Mickey Harte will be taking joint charge of the Offaly senior football team. Photo: Sportsfile
Mickey Harte has been appointed as joint manager of the Offaly senior footballers. The shock news was revealed in a statement by the Offaly county board this evening.
He has been endorsed by the county’s management committee for approval at their next full board meeting on a three-year term, working alongside current manager Declan Kelly for a three-year period.
Harte has been mooted for a number of roles since leaving Derry after just one season in charge last month. He is understood to have been in contact with Kildare prior to the appointment of Brian Flanagan and had also been linked with the vacant Monaghan manager’s job.
In the official statement, Harte is quoted as saying: “I am very excited to work with Declan and the players to get the best out of the footballers in both the League and Championship in 2025. I would like to thank Michael Duignan for his professionalism and honesty during our meetings”.
Duignan, the county chairman, said he was “delighted that Mickey Harte has come on board with Declan as joint manager of the Offaly Senior football team. His genuine interest in Offaly GAA and his wealth of experience is what I feel Offaly football needs right now.”
Kelly, who completed his first year as manager this season and led Offaly to the 2021 All-Ireland Under 20 football championship, insisted it was “great news for Offaly football and Offaly GAA in general,” adding, “I look forward to working closely with Mickey.”
Offaly finished sixth in Division 3 of this year’s Allianz League and were well beaten by Dublin in a Leinster semi-final, before finishing bottom of their group in the Tailteann Cup, including a loss to London.
This will be Harte’s fourth senior county job, after Tyrone, Louth and Derry.