McConville set to remain with Armagh u-20s

By Shaun Casey

2002 All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville is set to stay with Armagh’s u-20 side in a coaching capacity for the 2023 season. McConville teamed up with former teammate Barry O’Hagan when the pair took over the Orchard youngsters last season.

Armagh lost out to Donegal in the opening round of the Ulster U-20 championship on a cold and wet night in Ballybofey, 1-13 to 0-9.

More recently, the Crossmaglen legend has made the plunge into senior inter-county management and was announced as the new boss for Wicklow, who will compete in Division Four of the National Football League next season.

McConville had been part of Ray Dempsey’s planned management ticket as he applied for the vacant Mayo post after James Horan had stepped down, but the Westerners opted for Kevin McStay instead.

The two-time All-Star spent the last number of years in charge of Monaghan club Inniskeen, but his time came to an end when they were recently knocked out of the championship by kingpins Scotstown.

Meanwhile, Damian McErlain has been ratified as manager of the Derry u-17s for the upcoming season. McErlain led the team to three Ulster final appearances in-a-row between 2015 and 2017, winning twice, and subsequently had a stint as senior boss. Marty Boyle was also ratified this week as u-20 boss for the 2023 season. He led the minors to the delayed 2020 All-Ireland title.

In Down, the new Mourne manager Conor Laverty, who experienced great success with the u-20 side in 2021, is set to remain involved with the youngsters.

Laverty took the Down u-20s to an Ulster title last year, beating Monaghan in the final after extra time before losing to Roscommon in the last four of the All-Ireland series.

The Kilcoo man was rumoured to be the Down manager last year but turned it down and James McCartan instead returned to the hotseat.