Joe Dooley has stepped down as manager of the Offaly senior hurling team.
Dooley announced his decision tonight - three days after the Faithful County's involvement in the Championship ended with a one-point defeat to Cork in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
Offaly had previously lost out to Dublin in the Leinster quarter-finals.
Dooley told Sport at 7: ‘It was probably on my mind that this was going to be my last year but it’s still very hard to make the final decision to step down.
‘It’s tough going, I’ve a busy day job and you’re trying to juggle all the balls in the air as well. I also feel that the lads need to hear a different voice, they need to hear someone who can bring them that extra little bit now. It’s for the good of Offaly hurling as well as my own personal reasons.’
Dooley, who won three All-Irelands and six Leinster titles with Offaly as a player, was appointed manager in 2007.
