Laois move quickly to appoint new manager after shock Darren Gleeson news

Laois have moved quickly to appoint a new hurling manager following Darren Gleeson’s shock resignation last weekend.

Former county hurler Tommy Fitzgerald is to be put forward for ratification next Monday night after agreeing to step into the breach in difficult circumstances, with ex-Antrim boss Gleeson forced to step aside as he undergoes treatment for cancer.

Fitzgerald hurled for Laois for a long number of years and has built on impressive portfolio in recent years having been part of Eddie Brennan’s management team as coach/selector when the O’Moore’s won the 2019 Joe McDonagh Cup and went on to shock Dublin in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

READ MORE:Derry star backs Rory Gallagher to return to inter-county management

READ MORE:Brian Fenton by numbers as legendary Dublin midfielder bows out

More recently, he guided his club, Portlaoise, to the premier intermediate title last year, a role that he dovetailed with coaching St Thomas’s of Galway, who won the All-Ireland club title last January.

Fitzgerald will be joined by former Dublin hurler and Galway native Niall Corcoran, who will be the “lead coach”. Corcoran was also involved with Laois during Brennan’s spell as manager and also worked under both Davy Fitzgerald and Darragh Egan in Wexford.

Laois will start the 2025 season in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League, while Fitzgerald’s main task will be to win the Joe McDonagh Cup and with it promotion to the top tier of Championship hurling after they were beaten by Offaly in the final this year.

To keep up to date with all the latest GAA news, sign-up to our GAA newsletter here.