Managerial football updates from Clonakilty, Éire Óg and Bantry Blues
Clonakilty manager Martin O’Brien. Picture: Dan Linehan
Martin O'Brien will remain as Clonakilty manager for the 2026 season.
The Brewery Town endured a challenging campaign this year, but O’Brien and his fellow management group will stay put.
The West Cork outfit had to defeat neighbours Carbery Rangers in their final group game to avoid a potential relegation play-off in the Premier SFC.
Clonakilty held their nerve to avoid a third championship loss on the trot in 2025.
After losing out to Nemo Rangers at the quarter-final stage in 2023 and ’24, hopes were high that in O’Brien’s third season at the helm that Clonakilty would push on.
They will be hoping to make an impact next year with the ultimate aim of winning the Andy Scannell Cup for the first time since 2009.
Moving down to Senior A level, Éire Óg are on the lookout for a new manager after Harry O’Reilly decided to step down after just one season in charge.
It was the Cavan native’s third stint as boss of the Muskerry club. He helped the team in red and yellow to three championship successes, winning the IFC in 2014 followed by the PIFC and SAFC titles in the 2019 and ’20 seasons respectively.
O’Reilly took over Éire Óg at the end of last year after they suffered relegation from the Premier SFC.
They reached the last four of the SAFC this season losing to Muskerry rivals Cill na Martra.
Finally, Bantry Blues have appointed a new boss in their hopes of getting back on track.
Shane O’Neill, son of the late Terry O’Neill who was a Cork senior football selector when the Rebels won the All-Ireland in 2010, is the new manager of the West Cork side.
Bantry Blues reached the final of the PIFC in 2022 and '23, but have struggled since. They lost at the quarter-final stage the following year before failing to get out of their group in this campaign.
Bantry Blues have a proud history, they were kingpins of Cork football in 1995 and '98.
They do have the panel to make an impact in the third grade next year. Dara Sheedy is one of the best footballers at that level.
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