Sligo have appointed Stephen Sheil as the county's new senior hurling manager.
The appontment is for two years.
Sheil succeeds Padraig Mannion, who left the Sligo role after three years in charge.
A native of Carlow, Shiel played for his county at all levels in hurling up to and including the Leinster senior hurling championship.
Stephen will be assisted by lead coach Seamus Qualter and by Donal O’Brien.
His team will also include further specialist input – on Strength and Conditioning, nutrition and psychology - to be finalised in conjunction with the existing core resources of Sligo GAA in those areas.
Stephen and his team will also have the support of high-performance consultant Bernard Jackman on an advisory basis.
His most recent role was as Westmeath minor hurling team manager.
The appointment follows a competitive process undertaken by a selection committee established for the task by Sligo GAA’s management committee and led by Chairman, Sean Carroll.
“We are really pleased with the quality of candidates that put themselves forward for the role and in the end it was a difficult choice to make.
"Our ambition is to build on the rise of our county senior team to Christy Ring Cup level over the past four years.
"While we slipped back in the League in the season just gone, we believe that the talent is there to rise again and maintain that level while also developing our younger players through to senior level."
Sligo were relegated back to Division 3A in their most recent league campaign but gave a stronger showing in their Christy Ring campaign, beating Mayo, Tyrone and London to finish third.
They just missed out a place in the Christy Ring final, after a narrow semi-final defeat to Meath. j
