*Gavin Keary on the sideline with Tubber. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
EX CLARE and current Tubber coach Gavin Keary has been appointed as the new manager of the Galway U20 hurlers.
Keary was on Tuesday announced as Fergal Healy’s successor. Both Gavin and Kevin Johnson who takes over the U20 football side in Galway were recommended by the Galway GAA Management Committee to serve for three-year terms.
A native of Loughrea, Gavin played at senior level with the club, captaining them when they contested the 2013 county final. He is currently coaching the club’s senior team and steered their success in last year’s Galway SHC.
He was coach of the Galway minor hurlers when they won the All-Ireland title in 2015.
In 2018 and 2019, he was coach to the Clare senior hurlers managed by Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor. Subsequent to this, he was part of Mattie Kenny’s management with the Dublin senior hurlers and was also involved with the Irish Shinty side.
This year, along with coaching his native Loughrea, Keary is involved with the Pat Taaffe managed Tubber intermediate hurlers. In their two championship outings, they have one win and one loss, they defeated Tulla in the opening round before falling short against championship favourites O’Callaghans Mills on Sunday.
Ironically a member of Healy’s outgoing management formerly was a Tubber coach also, Padraig Duddy. The Headford native is a teacher in St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon and was part of the management that saw the school reach its first and only Dr Harty Cup final in 2009. He is also an ex-manager of Loughrea.
Healy and his management had been appointed for a three-year term in October 2023. Five-time All Star Joe Canning and ex Galway goalkeeper James Skehill were part of the management with Healy.
