Willie Maher has been confirmed as the new Laois senior hurling manager.
Maher led Tipperary to the 1996 All-Ireland minor title.
He won a Fitzgibbon Cup title with WIT and a National Hurling League medal under Nicky English in 1999.
A serious eye injury curtailed his playing days from there but the Ballingarry man has since carved out an impressive coaching and managerial career.
In 2012 he again guided the Tipperary's minors to an All-Ireland title - this time as manager.
He also served as selector with Ken Hogan when Tipp landed the Under-21 All-Ireland title in 2010 title.
In a statement this evening, the board’s executive confirmed: "Laois GAA are delighted to announce that Willie Maher's name was submitted to the Laois GAA Executive by the hurling selection committee tonight for the position of senior hurling manager and was ratified accordingly."
Maher replaces Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett who recently stepped down from the Laois senior role.
He also served as selector with Derek McGrath in Waterford and led Cuala to Dublin SHC titles in 2019 and 2020.
Maher is at the helm of Kilkenny's Bennettsbridge where he has worked closely with Waterford’s Dan Shanahan.
Elsewhere on the inter-county managerial front, Cavan football manager Mickey Graham and Louth hurling boss Paul McCormack have been ratified by their respective county boards for the upcoming season.
Graham, who has been at the helm for four seasons and oversaw an unexpected Ulster title in 2020, will be in charge for a further two years, while McCormack has guided the Wee County to Lory Meagher Cup twice (2020 and 2022) in the last three years.
Ollie Bellew returns to take over as Cavan hurling manager, with the Antrim native previously in charge for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
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