Robbie O'Dwyer set to be new Nemo Rangers football manager

ROBBIE O’DWYER is in line to be appointed as the new Nemo Rangers football manager for the 2024 season.

O’Dwyer is expected to succeed Paul O’Donovan after the latter stepped down as boss three weeks ago after six seasons at the helm. O’Dwyer's previous managerial role was in 2022 when he was in charge of Tipperary side Clonmel Commercials but he had to resign in October of that year due to personal reasons.

Though born and raised in Waterville, O’Dwyer has been associated with Nemo Rangers for over 20 years and his son Shane is part of the Nemo Premier Senior panel. 

The likely new bainisteoir was also coach when the city side beat St Finbarr’s after a replay to win the county crown in 2017 before winning the Munster title after defeating Dr Crokes in the decider. 

Nemo made the All-Ireland final where Corofin proved too strong winning on a scoreline of 2-19 to 0-10 in March 2018.

The Nemo manager at the time Larry Kavanagh resigned in the aftermath of that game as was planned in advance, making way for O’Donovan to take up the role, a position he held up until three weeks ago. Kavanagh is likely to be one of the selectors for next season.

Nemo were dethroned as champions this year after being edged out by Castlehaven by two points in the final, but despite the disappointment, the city outfit will be strong contenders once again in the next campaign.

EXPERIENCED

Elsewhere, Douglas' Premier Senior manager Brian Collins has brought in Paul Holland as the new coach ahead of next season. The vastly experienced West Cork man has been involved with many clubs including Clonakilty and Valley Rovers and was a selector with the Cork minor footballers in 2014 and 2015.

Douglas reached the quarter-finals this year but were well beaten by Duhallow as it finished 3-11 to 0-10.

Paudie Kissane’s involvement with Éire Óg’s footballers will go into a sixth season. The Cork 2010 All-Ireland winner arrived in Ovens in 2019 to serve as a coach in Harry O’Reilly’s backroom team and helped the Muskerry side win the 2019 PIFC and a season later the SAFC title.

O’Reilly stepped down as boss in December 2022 with Kissane taking up the position. Éire Óg finished third in their championship group this season, beaten by two points by their neighbours Ballincollig in the last group match in what was a winner-takes-all encounter.

Before that Éire Óg beat Carrigaline by two points and lost by that margin to Nemo Rangers in the second group game before being pipped by the Collig in what was pretty much a preliminary quarter-final.