BBC SPORT | N Ireland | O'Hare back as Saffrons boss

PJ O'Hare has been named as the new Antrim senior football manager.

The news ends months of speculation over who would succeed former boss Brian White, who stepped down for family reasons in June.

O'Hare will now embark on his second stint in charge of the Saffrons, having been at the helm from 1991 to '95.

The Antrim County Management Committee will recommend O'Hare to the County Committee next Monday night, which will rubber-stamp their choice.

O'Hare was a player for the county side in the 1970s and will now be hoping to build on the All-Ireland B success of 1999.

At the beginning, I didn't have an interest in the job

PJ O'Hare

The St Gall's clubman's appointment is something of a surprise.

He had been expected to take up a role as Antrim minor manager for next year.

However with the likes of Peter McGrath, John Rafferty, Damien Cassidy all having rejected the job, the Antrim county board were left with few options.

O'Hare told the BBC that he hoped Antrim football would "continue to progress" under his management.

"We have progressed over the last few years and hopefully, I can bring them up further," said the new Antrim boss.

Brian White stood down after last summer's Championship defeat by Westmeath
Brian White: Previous Antrim boss

"Obviously, it wasn't easy to get the right person for the job.

"At the beginning, I didn't have an interest in the job but when the county officers came and asked me, I was delighted to accept," he added.

O'Hare, takes the job, fully in the knowledge that several candidates rejected a role which some may consider to be mission impossible.

"A lot of people obviously maybe turned it down but there's a lot of young players that they playing Sigerson Cup that we didn't have when I was here before, so I'm looking forward to the job".

O'Hare first Ulster Championship game will be against Cavan next year - ironically, the same opponents during his final match in charge during the summer of 1995.

Lyons re-appointed

Cavan hammered Antrim on that occasion but O'Hare is hopeful of a better result next year.

Prior to that, O'Hare's side will be taking part in Division 2A of the National Football League.

Meanwhile as expected, Cyril Lyons has been re-appointed as Clare hurling boss for another year.

Lyons guided the county to the All-Ireland Final this year where they were defeated by Kilkenny.

Ger O'Loughlin takes the selectors' position vacated by John Minogue.


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