Turlough O'Brien has stepped down as Carlow football manager after six years at the helm.
O'Brien was due to take charge for the rest of the 2020 season but has chosen to bring forward his end date due to the delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
With the All-Ireland Championship to be delayed until at least October 17th, O'Brien has decided to step aside now to enable a smoother transition for his successor.
The highlights of O'Brien's six-year tenure include winning promotion from Division 4 in the spring of 2018 - resulting in Carlow exiting the basement division for the first time in 33 years - and stunning Kildare in the Leinster quarter-final in Tullamore later that year.
“We will never forget the special days in 2017 and 2018, particularly those sweltering evenings in Netwatch Cullen Park, when we took on some of the best the country has to offer under O’Brien’s stewardship”, read a Carlow county board statement.
“The most memorable of all, however, must be that famous afternoon in Tullamore when the Manager led our team to a famous Championship victory over Kildare en route to the Leinster semi-final.
“The absolute professionalism, utter dedication & unbridled passion which Turlough brought to the Carlow Senior Football set up over the past six years, alongside his various backroom staff, has undoubtedly elevated Carlow’s Football status to new heights.
“We take this opportunity to thank him unreservedly for all he has done during his tenure and we wish him every success and happiness for the future. He truly embodies the spirit of ‘CarlowRising’, fíor Ghael Cheatharlach gan dabht.
“Beir bua agus beannacht Turlough.”
Training for all inter-county teams will resume on September 14th.