Shay Bowen steps down after one season in charge of Erin's Own
Shay Bowen has stepped down from his role as Erin's Own manager. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Erin’s Own's Shay Bowen has stepped down from the role as senior hurling manager following just one season in charge of the team.
Bowen’s departure comes at the end of a bruising campaign that saw the club relegated from the Co-Op Superstores Premier Senior Hurling Championship, their 38-year stay in the top flight ended by Newtownshandrum after a two-game relegation battle.
Their fate was sealed in last month’s replay, a 1-19 to 1-15 defeat in Ballyhooly, bringing to a close one of the most difficult years in Erin’s Own’s recent history.
It’s been a turbulent stretch since Shay’s father, Martin, stepped away from the role at the end of 2023. After 16 years on and off in charge, and having guided Erin’s Own to county senior success previously, Martin Bowen retired.
Martin Buckley was his immediate successor but lasted only one season, after another group stage elimination.
In 2025, Shay Bowen took on the hot seat, but his exit means Erin’s Own will be searching for a fourth manager in as many years.
Their 2025 season had started with promise. Erin’s Own finished third in Division 2 of the league with seven wins from nine, level on points with promoted sides Midleton and Killeagh. Only scoring difference – and a costly round nine defeat to Na Piarsaigh – denied them a return to the top flight.
But the championship campaign went the other way.
Drawn in a tough group with Glen Rovers and Sarsfields, Erin’s Own were always going to be up against it trying to secure progression – but after flat defeats to the Glen and Sars, survival came down to their last game against Fr O’Neill’s.
At half-time they led 3-8 to 0-8, but O’Neill’s came fighting back in the second half, scoring three goals themselves and winning it by two points. Similarly, they looked to have the job done by the half-time break against Newtownshandrum in the relegation playoff.
Four goals in an eight minute spell had Erin’s Own 12 points clear in the opening period, but Newtownshandrum clawed it back with the wind in the second half, Turlough O’Neill firing in a stoppage time goal to force the replay.
And so they went to Ballyhooly, where Newtown grabbed control early and wouldn’t let it slip. They won it by four, and sent Bowen’s side down to Senior A.
Since losing out to Blackrock at the semi-final stage of the PSHC in 2022, Erin’s Own have been trending downhill. One defeat and two draws in 2023 meant they were out at the group stage, two defeats and one win under Buckley brought the same in 2024; no knockout place.
Their exit from the top flight in 2025 represents a significant turning point for one of East Cork’s proudest clubs. Next year, they will line out in the Senior A ranks, a prospect that brings both challenge and opportunity, as they look to rebuild.
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