Vince Morrissey to take charge of Ballygarvan hurlers

Vince Morrissey has been appointed to guide the fortunes of the Ballygarvan hurling team for 2026.

The Aghada native, an All-Ireland intermediate hurling medallist with Cork in 2003 who later played for Lancashire in a Lory Meagher Cup final, has built up a wide variety of coaching experience since returning to Ireland six years ago following stints working in China, the US and Britain.

In 2020, he helped Kinsale to win a first south-east JAHC title in 13 years, before spending 2021 with Belgooly, who won both the county-wide JBHC – open to clubs who do not operate at a higher level – and the inter-divisional championship later in the year.

Two years ago, Morrissey and Claude Gough formed a strong partnership as Mallow reached the semi-finals of the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC and, in addition, he has been involved in camogie coaching with Sliabh Rua throughout the last half-decade.

An executive search specialist based in Kinsale, Morrissey will be joined in the new venture by selectors Joe Kennefick and Jim O’Halloran.

Kennefick was captain when the club won county and Munster junior titles in 2004 and was coach when they reached the 2010 IHC final, losing to Kilbrittain after a replay, while O’Halloran won an All-Ireland minor hurling medal with Cork in 1978.

Morrissey succeeds Richard Fitzgerald, who took Ballygarvan to the semi-finals of the Co-op SuperStores Premier JHC in each of the last two seasons, losing by a point to St Catherine’s in 2024 and falling to eventual champions Kilbrittain by two points in October of this year.

For the coming season, they have been drawn with Glen Rovers, Nemo Rangers and the junior A champions Kilshannig, while they will operate in Division 5 of the RedFM Hurling League, clashing with clubs from premier intermediate, intermediate A and their own premier junior grade.