*David O’Grady in action for Newmarket Celtic. Photograph: Natasha Barton
NINE-TIME Clare Cup winner with Newmarket Celtic, David O’Grady has been appointed as the new fixtures secretary with the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL).
Delegates were informed at a CDSL meeting on Monday night that O’Grady was to take on the mantle as fixtures secretary. The role is considered to be one of the most demanding in Clare soccer.
Ciarán Keane of Shannon Hibs was initially appointed to the role following the CDSL AGM but work commitments forced him to step down from the post after a matter of weeks. Keane will stay involved on the CDSL as a Committee Member.
Chairman of the CDSL, Donal Magee told The Clare Echo their efforts to appoint a PRO are ongoing. The position has been vacant since the AGM in June when Denis Collins stepped down. Flan Hehir who bowed out as secretary two months ago has committed to stay on the Committee as assistant secretary.
Magee was hopeful further additions would also be made to the CDSL Committee to assist with new projects.
O’Grady was last year part of Eoin O’Brien’s management with Newmarket Celtic as they won the Clare Cup for the twentieth time. O’Brien has since stood down from the role.
It was his first season not lining out with Celtic where he had been a regular presence at full-back, injury prompting him to retire.
He was right-back on the Newmarket Celtic team which won the FAI Junior Cup in 2023, his performance on the day saw him curb the influence of the highly rated St Michael’s winger Jimmy Carr.
In September 2020, O’Grady alongside O’Brien, Eoin Hayes and Darren Cullinan made history when they won a ninth Clare Cup medal in a row as Celtic defeated Avenue Utd B 2-0 in the Cup final.
