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*Eugene Cullinan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
EUGENE CULLINAN is to return for a second stint as manager of the Inagh/Kilnamona senior hurlers.
Cullinan fended off competition from outgoing manager Tomás Kelly and former Clare manager Tony Considine to be given the backing of the club to lead Inagh/Kilnamona for 2026.
In his first year in charge, Eugene oversaw Inagh/Kilnamona reaching a first-ever Clare SHC final, they lost by a single point to Ballyea in the 2021 decider. They exited at the quarter-finals to Éire Óg a year later when losing 2-21 0-16.
He was succeeded by Louis Mulqueen for 2023 when they were unable to emerge from a competitive Group 1 following defeats to Ballyea and Scariff despite overcoming Kilmaley and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield by margins of twelve and eighteen points respectively.
Tomás Kelly who had been coach to Cullinan has been in the hotseat for 2024 and 2025, guiding them to the knockout stages for both campaigns. They reached the semi-finals in 2024 and were level with Sixmilebridge following normal and extra time but the outcome was decided by penalties. Éire Óg ended their aspirations for glory in 2025 with a 3-21 1-17 quarter-final win in the quarter-finals.
Former Éire Óg manager, Matt Shannon will be Cullinan’s coach with Inamona for 2026. The Corofin native who has previously been in charge of his native club and was coach when they won the Clare IHC in 2023. The foundations laid by Shannon during his time with Éire Óg have been heralded as a big platform in the Townies winning the Canon Hamilton this season. He was part of Kevin Sammon’s management with the Roscommon hurlers in 2025 as they won the Nicky Rackard Cup.
Noel Hehir is teaming up with Cullinan at senior level for the second time. Most recently, he was part of the club’s U21 management that ended a seven year wait for championship glory when defeating Éire Óg by the smallest of margins.
Former club corner back, Dermot Lynch is another to return to Inamona’s senior management. He was a selector during Fergal Hegarty’s tenure in charge prior to Cullinan. He was part of the management team that oversaw the club’s success in the 2023 Minor A hurling championship.
Quin native Victor O’Riordan will be the team’s S&C coach.
Eugene has managed Inagh/Kilnamona to championship success at Minor A and B plus Junior A, he will be hoping to emulate that with their senior side. As a player he represented the club at all levels and he lined out at full forward when the club played its first game at senior level after Inagh and Kilnamona joined forces. In that tie in 2008 he scored two goals when they faced Tulla, county champions in 2007.
