*Graham Shine. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
EX Clare manager Graham Shine has been appointed as the new boss of the Kildare ladies footballers.
Listowel native Shine was ratified to the post at the meeting of the Kildare LGFA County Board on Wednesday night.
In August, the Executive of the Clare LGFA opted not to renew his tenure in charge of Clare. His two seasons at the helm saw Clare exit in successive All-Ireland intermediate quarter-finals along with suffering relegation from Division 2 of the National League while just about holding on to their Division 3 status this year.
Kildare are viewed as a team on the up, they will compete in the All-Ireland senior championship and were narrowly relegated from Division 1 of the league with a final round defeat to Kerry.
Speaking to The Clare Echo following Clare’s 3-13 1-8 All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Fermanagh, Shine said he was undecided on his future but indicated a desire to remain in charge. “I love that bunch of girls and what they have given to me this year because I’ve had a tough year personally, what that group did for me and stood by me this year till the day I won’t forget it. Whatever criticism ye can throw at me because I tell you one thing for nothing you should be very proud of them because they are giving their soul for Clare, it will click for them, not today and we’re awful disappointed but give them time”.
“When I came in 2024 we thought we’d have the same panel the year after but when I rang there was nineteen gone, you don’t know what is going to happen down the road, we’re very disappointed but there is a great circle and a great group there, everyone is together but who knows who will be playing for Clare next year, who will be travelling, a lot of them will be in fourth year in college and who knows if they will be playing football, nobody knows until November,” he stated.
For his final year as Clare manager, Shine’s management included Niall Hickey of Kilmurry Ibrickane as coach,, fellow Kerry men Tim Kennelly and Mike Moriarty served as selectors with Therese Doohan former registrar and also from Kilmurry Ibrickane the team’s FLO.
Former Clare goalkeeper Emma O’Driscoll and O’Currys clubman Eoin Murray who coached St Joseph’s Miltown to win the Clare SFC in 2018 were part of the Clare management in 2025 but did not continue in their roles for 2025. Cree native David O’Brien was part of the initial management team in 2025 but left the role following the National League this year, he went on to steer Kilmurry Ibrickane to win a second Clare LGFA senior title.
Before becoming Clare manager, Shine was involved in Wayne Freeman’s management during the Monastervin’s final season at the helm in 2024. He has also managed the Kerry ladies footballers for two seasons, winning the Munster senior championship in 2017 and losing the All-Ireland semi-final to eventual winners Dublin before stepping down midway through the 2018 campaign after Kerry were relegated to Division 2 of the League. He was also at the helm of the Kingdom’s U16s as they won two provincial and two All-Ireland crowns in 2015 and 2016. Graham was in charge of Limerick up until September 2023. During his two year term, the Treaty County reached the All-Ireland Junior final and the Division 4 League Final.
