AFTER an eventful two years at the helm, it was announced yesterday that Billy Sheehan has resigned from his managerial role with the Laois footballers.
Laois were relegated to the basement division of the National League in 2022 and narrowly failed to achieve promotion this spring.
Despite failing to win a game in their Tailteann Cup group this summer, the Leinster men advanced to the knockout stages thanks to a couple of draws and ultimately made it to the semi-finals via wins over Fermanagh and Limerick. However, their run ended in brutal fashion in Croke Park as Down put eight goals past them in a last-four demolition.
Following their preliminary quarter-final win over Fermanagh in Enniskillen, Sheehan had hit out at “negativity” in the O’Moore county and abuse he said his players had suffered from a section of the Laois support.
“I don’t care about it really – throughout my career I’ve got it – but I’m disgusted at the way things have gone on, the lying that has gone on about these lads,” the former Laois footballer said in Brewster Park, “But we’ll stick together and to hell with the begrudgers.”
In a statement released yesterday, the Laois county board said the Kerry native had informed them of his decision to stand down following a review meeting.
“Laois GAA would like to thank Billy and his backroom team for their commitment and work with this panel for the past two years and wish them well for the future,” the statement read.
“Laois GAA will now establish an appointments committee to source a new football manager for the coming season.”
