Wicklow senior football manager steps down
Hugh Kenny has stepped down as manager of the Wicklow senior footballers following Sundays Leinster SFC first round defeat by Carlow.
The former Wicklow and Leinster full-back, who is a member of Ireland manager Sean Boylan’s backroom staff for this year’s International Rules Series, announced his intentions to step down “with immediate effect” after the 4-09 to 0-12 loss at Wexford Park.
A well-respected coach, Kenny took the Wicklow reins from John O’Leary in 2003 and it was no secret that this was to be his final year in charge.
During his playing career, he won an All-Ireland Club title with Baltinglass in 1990, and with the county side, an All-Ireland ’B’ championship (1992) and All-Ireland Junior crown (2002) before retiring at the age of 28.
“I have introduced up to 50 players to the inter-county scene over the last three years,” said Kenny. “They know the scene, know the training methods, are well looked after.”
“So perhaps it’s now the time for Wicklow to appoint a high profile manager.”
Reflecting on his side’s performance against Carlow, he added: “We were desperately disappointing despite having prepared well.
“I’ve no excuses to offer - I thought Carlow were far the better team. But it was a major disappointment for me to see it end this way.”
May 22nd, 2006 at 11:58 pm
I am sorry to see Hugh leave the county team after such a short period in charge. Having read after every game in the Wicklow People reports from Peter Keogh that it was only a matter of time before Hugh was to break into the big time with the county, why then his premature exit. Surely with Peter’s vast inside knowledge of the backroom and of those from the top table, I certainly believed that Wicklow’s elite were about to invest in the County team at last, but unfortunatly for me the common supporter that follows the team all over the country, to be dissappointed again is inevitable. Remember the days of Dave Foran 10 years ago now, when he brought the county through 18 games undefeated, of which Mr. Kenny was a member of that team. It looked at last like Wicklow was about to jump into the super league, but thanks to the non investment in training etc.,by the county board the county fell again, Foran left, and we have since ploughed through 4 managers. I don’t know why but to me there is a common denominator here and that is that the top table unlike other counties will not make serious investments in the players and give them the oppertunities they truly deserve. Look at Mr.O’Brien and Mr.Kenny, these guys deserved their day in an all Ireland Final, but it never happened. I applaud the top table for the way they have guided the local scene, but please I beg you to pass the reigns of the county on to somebody with a sence of big business, leadership and guidence, and for god’s sake give them a budget that can bring glory to our county.
Maybe then the true supporter will have their day in Croke Park, and the up and coming stars of the county team will have the day they deserve.
So here’s to a positive future and let’s hope some wise decisions will be made over the coming weeks by the top table……….