Offaly GAA replace hurling manager Kevin Martin with Joachim Kelly

Offaly GAA have replaced hurling manager Kevin Martin with Joachim Kelly, who is set to take charge until the end of the season.

The Faithful County suffered relegation from Division 1B earlier this year and have lost their opening two games of the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Sitting bottom of the table, they have have two games remaining against Kerry and Antrim as they bid to avoid the drop to the Christy Ring Cup for 2020.

"Following on from an Offaly GAA Management Committee meeting tonight, Kevin Martin and his management team have been replaced as the current senior hurling management with immediate effect," the club confirmed in a statement on Monday.

"The committee would like to thank Kevin and his team for their commitment and effort over the last two years.

"Survival in the Joe McDonagh Cup competition in 2019 is essential in the long term development of hurling in the county.

"To this end, Joachim Kelly has been appointed as interim manager to the end of this year's Joe McDonagh Cup competition. We wish Joachim and his team the best of luck in the upcoming games."

Martin's Faithful reign started with a bang, as they beat Dublin by 13 points at Croke Park in the 2018 National League opener. However, they found it difficult to stay afloat in the Leinster Championship last year, and have slipped down the pecking order since then.

Kelly, a former player and selector with the county, is tasked with the job of keeping them afloat in the Joe McDonagh.

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