2018 Team Management
There are a number of changes to the management of the various teams for the 2018 playing season. Diarmuid McDonnell is the new coach of the junior A footballers. Diarmuid is a member of Na Piarsaigh and has many years’ experience managing teams at different levels. He has been involved with his own club for many years at senior and intermediate grades while he was also involved with Glanworth when they won the county junior A football championship in 2009.Ironically, Glanworth’s victory in the semi-final of that competition came via a narrow one point victory over White’s Cross! Diarmuid will be joined by Michael Coleman (Ballinahina) as a selector. This will be Michael’s first role as a selector and hopefully both he and Diarmuid can build on the good work done by the previous management team over the last few years. Edwin Buckley will be the new manager of the club’s second football team. Paul O’Donovan will remain involved and Dave Buckley will also join the backroom team.
Coach Séamus Kennefick will remain in charge of the junior hurlers for the 2018 campaign. Séamus joined the club in 2017 and his knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication was warmly welcomed by all the players. All in the squad were very happy that he has decided to continue for the upcoming year. 2017 was successful on the field of play, winning the Seandún Division league and championship double whilst also reaching the county junior B hurling championship final. Many young players also made their debut throughout the year which provides a lot of optimism for 2018 and beyond. Séamus will be joined on the sidelines again this year by Martin Atkinson, Dominc Cahill and Chris O’Neill. In the one change to the setup, Pat Reid will rejoin the team as selector. Pat has a wealth of experience and hurling knowledge and will be a big addition as the hurlers seek further silverware in 2018.
Club players from adult and under 18 teams spent the month of January doing an intensive fitness training course. Tuesday evenings were spent at the Team Thomas Fitness Centre on the Watergrasshill road for boxing fitness training while on Thursday nights, the lads trained on astro-turf in the Glen Resource centre. Some footballs were added to the mix for Sunday morning sessions at the club gounds in Ballinvriskig. All at the club hope that we see the benefit of this hard-preseason training on the field of play throughout the year. We wish all the club teams the very best for the upcoming season.