Kearns steps down as Laois boss

Laois senior football manager Liam Kearns has announced his resignation with immediate effect.

Kearns' decision comes on the back on a disappointing Championship campaign in which they were beaten by Wexford in the Leinster Championship semi-final before being edged out by Down in the qualifiers.

Kearns replaced Mick O'Dwyer as Laois boss in September 2006 after a successful spell in charge of Limerick but was unable to match O'Dwyer's success in the Leinster Championship.

The Laois boss had come in for some criticism in recent times, most notably from former goalkeeper Fergal Byron who said the county had regressed during his two-year reign.