Ladies football: Joe Carroll among new faces on the sideline 

A new-look All-Ireland LGFA senior championship will be one of 2025’s sporting highlights with numerous managerial appointments including Cork’s Joe Carroll freshening up the top tier.

There will be new dawn at Cork LGFA senior level this coming year. Former All-Ireland minor-winning manager Joe Carroll has taken over from recently installed Clyda Rovers manager Shane Ronayne.

Carroll’s impressive backroom team, along with a panel containing plenty of experience, will be desperate for a swift return to Division 1 of the LGFA’s National League.

Make no mistake, whether Cork gain promotion from Division 2 at the first attempt or not, all eyes will be on how the Rebels fare later in the summer.

That’s because next year’s All-Ireland LGFA SFC looks set be the most evenly-fought for over a decade. One of the main reasons for that is the fact five of last year’s All-Ireland quarter-finalists, including Cork, will be under new management.

Mark Bourke has big boots to fill as man in charge of reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry. Last year, previous incumbents Darragh Long and Declan Quill oversaw the Kingdom’s first All-Ireland senior title success since 1993. 

Bourke will need time to settle and while Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh’s retirement is a blow, Kerry will once again be amongst the favourites for the Brendan Martin Cup.

The same is true of Dublin where Mick Bohan’s magnificent run as LGFA senior manager is over. Bohan oversaw five All-Ireland SFC, six Leinster and two National League title-winning campaigns. 

Paul Casey and Derek Murray have been tasked with returning the Dubs to the top table after suffering a 3-7 to 1-12 (after extra-time) quarter-final loss at the hands of Galway. 

As ever, there will be plenty of raw material to work with in the capital city. How Casey and Murray fare in their first year at the helm will make for fascinating viewing.

Armagh reached the last four of the 2024 All-Ireland LGFA senior championship only to come up short to eventual champions Kerry, 1-8 to 0-7. Led by one of the country’s best all-round footballers, Aimee Mackin, Greg McGonigle’s side enjoyed a profitable season, lifting both the Division 1 National League and Ulster provincial trophies.

The Derry native’s surprise departure, after only 12 months at the helm, means the Orchard County will start the New Year under joint-managers Darnell Parkinson and Joe Feeney. Parkinson and Feeney are already well known to the Armagh seniors having served as coaches in McGonigle’s backroom team over the past 12 months.

Another managerial change that will be of interest to Cork supporters is the appointment of Tomás Mac an tSaoir as new Waterford LGFA senior manager. 

Mac an tSaoir served as Shane Ronayne’s coach during the latter’s term as Cork senior manager and knows his former county’s setup inside out.

Under previous incumbent, Pat Sullivan, the Déise were always a difficult nut to crack whenever facing Cork in league or championship. 

That was underlined by the Rebels’ hard-earned 1-17 to 2-4 All-Ireland quarter-final win last July having previously lost to the Déise in the National League.

Daniel Moynihan remains in charge of last year’s All-Ireland SFC runners-up Galway, as does Mayo’s Liam McHale who has added former Mayo senior hurling manager Derek Walsh as coach and selector to his backroom team.

So, whilst Joe Carroll is still coming to terms with the demands of senior inter-county management, the newcomer will not be alone when patrolling the sidelines once the championship action gets underway in the summer of 2025.