Laois GAA have confirmed that Justin McNulty will be in charge of the Laois senior footballers for the 2024 season on a three year term.
News that the Mullaghbawn clubman was returning to Laois surfaced last Friday and the delay to the confirmation was due to his backroom team being finalised.
Laois GAA have not confirmed his backroom team but have confirmed he will be appointed in a statement tonight.
McNulty’s name will now go before the clubs at a County Board meeting next Monday night.
A statement said: “Laois GAA are pleased to announce that Justin McNulty is to be recommended for the position of Laois Senior Football Manager on a three year term.
“An All-Ireland winner with his county, Armagh, in 2002, Justin brings a wealth of experience to the role.
“He has previously managed Laois, gaining promotion to Division 1 in 2011 and guiding them to an All-Ireland quarter final in 2012.
“Justin will work with the County Board and players’ leadership group to finalise the coaching team over the coming weeks.
“We look forward to working with the players and the coaching team and wish them the very best of luck over the coming season.”
The news means that the Armagh native will return to the O’Moore County for a second spell – more than a decade after his last.
An All-Ireland winner with Armagh in 2002, McNulty first managerial adventure saw him lead Mullahoran Dreadnoughts of Cavan to a Senior Championship in 2006.
The following year Justin managed St Brigid’s and they were narrowly beaten in the 2007 Dublin dinal by St Vincent’s – who went on to win the All Ireland.
In late 2009 he was appointed as an Armagh selector under the management of Paddy O’Rourke.
He arrived in Laois for the 2011 season where he immediately gained promotion from Division 2 of the National League.
Laois lost the final to Donegal, were knocked out by Dublin in a Leinster quarter final and eliminated by Kildare in Round 2 of the Qualifiers.
2012 saw Laois compete in Division 1 where, despite defeating Donegal and Armagh, they suffered relegation.
They also lost in Round 1 of Leinster to Longford but then embarked on a run through the Qualifiers that saw them defeat Carlow, Monaghan, Leitrim and Meath.
They reached the All-Ireland quarter finals where they went down narrowly to the All-Ireland champions Dublin – 1-12 to 0-12.
In McNulty’s third year in charge, 2013, Laois finished third in Division 2 and just missed out on promotion.
Leinster once again brought a Round 1 exit, this time to Louth, but another Qualifier run would ensue.
Carlow, Clare and Wexford were defeated before Laois went out in Round 4 to then All-Ireland champions Donegal – 0-14 to 0-8.
McNulty’s tenure ended then and life after Laois saw him become involved in politics.
He joined the SDLP where he has been an MLA for Newry and Armagh since 2016.
LaoisToday understands that six other candidates were interviewed in the initial stage of the process.
Former Dublin player Ger Brennan and former Down player Mark Doran were two of those.
But Brennan withdrew his name after this and has since been appointed as the new Louth boss – succeeding Mickey Harte.
While it is understood that Doran has joined Wicklow under Oisín McConville.
A second round of interviews were held on the last week in September where it is believed that four candidates were quizzed.
These included Arles-Killeen’s Billy O’Loughlin and Courtwood’s Eddie Kinsella – both former Laois U-20 managers.
While it is believed that former Laois player and current Laois Gaels Chairman, O’Dempsey’s Leo Turley, and former Naas and Thomas Davis (Dublin) manager Paul Kelly were also interviewed.
Former Dublin manager Pat Gilroy was involved in the early stage of the interview process but it’s understood that he wasn’t involved in the second round.
Laois GAA Chairman PJ Kelly, vice-chairman Kieran Kehoe, football chairman Tony Bambrick and former Laois player Colm Begley were also involved in the selection process.
Billy Sheehan stepped down from the role exactly more than 107 days ago, on July 4.
The decision means that Tipperary and Waterford are the only football teams currently without a boss.
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