Cora Staunton joins Ballina Stephenites backroom team

Cora Staunton has been ratified as coach as part of Niall Heffernan's management team.

BALLINA MANAGEMENT TEAM: Cora Staunton joins Niall Heffernan's Ballina Stephenites as coach. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Former Mayo Ladies footballer Cora Staunton has joined the current Mayo county champions Ballina Stephenites as coach.

Ballina manager Niall Heffernan has brought the eleven time All Star Staunton into his backroom team for the 2024 season following the departure of coach Eanna Casey.

This is not the first time that Heffernan has brought a female coach in to join his management team as he had another former Mayo footballer Fiona McHale in his coaching ticket during his time as Claremorris manager.

Staunton brings with her a wealth of experience from across a number of sports, from her playing days with Carnacon and Mayo, to her time with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the AFL, as well as her time playing soccer and rugby.

Staunton has been involved with the Galway Camogie team in 2023 and was part of the management which brought the Very Camogie League Division 1 title back to Galway. 

Meanwhile, Tourlestrane have announced that former Mayo U21 manager Mike Solan as their manager for 2024.

Solan spent the last two seasons as assistant manager of Andy Moran's Leitrim side. 

Solan won the 2016 All-Ireland U21 football championship with Mayo as manager. He won two Connacht championships at the grade in 2016 and 2018 and was runner up in the 2018 All-Ireland decider.

He takes over from Fergal O'Donnell as the Tourlestrane side who will be looking to reclaim their Sligo senior title which the relinquished last season, having come off the back of winning seven titles in a row from 2016-2022.