Dublin 1995 All-Ireland winner turns down approach to become new Offaly football manager

Paul Curran has enjoyed considerable success on the club circuit – but won’t be cutting his teeth at inter-county level.

FORMER DUBLIN ALL-Ireland winner Paul Curran has revealed that he’s turned down an approach from Offaly to become their next senior football team manager.

Curran is currently guiding the fortunes of St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan-Ruadh in the capital but despite being tempted by the Faithful County approach, he’s declined the chance to succeed Pat Flanagan.

Offaly sources have now indicated that county board officials are likely to go local for a new supremo – with former players Paschal Kelleghan and Peter Brady the leading contenders.

Both men have enjoyed considerable success in management in recent times, with club stalwart Kelleghan masterminding county glory for Rhode last year, having guided Kildare outfit Athy to a final appearance against Sarsfields in 2015.

Paschal Kelleghan pictured during his playing days with Rhode. ©INPHO ©INPHO

Brady, a former county championship winning captain with Edenderry, steered the club to final appearances in 2014 and 2015.

After losing to Rhode three years ago, Edenderry gained revenge over the same opposition 12 months later.

Curran’s recent club stock is also high – as he led Ballymun Kickhams to a 2012 Dublin title, before managing Clann na nGael to Roscommon glory in 2015.

But the 1995 All-Ireland senior medallist won’t be accepting an invitation from Offaly to cut his managerial teeth at senior inter-county level.

He said: “I met them but I said no. It did appeal to me, I have to say, with the Faithful Fields facility up and running.

I just like the tradition of in the county. I don’t know what sort of footballers are in there but it did appeal to me. I met the county board but it’s just too much of a commitment and I’m busy at the moment.”

Curran’s previously worked with current Dublin senior boss Jim Gavin at U21 level but when asked if he fancies the prospect of managing at senior county team, he replied: “I would think I’m running out of time. I’m probably missing my window.

“The game, at county level, has moved on. I know it’s the same thing, you get organised and I know the ins and outs, but there’s just something about the inter-county scene that scares me.”

Curran has also put forward his view that this current Dublin senior team is on course to become the greatest of all-time – and ‘Kilkenny-esque’ in its dominance.

He said: “I would have grown up on Dublin and Kerry in the late 70s and early 80s – and that Kerry team was a great team but from what I’ve seen, I think this (Dublin) team is every bit as good and impressive.

Jim Gavin/Michael O'Donovan/Paul Curran 9/5/1999 Jim Gavin (left) and Paul Curran in action together for Dublin against Cork in 1999. Patrick Bolger / INPHO Patrick Bolger / INPHO / INPHO

“They’re being brilliantly managed. The conversation all week was will he (Diarmuid Connolly) or won’t he start, or when will he come on if he doesn’t?

“That conversation was going on in Tyrone as well. They would have spent a lot of time on if he starts, who’s going to pick him up, or if he doesn’t, when he comes on who’ll pick him up.

“Jim took all of that away and brought him on for a minute when the game was over.

“And they look as hungry as they did when they won it in 2011. That’s Kilkenny-esque. How they manage it is down to the ferocious competition within the squad – and the competition that’s coming up as well with fellas like Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon and Bernard Brogan not getting the game time they’d like but still ready to prove how good they are.”