Seanie Cahalane set to stay on as Castlehaven boss

There are positive indications that Seanie Cahalane will remain as Castlehaven boss.

The team in blue and white, who were going for three-in-a-row in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC this season, fell at the quarter-final hurdle following a loss to the eventual winners St Finbarr’s.

Cahalane has completed two seasons at the helm, winning the county in his first campaign after replacing James McCarthy before the start of the 2024 campaign.

The manager was unsure of his future following Castlehaven’s championship exit back in September.

“I don’t know yet to be honest,” he said when asked by The Echo if he will remain on.

“I’ll just have to sit down and reassess things and talk to the lads with me on the sideline and see where we’re at.

"We’ll make a call on it then. It’s a huge commitment, but it’s enjoyable as well at the same time.” 

After a period of reflection, it does now look like he will stick around as boss for a third season. There may be the possibility though of a couple of changes to his backroom team.

It’s a positive that Cahalane is staying on from a Haven perspective. They have age on their side and will be one of the contenders once again for the Andy Scannell trophy in 2026.

He knows the club inside out. He was captain of the West Cork side when they won the top-flight football championship in 2012 and 13’, and when the team in blue and white lifted the Andy Scannell in 2023, it ended a 10-year drought.

Cahalane served as a selector under the previous manager James McCarthy and is well in tune with what’s required.

Elsewhere, Denis Reen is the new boss of Mitchelstown after leaving Kilshannig after a successful stint.

The Kerry native guided the Glantane-based side to McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC glory in 2024. It was his second time winning that grade as a coach having also done so with Kiskeam in 2016.

He takes over a Mitchelstown team who have flattered to deceive for some time now. They have always been tipped as one of the fancied teams at the Intermediate A level, but haven’t got it right as of yet. They lost to Ilen Rovers at the quarter-final stage this year.

The Town are backboned by Cork senior footballers Cathail O’Mahony and Seán Walsh.