Kerry football legend to join Offaly backroom team
Kerry football legend Tomás Ó Sé is set to join the Offaly backroom team for next season.
John Maughan has been given the green light to continue as Offaly manager, having guided the team to promotion from Division 3 of the Allianz Football League earlier this year. And his management team will be boosted by the addition of Ó Sé, a winner of five All-Ireland senior medals with Kerry.
Ó Sé is currently in charge of Glanmire who will compete in this year's Cork intermediate championship.
In common with Offaly GAA chairman Michael Duignan, Ó Sé is a respected Gaelic games pundit with RTE.
“We are obviously delighted to have somebody of Tomás' calibre, experience, and charisma joining the county. Tomás is involved with the Glanmire team in Cork and he will be fully committed to them for this season. We look forward to him coming on board with us after that,” Duignan told the Irish Examiner.
Ó Sé was chosen as Footballer of the Year in 2004 and, interestingly, Kerry defeated a Mayo side managed by John Maughan in that year's All-Ireland final.
The former Kerry wing-back was in attendance at Offaly's victory over Roscommon in the All-Ireland U20 final last month, and Duignan believes Ó Sé will help Offaly's young players make the transition to senior level.
“It is great that Tomás is fully committed and is excited by the prospect of working with our young players coming through, with all our players," Duignan said.
“We are just trying to get the right people involved, create the right atmosphere for players, and give them the best chance to be successful.”
Tomás is a member of a very famous Kerry football family, with his brothers Darragh and Marc having also won a number of All-Ireland medals with the Kingdom. His late uncle Páidí Ó Sé claimed eight All-Ireland medals as a Kerry player and two as a manager.
His home club is An Ghaeltacht in west Kerry but Tomás joined Nemo Rangers towards the end of his playing career, having moved to Cork where he works as a teacher. He won Munster medals with both clubs.
Meanwhile, Michael Fennelly will continue as Offaly hurling manager for the 2022 season. In his second year in charge, the former Kilkenny midfielder guided Offaly to Christy Ring Cup success, which means the Faithful men will compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup next year.
In a statement, Offaly GAA said: "The Offaly GAA Management Committee is pleased to formally recommend the reappointment of John Maughan and Michael Fennelly as managers of the county senior football and hurling teams for 2022.
"Former Kerry footballer Tomás Ó Sé will join the football management team."
"Full details on all backroom personnel in both codes will be announced soon," the statement added.