Keogan returns to take the reins at Castlerahan

THE man who masterminded Castlerahan’s first-ever championship success in 2018 has returned for a second stint in charge.

Former Cavan manager Donal Keogan has returned to the club after guiding the team to back-to-back league and championship successes in 2018 and 2019.

He stepped down in November 2019 after their Ulster Club Championship defeat to Naomh Conaill, but has decided to give it another go with the team which lost a hotly contested semi-final to eventual champions Crosserlough last year.

Beaten finalists Kingscourt, meanwhile, have a new manager. Lacken man Finbar O’Reilly has stepped into the breach. He guided Mullinlaghta to the semi-finals of the Longford Senior Championship semi-finals last year but that game was postponed due to the pandemic.

Elsewhere in Division One, well-known Fermanagh man Kieran Donnelly will remain in charge of Cavan Gaels, while it’s no surprise that Jimmy Higgins is staying at the helm of Crosserlough. Gowna remain on the hunt for a new manager. Ray Cole is also remaining in charge of Ramor.

Ramond Reilly will take charge of Ballymachugh for a third season, while Paul Hayes is Cootehill manager for 2021 with Michael Buckley as coach.

They’ll be hoping to bounce back to the Senior Championship as soon as possible after suffering relegation in 2019, while Adrian Maguire is staying in charge of newly-promoted Ballinagh, who won the Intermediate Championship in impressive fashion.

Arva will be led by Lacken man Gabriel Keogan, who previously managed the club a number of years ago, while former Meath footballer Jody Devine, who had an excellent stint at Laragh, is taking the ropes at Killygarry (their coach will be Keelan Melaniff and strength and conditioning coach will be Adam Sullivan).

Finbar Clarke is remaining in charge of his native club Bailieborough after a very good campaign in the Intermediate Championship, losing to Butlersbridge in the semi-finals. His backroom team is Philip Dunne, James Lovett and Aodghan Fox.

Fra McPhillips and Peter McKeown are staying in charge of Belturbet for a second year, while Seanie Johnston, who was interviewed in last week’s Gaelic Life, is embarking on a new challenge as Cuchualainn’s manager.

Paddy Bates is staying in charge of Killinkere, and they’ll be hopeful of doing well in the Intermediate Champinship, losing a thrilling contest against Butlersbridge in the semi-finals last season.

Beaten Intermediate finalists Butlersbridge have a new manager, Daragh McCarthy, who is replacing George Dugdale.

Experienced manager Stephen Baxter remains in charge of Denn. He’d steered the team to last year’s Junior final against Templeport, but it wasn’t played and the teams are very much in limbo at the moment.