*Kevin O’Grady. Photograph: John Mangan
Manager of the Dr Harty Cup winning St Flannan’s College side of last season, Kevin O’Grady has been unveiled as the new coach of the Ballyea senior hurlers.
Last month, the return of 2016 Clare SHC and Munster SHC club winning boss, Robbie Hogan to Ballyea was reported by The Clare Echo. Now he has assembled his management team with O’Grady taking on the role of coach.
A native of Beagh, O’Grady was coach of the Crusheen senior hurlers that contested the 2014 Clare SHC decider. Subsequent to this, he was a coach to the Clare U21 hurlers under Donal Moloney (2015 and 2016) and also John Carmody (2017). The history teacher was also involved with the Tulla hurlers before guiding St Flannan’s College to Harty Cup honours in 2020 alongside two-time All Star Brendan Bugler, Mike Kelly and Shane McCarthy.
Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Raymond ‘Reggie’ O’Connor who were selectors during Hogan’s first tenure in charge of the Ballyea seniors return to their rules as does Alan Duggan who will be goalkeeper coach along with the side’s statistician. Jude Quinlivan as selector and strength and conditioning coach Adrian O’Brien complete the management.
Ballyea reached the semi-finals of the 2020 Clare SHC bowing out at the hands of O’Callaghans Mills. As reported by The Clare Echo last week, Donach O’Donnell is returning as manager of the Fireballs for 2021.
