Dónal Óg Cusack included in Russell Rovers PJHC management team for 2024

RUSSELL Rovers have announced the appointed of a new management team for their Premier Junior hurlers in the 2024 season, with Dónal Óg Cusack coming in as a coach.

The former Cork goalkeeper takes up the position after having just won the Premier 2 U16 Hurling Championship with the Cloyne and Russell Rovers underage amalgamation – St Colman’s, after their win over Mallow a little over a week ago.

He also guided the team to their first Premier 2 Minor HC title in 2015 and has played a big role in the development of players he will now work with at Russell Rovers, including Josh Beausang.

With experience on the management team of the Clare senior hurlers, Cusack was appointed manager of the Cork minor hurling team for the 2020 season.

Dónal Óg also operated as a player-coach with Cloyne when they made it to three Senior Hurling Championship finals in a row from 2004 to 2006.

Managing the side will be Dave Dorgan – a Fr O’Neill’s man who played a role in the backroom team of Noel Furlong’s side which were crowned All-Ireland Minor HC winners in 2021, ending their 20-year run without a title.

Anthony Archer is included as a selector, while the remaining roles among the management team will be taken up by Thomas Beausang, Lisa Bolger, James Moynihan, Pa Daly, Kevin Walsh and Kevin Tattan.

The incoming management team will replace the Seamus Kennefick and his backroom staff, who were eliminated in the group stage of this year’s PJHC after a one-point defeat to St Catherine’s in the final group game.