The latest news from the GAA world on the 2nd of February 2021
Credit: @INPHO / Dan Sheridan
Seamus “Cheddar” Plunkett will return for his second stint as manager of the Laois senior hurling team in 2021, with his appointment being confirmed on Twitter last night.
Plunkett took charge of the Laois hurlers back in 2012 and guided them to Division 1B of the hurling league; suffering only one defeat during that league campaign. In the championship, Laois almost pulled off a shock victory over Galway in their provincial semi-final. The following year saw the O’Moore County retain their league status, before bowing out at the quarter-final stage of the All-Ireland to Clare. Plunkett resigned the following season.
Plunkett brings with him a star-studded backroom team, including former Limerick coach Donach O’Donnell, alongside Francis Forde previously selector with the Galway hurlers. David Matthews will also join Plunkett at Laois, a former Irish olympian that specialises as a running coach.
In other news, the GAA have decided to delay the return of inter-county training despite the Allianz Leagues set to commence in March. The GAA’s Covid advisory group concluded that it would be irresponsible to allow counties to begin training under the current circumstances.
The group will reconvene in just two weeks time, with the GAA hopeful the season can begin soon. The recent fall in case numbers was cited by the group as a sign that inter-county action may not be too far in the future.
The GAA also has the issue of a fixtures backlog from the interrupted 2020 season to contend with. Unfulfilled club fixtures and the ongoing minor and U20 championships are still to be played, even though this year’s games are scheduled to get underway in the next few weeks.
Credit: Sportsfile / Sam Barnes
Victory GAA 