Paddy O'Shea is loving life as a coach with Ballincollig and the Cork football team

Former Cork football goalkeeper Paddy O’Shea is thoroughly enjoying coaching the Ballincollig footballers this season, and his is certainly making a name for himself in coaching circles, after a stellar playing career, playing with St Vincent’s and the Cork senior football team.

The Northside man worked under manager Podsie O’Mahony last season, however, he is now working with this year’s manager Aidan Kelleher and other coaches Noel Glavin, Steve O’Donoghue, Paul Desmond and basketball coach Ciaran O’Sullivan.

He previously was the goalkeeper coach with the Cork Ladies footballers under managers James Master for one year, and Ephie Fitzgerald, the other.

O’Shea has been also been part of the Cork Senior setup as goalkeeping coach under John Cleary for the last five years.

Now a well-regarded coach, O'Shea is using all his experience gained with the Rebels in recent years to help bring success to the village footballers this season.

“I started my coaching career as player manager with St Vincent’s senior team for three years, and in fairness, it was a baptism of fire for me personally,” Paddy said.

“However, it was a proud time for me and my great friend John Paul Murphy and his son Blake, as they both lined together at senior level for Vincent’s, in what was also a very special time for their family.

“This is my second year coaching Ballincollig senior footballers.

"Last season I was working under Podsie O’Mahony, however, this year’s manager is Aidan Kelleher. 

"We have former Cork inter-county footballers Noel Galvin and Stephen O'Donoghue as selectors/coaches, Paul Desmond is a goalkeeping coach, and Stephen Halligan is our logistics man that holds everything together. 

"Aidan also brought Ballincollig Super League coach Ciaran O'Sullivan this year and he has been a great resource to have for us.

“Our plans this year are short term at the moment for us and in terms of focus, all we are looking at are our two remaining group games coming up in the county championship, starting next weekend against Knocknagree.

“I have spent the last five years coaching the goalkeepers with the Cork senior football team, as part of John's coaching staff, and it’s a role I have extremely enjoyed."

Paddy speaks with so much passion when he talks about Cork football, and he thinks that the new rules have really changed the game for the better. 

He also speaks very highly of his past coaches Keith Ricken, Billy Morgan, Conor Counihan, Ephie Fitzgerald and James Masters, as he tries to add from the experience he gained from working with them and other such legends of the sport.

“The standards of football are steadily improving in my opinion as a result of the new rules which has made such a positive impact on the game of football.

"They are encouraging a more expansive style of football with kicking, fielding, one on one defending etc, all becoming vital and being coached into players more and more now. 

"We are seeing the results of the standard of football improving as a result.

“My philosophy is quite simple, as I try let the players play with some freedom and instinct, however, I firmly believe that you have to start every game with a structure and a system. 

"This can be the very challenging part of coaching, as it is incredibly hard to balance everything, so I want the players to be brave with every decision they make and play in the moment.

“I have worked under and with some the greats of coaching in Cork football with the likes of Billy, Conor, Ephie, James and of course, Keith, so I try implement some of the traits that each of those legends of our sport.

“Going back to the new rules, basketball and football the crossover is now more great with screening, pressing, spacing and various defensive systems."

If there is any one person that had a huge effort of O’Shea’s playing and coaching career’s, it is the All-Ireland minor winning manager Keith Ricken. 

Although Paddy has been a part of many different setups throughout his career, he praises Ricken for being a more of a mentor and father figure.

“What can I say about Keith that hasn’t been said before? 

"He was my coach when St Vincent’s won the minor championship and that caused a huge shock, because Ballincollig were red hot favourites that year. 

"He was more than a coach to all of us young fellas, because he became more of a father figure. 

"He went out of his way to make sure everyone was ok on and off the field and that is one of the biggest traits I took from him,” O’Shea added.