Franks Enters Birr Hot Seat
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Donal Franks has won the race to be the next Birr Senior hurling manager after Sunday's Annual General Meeting ratified his appointment. Franks bet off competition from Declan Pilkington and Paddy Kirwan in a closely contested vote to secure the job and will now set his sights on leading Birr to a first County title since 2008.
Having took charge of Shamrocks in 2011 and helped them stave off relegation. Franks will be hoping to be challenging for honours this time around rather than be stuck in a basement battle.
Birr returned to the County Final in 2011 only to be beaten by current Leinster champions Coolderry but in recent years have came un-stuck against Tullamore with the 'blues' defeating them in 2009 and 2010.
Last Year's manager Paul Murphy has moved on to Nenagh as Birr will now look to quickly avenge the pain of a County Final defeat by claiming the Sean Robbins Cup in 2012.
With the leagues due to kick off in February, Franks will not have a lot of time before the league but like all clubs, the Championship will be their main aim and a return to the top tier of Offaly hurling.
Franks who has won the Sean Robbins Cup as a player with Birr has also committed to training the Birr Intermediate hurlers for the year ahead.
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