Valley Rovers and Castletownbere appoint new managers ahead of new season

VALLEY ROVERS have named Denis Kiely as their football boss for the 2024 campaign.

The new manager served as a selector last season and is now tasked to guide the fortunes of the Carrigdhoun club. The team in green and white were tipped by many to drop from the top-flight of Cork football in 2023, and before the championship got underway, the team suffered demotion from the Division 1 football league after finishing second from bottom, winning just two of their nine games, losing six of those and drawing once.

After defeats to Clonakilty and Castlehaven in the Premier SFC group stage, Valley Rovers were staring down the barrel of a relegation play-off, but produced a stunning performance in the last group match as they beat Carbery Rangers 1-14 to 0-11. 

Kiely is very familiar with the players and his own son Johnnie is a key player in defence. They will be targeting promotion from the Division 2 football league when that gets underway for them on Sunday, March 3 at 11.30am with a home tussle against Fermoy. In the Premier SFC group stage, Rovers are pitted with Mallow, Douglas and St Finbarr’s.

Kiely's backroom team include Mick Murphy, Barry Casey, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan Hoey, Séamus Walsh and James Young.

Another club who have recently ratified a new manager are Castletownbere, who have appointed Ian Murphy as their new bainisteoir ahead of the new season.

Murphy, who was a selector for the past few seasons, has succeeded Morgan O’Sullivan in the hot seat who stepped down at the end of last year. It was a largely successful 2023 campaign, as Castletownbere made it all the way to the last four of the PIFC where they were beaten by eventual winners Cill na Martra by eight points.

The age profile of the squad is quite young, and the new man at the helm will feel there is potential to kick on and make that next step. Former Cork senior football boss Peadar Healy, who has been involved with the Beara side for the past few years, is expected to remain part of the set-up. Former Cork footballer Alan O’Regan, who played an integral role in the Town winning the IFC title back in 2012, was a selector in 2023, but won't be this year, but he will be involved in the backroom team.

The team in black and white open their McCarthy Insurance Group Division 3 football league campaign on Sunday, March 10 at 12 noon with a home game against Kilshannig, a team they also face in the championship. In the PIFC group stage, the opening game for Castletownbere will be against Kilshannig before meeting Aidan O’Mahony’s Macroom and Rockchapel.