Kerry All-Ireland winner Johnny Crowley is the new manager of Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh

FORMER Kerry footballer Johnny Crowley has been appointed as the new manager of Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh.

Crowley is no stranger to success, part of an East Kerry side to win three consecutive Kerry SFC titles and he enjoyed a successful era with his club Glenflesk. Due to work commitments, the Garda transferred clubs to Bishopstown for a short period, at a time when the Town were very competitive in the top flight and reached the 2002 SFC final, in which Crowley was a key figure in the team, but Nemo Rangers won the Andy Scannell Cup. 

Crowley also made an impression at inter-county level, wearing the green and gold jersey with distinction. He was on the Kerry senior panel from 1995 to 2004, and won seven Munster championship medals and three All-Ireland titles during that time and also an All-Star award. The Kerry man has experience of managing in Cork, he led Cullen to a much sought after Duhallow JAFC title in 2022 and also led the team to two league titles during his two seasons at the helm. Crowley took a break from management for the 2023 campaign, but is now back in the thick of it as he tries to guide Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh to the top-flight of Cork football for the first time.

The Mid-Cork outfit failed to qualify for the business end of the SAFC in the first year of the new grade back in 2020, but have done reasonably well since. The team in black and red made it to the last four in 2021, but Mallow proved too strong that evening. They have reached the quarter-finals of the SAFC over the past two seasons, beaten by Knocknagree on both occasions.

Crowley’s first competitive game in charge will be a stern challenge against premier senior side Clonakilty in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 2 football league on Sunday, March 3 at 11.30am in Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh. It will be a very challenging league, but the first outing against a side who will be fancied for promotion, will tell Crowley exactly where his team are at.

Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh have been in the mix for the SAFC title in recent seasons, and a strong league campaign will set them up nicely for the championship group stage where they will be facing Carrigaline, local rivals Cill na Martra in a mouthwatering tie, and also Kiskeam.