O’Kelly steps down as Kilruane boss

By Shane Brophy

With clubs across the county beginning to knock off the cobwebs ahead of the start of the GAA season next month with the county leagues, there have been a number of managerial changes and appointments.

Most notable is in Kilruane MacDonaghs where Liam O’Kelly, the man who guided the magpies to a first county senior hurling title in 37 years in 2022, has decided to step down. However, continuity will remain with the defending county champions with selector Declan Souch and team administrator Cronan Casey promoted to joint-managers with Brian O’Meara and Christy Morgan remaining as coach/selectors, joined by former player Thomas Williams.

Last year’s losing divisional and county finalists Kiladangan will also have a new man at the helm with Sixmilebridge native John O’Meara crossing Lough Derg to head up the 2020 champions, with Sean O’Meara, George Hannigan and Darragh Egan remaining part of the management team with Dan Hackett stepping away.

North champions Nenagh Eire Og will also have change with manager Noel Maloney and coach Johnny Kelly moving on. 2022 selector Seamus Cleary step into the managers role but the addition of club great Michael Cleary as coach is notable, having last been involved with his home club in 2007.

A club great is also taking the top job in Borris-Ileigh with Philip Maher replacing Limerick’s Shane O’Neill as manager. However, he is bringing a heavyweight coach with him in the form of former Kilkenny senior hurling coach and National GAA Director of Hurling Martin Fogarty.

Toomevara also have change with Ken Dunne taking the helm and will be joined by former Clare senior football goalkeeper and Tipperary selector Joe Hayes, who lives in the parish. Their strength & conditioning coach will be Drom & Inch clubman Shane Hassett who is currently with the Clare senior hurlers.

Templederry Kenyons have moved on from Cormac McGrath after three successful years and have secured the services of Limerick’s Ger Cunningham who was previously involved with Kiladangan and Thurles Sarsfields.

Returning to senior level after one year, Roscrea, unsurprisingly are going with the same again with Liam England going into his second year as manager with his management team remaining the same, apart from Marc O’Meara replacing Aidan Shanahan as a selector, while Eddie Brennan, who joined as an advisor in their run to the county premier intermediate and provincial finals, has moved onto become manager of Mid rivals Moycarkey/Borris.

Surprisingly, there is also a change in Upperchurch/Drombane who reached last year’s senior hurling semi-final with Liam Dunphy and James McGrath having departed, replaced by former Limerick hurler Seanie Tobin.

Premier Intermediate

Unlike at senior level where there is a lot of change, at the Premier Intermediate grade there is a lot of stability with just one of the six North clubs having a change in management.

That is in Silvermines were Brian Lawlor, who guided Kiladangan to the 2020 county senior title, assumes the role, joined by John Mescall from Limerick who was also in Kiladangan.

Last years defeated semi-finalists Burgess unsurprisingly go the same again with Brian Hogan as manager with Natal O’Grady as coach and Kevin Cooney as selector.

North Premier Intermediate champions Portroe have Nick Weir in charge for a third year, joined by Padraig Conroy, Bob Duff, and Greg Baker.

Neighbours Ballina will again be led by Eamonn Power with Mark Cooney as coach while Newport again have former county board secretary Tim Floyd as manager and Limericks Ger Downes as coach.

Lorrha made an immediate return to the second tier after their north and county intermediate championship success and unsurprisingly retain Ken Hogan as manager with Coolderry and Offaly’s Brian Carroll as coach.

Intermediate

2022 county finalists Moneygall retain the services of Paul O’Brien as they look to go one step further and has secured the services of Aaron Considine as coach, who was over Toomevara last year.

Borrisokane go the same again with Seamus Gleeson from Kiladangan as manager, while Kiladangan, related from premier intermediate, have yet to confirm their management team.

With Brian Lawlor having moved onto Silvermines, Shannon Rovers, who only saved their intermediate status in a playoff last year, will have former player John Tierney as manager with Burgess’ Darrel Tucker as coach.