Mick O’Dwyer to take charge in Wicklow

While it was widely reported that the 70-year-old Kerry maestro had held talks with Wicklow officials in recent weeks, few believed that he would take on the job. However, it is understood he is invigorated by the challenge of improving the Garden County’s dismal championship record, which is one of the worst in the country.

Wicklow have never won a senior title at national or provincial level, and their poor form this year confirmed their position as one of the weakest teams around.

They lost all but one of their National League Division 2B games, while they were soundly beaten by both Carlow and Monaghan in the championship. They have been without a manager since Hugh Kenny stepped down in the wake of the nine-point Leinster championship first round defeat to Carlow in May.

Wicklow will be O’Dwyer’s third Leinster county to manage, following championship winning stints in Kildare and Laois. Regarded as the GAA’s most successful manager, he recently ended his four-year involvement with Laois and is now charged with the unenviable task of guiding Wicklow out of the wilderness.