Offaly ladies footballers seeking new manager as interim boss departs

Offaly ladies footballers are seeking their third manager in the space of two months following the departure of interim manager Brian Cosgrave.

The Faithful County completed their National Football League Division 3 campaign at the weekend suffering a heavy defeat at home to Louth.

It was a result which mirrored the team's previous six league fixtures, Offaly failing to achieve a victory in a disappointing campaign.

Cosgrave replaced Greg Farrelly who was relieved of his managerial duties by the Offaly LGFA executive at the midway point of the league campaign following defeats to Wexford, Carlow and Limerick.

Following his departure, Farrelly, who had savoured All-Ireland junior success in 2013 during a previous stint as manager of the Faithful County ladies, said he was "disgusted" with the manner in which he was treated 15 months into his second term as manager.

Cosgrave, who managed Shamrocks to Offaly ladies football intermediate success in 2024, stepped into the managerial breach upon Farrelly's departure, but dashed hopes that he would stay in charge for the rest of the season by announcing his departure on Tuesday.

In a message sent to his squad, Cosgrave confirmed his decision to step away from the squad due to the "disappointment" he felt after making several unsuccessful attempts to convince players to play for the county in the forthcoming Leinster intermediate championship.

Initially filling the role for a two week period while the Offaly county board sought a permanent manager, Cosgrave affirmed in his message that "the begging of players to commit and play for their county had finally broken me".

Cosgrave told the players that he had made his decision with a “heavy heart” while hailing the current panel as "a lovely bunch of players who are willing to give all for their county".

Offaly start their Leinster intermediate championship campaign with a preliminary round fixture against Wicklow on April 27.