*Gerry O’Grady in action for Crusheen. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
FORMER Clare defender, Gerry O’Grady is the new manager of his native Crusheen with the son of a two-time All-Ireland winner appointed as coach.
O’Grady who captained Crusheen to win successive Clare SHC titles in 2010 and 2011, becoming the first club in eleven years to complete such a feat, swaps playing for management in the new role.
He was part of the panel last season as the Blood and Bandages failed to qualify from their group, a second round loss to Sixmilebridge in Gurteen proving particularly costly to their cause. Following their exit to Clonlara, the management team headed up by two-time Clare SHC winning manager Michael Browne alongside Cronan Dillon, Paddy Vaughan, Alan Tuohy and Gearoid O’Donnell, all stalwarts of the side opted not to continue after three seasons.
Currently the Chairman of Crusheen GAA, Gerry’s elevation to management is likely to bring an end to his senior hurling career with the club which has spanned a quarter of a century. He first lined out with their intermediate side in 1999, they won the Paddy Browne Cup a year later and have remained in the top tier since.
At inter-county level, Gerry was a constant presence at corner back from 2004 to 2010. Under-rated for his contributions, O’Grady was able for some of the greatest hurlers in the game and held his own in many tricky assignments including Cork’s Joe Deane and DJ Carey of Kilkenny.
With Clare, he finished his inter-county career as captain, leading the side to success in the Munster Hurling League in 2009 but a recurring ankle injury which required surgery influenced his decision to retire from Clare in 2010.
Prior to making his breakthrough with Clare, Gerry won two Harty Cup titles with St Flannan’s College in 1999 and 2000. He played in four Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns during his time as a student at NUIG.
Sixmilebridge’s Colm Fitzgerald is on board as the side’s coach. It will be his first permanent role with a senior club in Clare. He was involved with O’Callaghans Mills in 2022 alongside Conor Dolan following Donach O’Donnell’s departure during the championship.
Fitzgerald is currently coaching Mayo side Tooreen who have qualified for the All-Ireland intermediate hurling club final. He was coach of the Kanturk senior hurlers in 2025 when they finished in third spot in Group 3 behind Blackrock and St Finbarr’s but ahead of Douglas.
Two-time Clare SHC winning corner back, Alan Brigdale is confirmed as a selector with his native Crusheen. Now residing in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Brigdale has previously represented Newmarket Celtic and Tulla Utd in the CDSL.
Shaun Dillon of the famed Crusheen family also joins the management as a selector. He was midfield on Crusheen’s Junior A side in 2010 when they bridged a fifty one year gap to win the Junior A championship.
Gerry’s Crusheen management is completed by the addion of Daniel Liddy as selector.
Emigration of Luke Hayes and Cilléin Mullins plus the absence of Breffni Horner has already hurt the Crusheen cause for 2026.
