JOE DOOLEY HAS quit as manager of Offaly’s senior hurlers.

The Faithful County legend has already informed Offaly officials of his decision, according to GAA.ie.

Dooley’s side narrowly lost out to Cork on Leeside last Saturday. But that one-point defeat is to be his last game in charge.

“Things were going very, very well which makes it even harder again, but I think it is just the right thing to do at this time,” he told RTÉ. “We felt we probably should have beaten Dublin as well and could be in a Leinster final at this stage. But we are not and it is slim margins.

“We had an awful lot of injuries for a small county and that didn’t help either but at the end of the day there was great pride shown in the jersey and the lads that went out gave it everything. You couldn’t ask for any more than that.

“I have no doubt that their day will come and it is much sooner maybe than they realise,” he added.

Last year Offaly showed signs of real progress, first taking Galway to a replay in their provincial semi-final, beating Limerick in the qualifiers before exiting to Tipperary. Dooley was then awarded with another year in charge.

This season however, the Faithful were relegated from Division 1 of the national league. Dooley was also at loggerheads with officials within the county because of a perceived lack of cooperation.

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