By Shaun Casey

DOWN legend Ambrose Rogers has been appointed as the new Newry Shamrocks manager for the upcoming season. Rogers takes over the reins from another Mourne County icon and All-Ireland winning captain DJ Kane.

Rogers captained Down on their way to the 2010 All-Ireland final, which they lost to Cork by one point, but missed the match due to a torn cruciate. He will be joined in the Newry Shamrocks dugout by John McAteer.

The Longstone clubman was part of the management team that helped his club win the Division Two league title in 2022. Newry Shamrocks will compete in Division Three next season following their relegation in 2024, and the Intermediate Championship.

Beaten Senior Championship semi-finalists Glenn have retained the services of their management team, led by former players Stevie Clarke, for another season, his third at the helm.

Glenn captured the Division Three league title in 2024, stringing together an unbeaten run of 18 games, winning 15, and will compete in Division Two this year. They were relegated from Division Two in 2023 but bounced right back up at the first time of asking.

Clarke’s side have reached the last two Senior Championship semi-finals but have suffered defeats on both occasions. Burren ended their involvement in 2023 while Down kingpins Kilcoo knocked them out at the same stage last season.

Former Armagh boss Peter McDonnell is back for a second season in charge of Liatroim, who were also relegated to Division Three in the league. They will however compete in the Senior Championship once again.

The Mullaghbawn native is the last Armagh manager to have won an Ulster Championship, back in 2008. McDonnell also spent time in charge of the Orchard’s u-20s and the Mullaghbawn senior team in recent years. Gary Mallon will once again coach the side.

Bredagh have also retained the services of Deaglan Bunting and Kieran McGourty, who have returned for a second year in charge. Bunting had previously managed Lamh Dhearg in Antrim before taking over at Bredagh.

Ex-Antrim attacker McGourty was part of the hugely successful St Gall’s team that dominated the club scene in the Saffron County and won the All-Ireland Senior Club Championship back in 2010.

Last season, Bredagh competed in the top tier of the Down leagues but suffered relegation to Division Two. In the Senior Championship, they reached the quarter-finals but lost out to eventual finalists Burren by three points, 2-10 to 1-10.