Roscommon manager steps down in surprise move

Diane O’Hora has stepped down as manager of the Roscommon ladies football team "with immediate effect".

The news - which has been confirmed by Roscommon LFFA - comes as a shock as Roscommon have yet to complete their 2021 championship campaign.

Roscommon LGFA chairperson Brendan Cregg described Diane's decision as "regrettable". He thanked both Diane and her management team, and wished them "the very best of luck going forward".

"The process of discussing the appointment of a new manager will begin right away," he said.

Last Sunday's defeat to Laois (3-8 to 1-7) saw Roscommon miss out on a place in the All-Ireland intermediate championship quarter-finals (see report in this week's Westmeath Independent).

Roscommon are now facing a relegation battle to avoid demotion to the junior grade for next year. The Rossies will meet Longford in a relegation play-off but the loser of that game will have another chance to avoid the drop in a final play-off.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the defeat to Laois, O'Hara gave no indication that she was going to depart the post.

“We might give the girls a week off and they may go back to their clubs, and hopefully we can turn it around and win the relegation battle," she said.

Under the management of Michael Finneran (St Dominic's), Roscommon reached the 2020 intermediate championship semi-finals, where they were defeated by neighbours Westmeath.

During her successful playing career with Mayo, O'Hara captained her home county to their first All-Ireland senior crown in 1999. She went on to win three more All-Ireland medals with Mayo (2000, 2002 and 2003).

Diane is a former member of the Defence Forces with whom she was based in Athlone. She had a spell managing the St Brigid's ladies, based in nearby Kiltoom, and she guided them to a Connacht senior club final appearance.

A native of Ballina, O'Hora was coach of the Down team which won the All-Ireland intermediate title in 2014. She steered Longford to a Leinster intermediate title and also had a spell in charge of Meath.