Changes in personnel in Donegal club scene

A number of club management positions in Donegal remain unfilled at the moment as the year comes to an end.

After an odd GAA season, when the club calendar was put on hold, and then run off in the summer without the distraction of county football running concurrently, it is no surprise that some clubs are taking pause at this time.

Some clubs have not yet held their AGM and others are taking the time to find the right man.

It has already been reported that St Eunan’s have changed their management. Rory Kavanagh, the All-Ireland winning Donegal star, has stepped into the hot seat. He takes over from Richard Thornton who managed for two seasons.

Kavanagh has a managament team that includes some familiar names. David O’Herlihy as trainer, and Conall Dunne and Kieran Sharkey are in as coaches. Conall Dunne played county football with Kavanagh in the late 2000s and at the start of the last decade.

Killybegs have yet to hold their AGM however it is expected that the same management team, headed by John Cunningham, will take the team forward in 2021. They will hope to build on the performance this year, when they lost three games in the round-robin stages of the championship.

Bundoran enjoyed two wins in the round-robin stages this year. However, they have said goodbye to Terry McCann from Killyclogher. They are in the process of finding a new manager for next season.

Another club who are seeking a replacement for a Tyrone man is St Michael’s. Gary O’Neill, who is from the Red Hand county, coached St Michael’s for the past two years. However, he was approached by Pomeroy to take their senior team and he acqiesced. St Michael’s now need to find a replacement.

Clougheneely were managed by Michael Lynch in 2020, he took them for the three years they played in Division One. The club have not held their AGM yet, so there is no official decision who will be over them for next year’s campaign.

Kilcar are going to have the same management for 2021 as they had in 2020. John McNulty took on the role in 2020 and he remains in situ for 2021. Kilcar and Naomh Conaill had a frustrating year when their county final was repeatedly postponed throughout September and October after some of the players tested positive for the coronavirus.

In St Naul’s, there is also a gap in the management. Barry Doherty was manager for the past year, but the club are now trying to confirm who will take control in 2021.