Kernan out of race for Dubs post

Joe Kernan took Armagh to their first All-Ireland SFC triumph

Former Armagh manager Joe Kernan has ruled himself out of replacing Paul Caffrey as Dublin boss.

Caffrey stepped down from the job on Saturday after the 3-14 to 1-8 defeat by Tyrone in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park.

"I'm too close to Armagh and the players," Kernan told the Irish Times.

"It's one of the biggest jobs and anyone would be interested but it would be very hard to take on another team to go out and meet your own."

Mick Deegan, who guided Dublin to the All-Ireland junior title recently, is the early favourite to succeed Caffrey.

Armagh won their first All-Ireland title in 2002 in Kernan's first year in charge and they lost out to Tyrone in the decider 12 months later.

The Crossmaglen man also guided the Orchard county to four Ulster SFC triumphs and a national league title in 2005.

Kernan resigned in July last year after a defeat by Derry in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Paul Caffrey has stepped down as Dublin manager following the 3-14 to 1-8 defeat by Tyrone in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final on Saturday.

Caffrey led the Dubs to four Leinster titles but never managed to guide the Metropolitans to an All-Ireland final.

"I'm stepping down today after four years in charge of Dublin," he said.

"It certainly wasn't how we wished it to end today, but that's football, that's sport and we must accept it and move on."

"I'd like to praise the players, not only on today's panel, but the players that I've dealt with over the last four years, what they have given to the Dublin jersey and the pride they have put back into the Dublin jersey."