Manager Eddie Kenny puts in the hard work on and off the pitch to better himself as a coach

Eddie Kenny has been involved in football for over 30 years, as a player and manager with Blarney Street United and Rockmount.

He played until the age of 30 but coaching just seemed to come naturally. He is now one of the most successful managers in Cork after winning every trophy with Rockmount in the last four years.

However, all his success didn’t come by accident, as he has invested his time and money into becoming the manager he is today by attending more than 15 different courses with the FAI.

"I did my first course way back in 2003, it was the old Kickstart course based out of Stiofán Naofa College with Niall O'Regan,” Eddie said.

"I started with the three Kickstart courses, then Adult introduction, 4v4, 7v7 and 9v9 courses. I moved on to the FAI D Licence, FAI C licence, UEFA B Licence and then finished in January 2025 the UEFA A Licence. On top of that, I also done goalkeeper-specific courses and I currently hold the UEFA B licence.

“The Kickstart courses and up to the FAI D licence was over a 10-year period so just finding time while playing can be difficult, as most courses are at weekends during the playing season. As from UEFA B onwards, it’s been from 2020 really that I have completed them.

"The most challenging part has been time away from my family. While on the UEFA course it has been midweek, which could be four nights away from home. It can be very enjoyable though as you are with like-minded people and in a bubble just talking about football.

“My advice to any young managers or coaches is take the assignments as they come, don’t let yourself get bogged down by letting them build up and embrace the culture of learning but try new things too."

It's all about learning different ways of coaching and managing. 

"See how others do it and adapting that to your own style, filtering out what is for you and what is not. As for advice, back yourself, embrace the learnings, have debates, engage in the groups and you will make friends for life."

He's in the Defence Forces for 23 years and played on the Irish Defence Forces Soccer teams that had trips to UK, France and Holland. 

"One of my proudest moments was going to the CISM World Games in Hyderabad, India in 2007. Representing your country at any level is the pinnacle of sport and walking out to the opening ceremony to see 40,000 people in attendance while being behind the Irish tricolour will stay with me forever."

He's graduated to being the team's head coach. 

"We get to play the UK Armed Forces, French Armed Forces and the Dutch Armed Forces regularly. We are now in the build-up to the CISM World Games in summer 2027 in Charlotte North Carolina, USA. Two four-team European qualifying groups will be in mid-2026 with three teams advancing, two group winners and a play-off between the second-placed nations.

“Rockmount was a great time in my football life, the last four years were some of the best times in football for me as a coach. 

"We won FAI Intermediate Cups, two MSL Premier Leagues, numerous other trophies and contested 11 finals, however, more importantly I made friends for life. 

Friendships forged in battle trying to bring back the old glory days, but seen players getting capped at national level and seeing six players head away to a UEFA Regions Cup qualifying group was another highlight too. All are playing with units in the DF and clubs across Ireland. A player in the squad could play football close to three months of the year while also doing their role at unit level."

What does the future hold? 

"I don’t really know, as I have been coaching and managing 13 years without a break. In that time, I got married to my beautiful wife Mairead and we have two fabulous twin boys Ned and Joey. The twins were only weeks old when I took the Rockmount manager’s job, so I think it’s only fair Mairead gets a break!

“In fairness, Mairead always backed me as has my family, from being away on courses, at matches and watching other teams, she has held down the household and I couldn't have done it without her support.

“I’m looking forward to going to games just to enjoy now and sit back and watch. No agenda, no analysis, nothing!”