GAA in mourning after sudden passing of Offaly manager Liam Kearns

'In his short period of time as manager of the senior footballers, Liam made a hugely positive impact and he was extremely well respected by everyone associated with Offaly GAA.

'Offaly GAA extend deepest sympathies to his wife Angela and daughters Rachel & Laura. May he rest in peace.'

[caption id="attachment_285019" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Liam Kearns in a huddle with his Tipperary players after they lost the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final to Mayo, at Croke Park. (Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile)[/caption]

Liam Kearns was known as a great man motivator

Liam Kearns took over from John Maughan as Offaly senior football manager, late last year, and the Faithful County were looking good in Division 3 of the Allianz League, under his stewardship. Back in 2017, the Tralee native was the subject of much praise after the deeds his Tipperary team achieved. 'In the current GAA climate,' wrote Niall McIntyre, 'Liam Kearns is a rarity and a gem. He is a beacon of hope in the modern game that is caught up in a trend of professionalism and sport science.

'He doesn’t treat his players like children, and respects the fact that they have lives outside of football. 'Undoubtedly, his Tipperary team train as hard as any other current inter-county teams but the difference between Kearns and some other managers is that he realises that his players are also young men who are living the most enjoyable years of their lives. 'He feels the psychological benefits of team bonding through drinking or having the craic outweighs the supposed scientific negatives... His team appear to have built a brotherhood on the back of this attitude.'

"I want them to celebrate after a game," Kearns once said of his players. "I want them to enjoy it and that’s our philosophy and that’s where it comes from." Related links:

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