been a very popular figure in Roscommon since his appointment as manager back in November 2017.

Speaking after the announcement, Roscommon Hurling Board chairman Christy McDermott said: “I’d like to thank Ciarán for his efforts over the past two and half years with the Roscommon team. I fully respect the decision he has made, as the Christy Ring competition will not now commence until much later in the year.

"Ciarán feels this is a more appropriate time to step down as it allows a new manager to prepare for the Christy Ring Cup and the new season which will follow on so closely. We had some good days including our winning of the Division 3A National League last year. For those, we thank you Ciarán.”

A recruitment process for a new hurling manager is now starting and Roscommon hopes to have a new manager in place towards the end of July.

Roscommon will face Wicklow in the quarter-finals of this year's Christy Ring Cup - a match which is scheduled to take place on October 24/25.

The other quarter-finals are competition favourites Offaly v Kildare, Down v London and Derry v Sligo. The Ring Cup will now be a straight knockout competition in 2020 due to the condensed GAA inter-county calendar.