Football

Laverty not involved in Down senior management team

Alongside Marty Clarke and Meath legend Sean Boylan, Conor Laverty has returned to his role as Down U20 coach for 2022. Picture by Philip Walsh
Alongside Marty Clarke and Meath legend Sean Boylan, Conor Laverty has returned to his role as Down U20 coach for 2022. Picture by Philip Walsh Alongside Marty Clarke and Meath legend Sean Boylan, Conor Laverty has returned to his role as Down U20 coach for 2022. Picture by Philip Walsh

SPECULATION that Conor Laverty has joined the Down senior management team is wide of the mark, The Irish News understands.

The Kilcoo stalwart - who helped his club to All-Ireland glory last month – had been strongly linked with the Down job following Paddy Tally’s exit last July, and also when ex-Donegal boss Jim McGuinness was in talks about a possible role prior to James McCartan’s appointment.

Alongside former county team-mate Marty Clarke, Laverty led Down to the Ulster U20 title last summer, and the pair have returned to that role again in 2022.

In recent days speculation gathered pace that he had joined McCartan’s backroom team. However, it is understood that with the Mourne County panel beset by injury and unavailability, the seniors and U20s opted to train together last week, with both coaching teams involved in those sessions.

Laverty will only be involved with the Down U20s this year, around his playing commitments with the Magpies.