Former Kerry footballer and ex-Mallow boss takes over Newmarket

Kerry native Keith Moynihan will manage the Newmarket footballers in the 2026 campaign.

He replaces David O’Donovan at the helm after the latter stepped down. He will be coaching Dohenys next season.

Moynihan returns to manage in Cork having previously worked with Castleisland Desmonds in Kerry.

Newmarket are currently in the second-tier of the Cork pyramid, the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC grade.

They have been at this level since winning the PIFC title in the 2021 season. It has been a bit of an up and down period since with a relegation play-off victory in 2022, a semi-final appearance in the following campaign, before being unable to qualify out of their group in the last two seasons.

This year they were desperately unlucky, missing out on the business end on scoring difference to their Duhallow rivals Kanturk in the group stage.

Newmarket did lose to Kilshannig first day out, which ultimately cost them, before a fine win over Éire Óg, until a very entertaining draw with Kanturk.

The new boss brings a wealth of experience and footballing pedigree as both a coach and a player.

The Annascaul native joins Newmarket with a positive CV that includes guiding Mallow to two championship trophies during his successful stint in charge of the Avondhu club.

He was the manager when they won the PIFC and SAFC titles in 2017 and 2021. In his playing days, the West Kerry man won a Cork SFC medal and also a Munster Club Championship medal with UCC in 1999 as well as a key figure in Annascaul winning the Munster Club Intermediate crown in 2007.

He also represented Kerry at minor level in 1998, winning a Munster medal.

Newmarket have the potential to do well in the championship next year. They showed signs this year albeit they didn’t finish in the top two of their group.

There were promising signs that will encourage the new manager. There’s a good foundation already there with a strong spine.

Josh O’Keeffe is one of the best goalkeepers at the Senior A grade. He was the Cork netminder when the Rebels won the All-Ireland U20 football title in 2019.

Aidan Browne and young Rory Lynn form part of an exciting defence.

Up front, there’s no shortage of quality with former Cork senior footballer and current Cork senior hurler Hugh O’Connor the focal point of Newmarket’s attack.

Conor O’Keeffe, Donal Hannon and Ryan O’Keeffe all know where the posts are too.

Newmarket will discover their McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC group stage opponents next Tuesday evening when the draws are made at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.