MURNAGHAN’S THE MAN

Newbridge native takes over as Ladies boss

MARK MURNAGHAN has said that he is delighted at being appointed as the new Wicklow Senior ladies football manager, and that he has great ambition for what the team can achieve over the next few years.

The former Kildare Senior ladies and Hollywood football manager succeeds James Kelly, who stepped down from the position back in September for personal reasons, following a mixed-bag year in 2019.

Having gained promotion from Division 4 under Mick O’Rourke in 2018, Wicklow narrowly lost out on a semi-final in their first year in Division 3. The team went on to suffer relegation from the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship later in the year.

Speaking following his appointment, Murnaghan said that he was excited to get started, and that he had big plans to make the team successful in the coming years.

‘I’m over the moon,” he said. ‘I’ve known a couple of the players through Carlow IT, and obviously the Tinahely players are going well. I’m delighted now because there are definitely some decent players there, and there’s a good project, and some good young players coming through as well.

‘I have two or three years of a plan; obviously get out of Junior, become a top six to ten team in intermediate over the next year or two, if possible, and then go from Division 3 and try to find a way into Division 2.’

The 35-year-old has a broad range of managerial experience on his CV, dating back to 2014 when he took on the Moorefield ladies; guiding them out of the Junior county championship, as well as to a Leinster club semi-final.

From there, he took over the Kildare Minor ladies, taking them to a Leinster final; became interim manager of the Senior ladies; took Ballykelly to a cup and championship semi-final; and, finally, Hollywood. The Newbridge native currently coaches the Carlow IT Senior ladies.

Over the course of his almost six years in management, Murnaghan has developed a temperament and mentality that he is eagerly awaiting to bring to Wicklow.

‘As a player and manager, I am very committed and passionate on the line. I expect the players to be the same. In (Carlow), we set very high standards, and it is up to the players to live up to those standards.

‘We expect everyone to be on the same level, and we expect the same standards from each individual. The results will show that, and the success will follow, and I have no doubt that the players will buy into it.

‘It’s the second and third year that the main results, development, and progress will show.

‘If I get the way I want the girls playing, and the way I want it set up, it’s going to be a very good two years for the Wicklow ladies, and in two to three years’ time, the results and progress will prove it.’

Murnaghan has not yet named his management team for the 2020 season, with the county board currently in talks with potential candidates.