OFFALY ALL-IRELAND winning defender Kevin Martin was last night ratified as the county’s new senior hurling boss.
Martin’s appointment was formally confirmed at a meeting of the Offaly county committee.
His Tullamore clubmate Damian Fox has been appointed as the coach with Aidan Hanrahan coming on board as selector.
Martin takes over from Kevin Ryan, who departed after one season in charge of the Faithful county. Offaly won one game in the league last spring before a championship campaign that saw defeats to the eventual All-Ireland finalists Galway and Waterford.
During Offaly’s golden hurling period, Martin was a key member. He lined out at wing-back in the 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2000 All-Ireland senior hurling deciders.
Martin enjoyed Liam MacCarthy Cup triumphs in 1994 and 1998, while also claiming All-Star awards in both of those seasons.
Martin’s coaching record involves a role as player-manager with his native Tullamore, helping them claim the Offaly county senior title in 2009 after a 46-year wait.
Martin netted in that final win over Kilcormac-Killoughey with Fox playing as goalkeeper on that team. They would go on to contest the Leinster club final that year, losing out to Ballyhale Shamrocks.
At inter-county level Martin had a spell with the Westmeath senior hurlers and steered them to the Christy Ring Cup in 2010.
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