THE RATIFICATION OF Niall Carew as the new Waterford football manager ensures that the last remaining inter-county football management vacancy has been filled.
Carew was officially rubber-stamped last night as the new supremo of the Division 4 outfit at a county board meeting.
He is expected to begin preparations immediately for the 2013 campaign with Waterford having been entitled to return to training last week under the new phased GAA process – depending on when teams bowed out of the championship during the summer. Carew is to hold his first session with the squad next Saturday at the Waterford IT GAA complex in Carriganore.
Waterford begin their Division 4 league campaign next February with a trip away to face Clare who will be under the guidance of former legendary Kerry boss Mick O’Dwyer. In next year’s Munster championship they have received a bye to the semi-final stage where they will face either Tipperary or Kerry on June 1st.
Carew will assume the managerial reins having spent the last five seasons as a selector with Kildare since former Armagh All-Ireland winning captain Kieran McGeeney took charge of the Lilywhites. Over the past few years his role has been as forwards coach to the squad.
Previously Carew served as manager to the NUI Maynooth side in the Sigerson Cup. At club level in Kildare he has been the manager of Robertstown and Ellistown, steering the latter to the semi-final stage of the county senior football championship.
Carew, who will succeed John Owens, has drafted in Kildare duo Tony Kelly and Noel Mallon as part of his coaching ticket. Kelly has extensive experience with the county junior footballers and was in charge when they reached last year’s All-Ireland junior decider when they were defeated by Cork in Semple Stadium in Thurles.
Mallon has been physio for the Kildare squad in recent years and is believed to be likely to take up a position as strength and conditioning coach. Carew is likely to recruit at least one Waterford based selector.
