DECLAN Hayes is a notable addition to the Carbery Rangers backroom team for 2020.
The veteran forward, a winner of a county SFC medal with the club in 2016, has come on board as a selector under manager Haulie O’Sullivan, joining Enda Favier, Kevin Santry, Eamonn Spillane, Adam Doyle and Denis McSweeney.
By and large, the bulk of the clubs in West Cork are remaining stable in terms of management, though one exception is with one of Ross’s premier senior group 2 championship opponents this year, Castlehaven.
James McCarthy – manager of the teams that won the county in 2003 and 2012 – is back in charge, powered by a strong coaching team which features John Cleary, Bernie Collins and Brendan Deasy. Cleary, a two-time All-Ireland medallist, has managed Cork to All-Ireland U21 glory as well as enjoying recent success with the Cork minor ladies’ football team. He was a selector with the Haven in 2012 while Collins, who was involved with the Cork minor team in 2016 and 2017, was a selector for the 2003 win. Deasy provided statistical and video analysis with last year’s successful Cork minor team.
Also in Group 2 are Ilen Rovers, again led by Flor O’Driscoll, Mick Doyle, Seán Collins and Johnny Holland while the status quo also remains the fourth side in that all-West Cork group, Newcestown. Tom Wilson is the manager with Conor Condon and Niall O’Mahony as selectors while Caheragh brothers Colm and Brian O’Driscoll provide coaching input.
The other West Cork side in the premier senior championship is Clonakilty, for whom Bandon native Colm Aherne remains as manager, with Liam Ryan, Billy O’Connor, Stephen Gilbert and Aidan McCarthy operating as selectors.
In the senior A championship, Martin Bohane is still in charge of O’Donovan Rossa, with Tony O’Shea and Peter Murphy leading Bantry Blues while Dohenys’ manager is Denis Healy. John O’Shea, originally from Kerry but heavily involved with Éire Óg in the recent past, is now coaching Bandon, working alongside manager Donal Kelleher while Jimmy Gabriel and Derek O’Driscoll are selectors.
Castletownbere, who will compete at premier intermediate, have Jimmy Murphy as manager while Andrew O’Sullivan, Dave Fenton and Donagh Wiseman are involved on the coaching side. In the same grade, Patrick Hodnett is the Gabriel Rangers manager. Adrigole, competing in intermediate A, have a management team of Gerard Green, Tim O’Sullivan and Peter O’Sullivan.
The highest-ranked West Cork hurling clubs are Bandon and Newcestown, who will compete in senior A. Jim O’Sullivan remains in charge of Newcestown while Ian O’Connor, a St Catherine’s clubman and with Éire Óg last year, is Bandon’s coach.
In intermediate A, Argideen Rangers are still guided by Barry Harte while the two Carbery clubs in lower intermediate, Barryroe and Kilbrittain, are led by Brendan Coleman and Jamie Wall respectively.
