A significant appointment in Kilkenny last week with Henry Shefflin being confirmed as the Under 20 hurling manager. The 10-time All-Ireland winner’s backroom team includes his former county team-mate Brian Hogan along with Seán Kelly, Richie O'Neill and James Gittens. Shefflin managed the Galway senior hurlers for three years and he also had spells in charge of his home club Ballyhale Shamrocks and Thomastown.
The former Cats star succeeds Mark Dowling, whose three-year tenure ended with a defeat to Tipperary in this year's All-Ireland Under 20 final. Many pundits felt that Shefflin should not have taken the Galway job, which is always a difficult assignment and we all remember that awkward handshake between Shefflin and Kilkenny manager Brian Cody before a Galway-Kilkenny National Hurling league game. But when Shefflin went to Galway it didn’t look like Cody was going to quit the Kilkenny job for a long time. After Cody eventually did decide to retire, the job went to current manager Derek Lyng.
Kilkenny are not the force they used to be at minor and under 20 level and while Lyng has extended his stay as senior manager, it’s looking very much like Kilkenny are grooming 46-year-old Shefflin to become senior manager at some point.
BONNER 12TH NEW
BOSS FOR 2026
Fermanagh have appointed former Donegal forward Declan Bonner as their new senior football where he replaces Kieran Donnelly. Bonner previously had two spells in charge of Donegal. Bonner’s appointment was the last appointment in what has become known as the annual managerial merry-go-round appointment which means that in 2026 we will have 12 counties under new football managers.
In hurling there will be only one change in the top tiers where Ben O’Connor will replace Pat Ryan in Cork. And in Antrim under pressure hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has brought in his old pal Seoirse Bulfin into the Saffrons’ set-up as coach for the 2026 season. The move comes after Neil McManus, Pat Bennett and Paudie Shivers all stepped away from their roles within Fitzgerald’s backroom team following the conclusion of his first season in charge. Fitzgerald and Bulfin previously worked together in Waterford and Clare, including the Banner County’s 2013 All-Ireland final win over Cork. Fitzgerald also had the Limerick native in his backroom team when Wexford delivered the Leinster title in 2019.Two years later, Bulfin would become a coach with Meath before being appointed the county’s senior hurling manager and this past year saw him in charge of Westmeath.
After stepping down in the Lake County in June, Seoirse has now linked up with Fitzgerald once more as the Glensmen look to plot a return to the Leinster championship this coming season. In Fitzgerald’s first season in charge Antrim where relegated from the Leinster Championship, after losing all five of their games in the round robin series.
CLIFFORD OUT
IN KERRY EAST
East Kerry manager Adrian Sheehan doesn’t expect star forward Paudie Clifford will be available for any part of the upcoming Kerry senior football championship. Clifford has struggled with injury throughout the year, missing a number of important games for Kerry and his club Fossa. Divisional side East Kerry, which comprises clubs from junior clubs in the east of the county, excluding Killarney club Dr Crokes, Rathmore and Spa have won four of the last six Kerry senior football championships.
NEW WEXFORD
JOB FOR DUNNE
Former world boxing champion Bernard Dunne has been appointed by Wexford GAA in a newly created Talent and Culture Development role. Dunne’s role is set to entail supporting players and enhancing performance standards, as well as building a culture of excellence across the county. Having previously worked with the Dublin senior footballers, Dunne also worked with Irish athletes qualifying for Olympic Games and World Championships while he was also high performance director with the Irish Athletic Boxing Association.
O’DWYER’S WIDOW
DEFENDS LOAN
The wife of the late Mick O’Dwyer has defended her decision to loan the Kerry legend’s All-Ireland medal collection to the GAA museum in Croke Park, explaining she wanted the thousands of visitors to learn about Micko. The Waterville native died in April at the age of 88 and his wife Geraldine last week donated his medals. The ceremony at Croke Park was attended by family friends, former Kerry stars Mick and Tom Spillane and Ger Power as well as GAA president Jarlath Burns and RTÉ commentator Marty Morrissey.
Pictures of the event were shared to the GAA’s social media. However, commenting on the post was turned off after it was met with some backlash, with Geraldine stating her late husband would be ‘horrified’ at the comments. Speaking last week Geraldine said ‘‘I felt Croke Park was the best place for the medals. I hope the thousands of visitors to Croke Park Museum, especially all the schoolchildren, will learn about Micko and enjoy viewing them.’’
As a player O’Dwyer won four All-Ireland senior football medals with Kerry, 12 Munster finals and 8 National League titles. Later as a manager Micko led Kerry to win the Sam Maguire Cup 8 times and also had success as a manager with Kildare, Laois and Wicklow.
DEATH OF MEATH STAR
The death occurred last week of former Meath footballer Jimmy Fay. A native of Trim, Jimmy and his brother Mick were in the Meath squad that lost the 1970 All-Ireland final to Kerry. Later some great performances in goal for Trim Celtic meant that Jimmy was selected in goal for the Royals and was between the posts when Meath started their great comeback with the Centenary Cup final win over Monaghan in 1984.
