Big changes in club scene
Heaslip appointed in Balto
PLENTY of moving and shaking on the club manager scene in Wicklow over the past few weeks.
Latest significant mover is Brian ‘Gino’ Heaslip retaking the reins at Baltinglass as club legend Sean O’Brien steps aside after a season at the helm.
Heaslip, who was a Wicklow selector under John Evans, managed the side back in 2012, 13 and 14, guiding the side to two finals but coming out on the wrong side of both. Heaslip will look to get the side contesting at the business end of the 2020 championship.
Just over the road in Kiltegan, another new man is soon to start work on transforming the fortunes of the 2008 Senior club champions.
Former Shillelagh and Wicklow star Keith Byrne makes the managerial step up to Senior in the Garden County having been appointed just last week in place of club legend Geoffrey Bermingham.
Byrne, who has enjoyed managerial stints with Coolboy, Shillelagh, Clonmore, Carnew and Mount Leinster Rangers since hanging up the boots following a long and successful playing career has said that he is looking forward immensely to this new challenge and that he will give the job 100 per cent.
As a club player Keith has won titles at Senior, Intermediate and Junior in football and Junior and Intermediate in hurling.
During his decade with the county Keith won an O’Byrne Cup medal and a league crown while also claiming a Railway Cup title with Leinster.
He guided Coolboy to Junior ‘C’, ‘B’ and ‘A’ championship crowns while he managed Mount Leinster Rangers to an SFC quarter-final in Carlow in the same year that they went on to reach the All-Ireland club hurling final.
There’s been a fairly significant change far out in the west as well with Jonathan Daniels departing from Dunlavin after a magical season that resulted in the Intermediate championship being won and a memorable journey in the Leinster club being undertaken.
Daniels is heading home to take the reins of his beloved Blessington.
Jarlath Gilroy of Ballymore Eustace has assumed control of Hollywood ahead of the 2020 season as they look to bounce back up out of Intermediate with immediate effect.
Down in Arklow it’s former Wexford star goalkeeper and recent Wexford ladies manager Anthony Masterson who has been chosen to replace Damien Redmond after he guided AGB to the county Senior final where they came so painfully close to defeating St
Patrick’s.
Masterson has a wealth of young talent to work with with the under-20 football championship uncovering several more challengers to positions that may be vacated by club stalwarts come the spring.
Ballinacor look to have made a massive statement with the appintment of former Dublin footballer Paul Bealin.
Bealin has had managerial stints with Westmeath, Wexford and Carlow and could give football in Glenmalure a massive lift.
Staying put as of now are Harry Murphy with Rathnew, Ciaran Walshe with Ballymanus, Ciaran Dutton with Kilcoole, Decky Byrne with Laragh, Shay Cullen with Roundwood, and Mark King with Kilmacanogue.
On the hurling front, Avondale legend Ray Nolan takes charge at St Patrick’s following the depature of Michael Neary while James hickey has decided to remain on as boss with Carnew Emmets fo another year.