HE may still be in the market for a number two, but Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney has boosted his backroom with the addition of former captain Ciaran McKeever.
The Orchard County caused a surprise at the end of last year when former Kerry forward Kieran Donaghy joined in a coaching capacity following the departures of Paddy McKeever and John Toal.
Earlier this month Jim McCorry - McGeeney’s number two for the past three years - also decided to step away for personal reasons, and the search continues for his successor within the set-up.
However, the decision to bring McKeever onboard appears a commonsense move. The Cullyhanna man, who hung up his inter-county boots in 2017, has been in charge of the Armagh minors for the last two seasons, and also managed Down club Mayobridge.
An All-Ireland U21 winning captain in 2004, McKeever would go on to play alongside McGeeney for three seasons towards the end of Joe Kernan’s tenure. He also played under McGeeney when the Mullaghbawn man took on the Orchard job on his own in 2015, having served alongside Paul Grimley in 2014.
Peter McDonnell – the man who took over from Kernan in 2007 - is expected to continue as Armagh’s U20 manager this year.
Elsewhere in the Orchard County, clubs have been invited to submit plans to finish the 2020 season. They can be discussed at a county board meeting scheduled for March 8, alongside the four options put forward by the county board last month.
Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, a final decision will be dependent on developments prior to that meeting. The four options are:
1. Commencing in mid-April/May, priority would be given to the 2020 leagues before the 2021 season begins. The 2021 leagues would include one round of fixtures, seven games for senior and intermediate leagues and possibly more in the junior division. The group stage championship would return following the knockout format used in 2020.
2. Commencing in late-May/June, the 2020 league would be voided with last year’s intermediate (Clan na Gael) and junior (Forkhill) championship winners promoted. The 2021 leagues would include one round of fixtures while the championship would include a group format.
3. Commencing in late-June/July, the 2020 league would be voided, the 2021 league would be one round of fixtures and a knock-out championship would remain in place.
4. Commencing later than the other three options, the 2020 league would be voided, the 2021 league would not take place and there would be a group championship.
