By Cathal Dervan

Liam Hayes was amongst old friends in Dublin’s swanky Westin Hotel on Monday night as colleagues Martin Breheny and Colm Keys launched their excellent new book on the history of the All-Stars awards presented to the best 15 hurlers and footballers every year.

Hayes features in The Chosen Ones, a book published by the Blackwater Press to celebrate the 1,000th All-Star which was awarded on Friday night to the Kerry footballer Paul Galvin.

He was also the center of attention on more than one occasion as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern launched the book and shook several hands, mine included!

More than one journalist walked up to the former Irish Voice columnist to offer their congratulations, and more than one former player questioned his sanity as events unfolded about 70 miles down the road in Carlow.

There, you see, the Carlow County Board were ratifying the appointment of the twice All-Ireland medal winner as the new manager of their senior football team. And you can bet your bottom dollar than somewhere up in heaven one of their own was smiling proudly.

Jim Hayes, Liam’s father, was a native of Palatine and played for the Carlow team for 12 years before work and family commitments resulted in a move to the Meath parish of Skryne.

The Hayes family, always proud of their youngest son’s achievements in the glory days of the Sean Boylan era, never forgot their roots.

And it was a special moment for them a couple of weeks back when Liam represented the family at a dinner to celebrate the achievements of one of the many county teams that Jim Hayes graced.

Little did they know when they accepted the invitation to that dinner in Carlow what the long-term effects would be, but next week Liam Hayes will take his first training session as manager of the Carlow team.

A chance conversation with the county chairman and secretary at that dinner, as they say side by side at the top table, persuaded Liam and his new friends that they talk the same language when it comes to the game of Gaelic football.

Carlow, without a manager since Luke Dempsey quit after just one season in charge this year, discovered the answer to their search at a dinner to celebrate days of old – and almost by accident.

They have now handed Hayes his first job as a county manager. And they have got a good man.

I am biased when it comes to that opinion, and I make no apologies for it. Liam Hayes as a footballer was as fine a midfielder as Meath has produced – with the help of that Carlow blood.

He is going to give something back to Carlow now, and I won’t be surprised if he is successful with them as he was with Lucan Sarsfields, the last team he managed and one he led to the Dublin Intermediate Championship back in 1995.

The Carlow players, the same players who went on strike last year over their treatment at the hands of the County Board, will find him a hard but fair man. The one thing Hayes will demand is hard work and commitment.

He will give this job everything and he will accept nothing else in return. Not will he tolerate shirkers, in training or in matches. Anyone who fails to pull their weight will be displaced rapidly and ruthlessly.

A little story from his Lucan past confirms that. On their way to that Dublin IFC title Hayes introduced a teenage prospect as a sub halfway through a crucial match.

The kid, a noted hurler as well as a footballer, was also known for a slight yellow streak that manifested itself whenever a tackle came his way.

When the player pulled out of the first tackle after his introduction as a sub that day Hayes took swift action – and hauled him straight back off. Carlow players please note.