More bad news for Mayo as the Kingdom eye coach

The bad new just keeps on coming for James Horan with the news that their highly regarded coach Cian O’Neill is being lined up by Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice for next season.

By Declan Whooley

The Irish Examiner reports that O’Neill has agreed in principle to join the Kerry management team for next season.

The University of Limerick lecturer is one of the most highly respected conditioning coaches in the country and Sunday was his fourth successive All-Ireland final having spent the previous three years with the Tipperary hurlers.

The Kildare native worked for two years with the Limerick footballers and also the Newtownshandrum hurlers when they won Cork and Munster titles in 2009.

The shorter commute is another factor with a six-hour journey from Limerick to Castlebar twice a week proving a big commitment.

The move rules Donie Buckley out of the role after he had been tipped to join Fitzmaurice’s new coaching ticket, while Ballaghaderreen native Barry Solan is rumoured to be lined up should O’Neill accept the job. The Dublin-based lecturer worked with the Polish national team during the European Championships as well as Katie Taylor and AIL side Clontarf.

For James Horan however it is just the kind of news he didn’t need. When it's not your week, it's really not your week.