By Shaun Casey

ARMAGH icon Steven McDonnell is back in charge of his home club Killeavy, having taken over midway through last year. McDonnell took charge after the opening round of the championship when the club parted ways with Niall McAleenan.

The 2002 All-Ireland winner guided Killeavy to the last eight of the Senior Championship, where they lost to eventual finalists Clan na Gael. He will once again be joined in the dugout by former Down football and current Mourne County coach Marty Clarke.

Silverbridge have appointed ex-Monaghan player Bernie Murray as their new manager for the upcoming season. The Scotstown clubman takes over at the helm from the outgoing Rory Donnelly, Colm Traynor and Damien McCann.

It’s Murray’s third job in the Orchard County, so he is well affiliated with Armagh club football. Murray was in charge of Dromintee back in 2004 when they claimed the Division One league title.

Murray’s tenure with Ballymacnab echoed a similar tale as he guided the Round Tower club to Division One league success in 2018 but suffered Senior Championship final defeats to Crossmaglen in 2018 and 2019.

Silverbridge will be without their influential midfielder in Peter Carragher, who has transferred to St Bride’s in Louth. Carragher won an All-Ireland Minor title with Armagh in 2009 and has been a mainstay in the Silverbridge midfield since.

Former Louth footballer Shane Lennon has taken over at Crossmaglen for the upcoming season. Lennon replaces the outgoing Anthony Cunningham, who won one Senior Championship title during his two-year stint.

Shane McConville is back in charge of his home club St Paul’s, who will once again be one of the big hitters in the Intermediate Championship. The Lurgan club have tasted defeat in four of the last five county finals.

McConville was in charge when they last captured the Atty Hearty Cup back in 2014 and guided them to the final in 2022, when they were desperately unlucky to lose out to a last-minute Shane O’Neill’s goal.

McConville has a fantastic CV which includes a Senior Championship title with Maghery. He guided the Loughshore men to their maiden championship win back in 2016 and took them to the final the following year as well although they lost out to Armagh Harps.

Paul Doyle is set to remain in charge of Junior Championship winners Collegeland as they move up to intermediate football. Doyle guided the Collegeland men to championship glory in his first season in charge.

The Pearse Óg clubman has also won Junior Championship titles with both Keady and Derrynoose in recent years. He also guided the Armagh minors to the Ulster final in 2014 but lost out to Donegal.

Another ex-Armagh minor manager Brendan Hughes, who was involved in Paul Grimley’s Armagh management team in 2013, has taken over at Tír na nÓg, having spent the last few seasons in charge of Sarsfields.