Ephie Fitzgerald set to return as Waterford senior football manager

2022: Waterford manager Ephie Fitzgerald during the McGrath Cup Group A match between Cork and Waterford. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Ephie Fitzgerald is set to return as Waterford senior football manager.

The Cork native was in charge of the Déise in 2022 and ’23 but chose not to take up the option of a third year and was replaced by Paul Shankey, who also opted against a third season in charge and stepped down last month.

However, former Cork ladies football manager Fitzgerald will now return to the role for the 2026 season, which Waterford will begin in Division 4 and commence their championship in a Munster quarter-final.

Following his All-Ireland minor success this year, James O’Connor is in line to replace Ken McGrath as Waterford’s U20 hurling manager, with former Ballygunner manager Darragh O’Sullivan set to replace him as minor boss.

O’Sullivan is to be joined by his ‘Gunner coach David Franks, who leaves his Wexford senior role, and Darragh Duggan.

Paul Power remains as U20 football manager while Brendan Kearney takes over the minors.

The appointments are subject to ratification at the next county board meeting.

Meanwhile, former Tyrone forward Ronan O’Neill has joined his fellow county man Gavin Devlin’s management team in Louth for 2026. Omagh St Enda’s man O’Neill had been coach with the Fermanagh senior footballers prior to Kieran Donnelly stepping down earlier this month.

O’Neill joins a group that already features Killanny’s Peter Dooley as assistant manager. Dooley had been part of both Ger Brennan and Mickey Harte’s backroom set-ups.

Elsewhere, current Dublin senior ladies football co-manager Paul Casey could be part of Ger Brennan’s new management team. Lucan Sarsfields man Casey and Declan Murray guided the ladies side to All-Ireland glory earlier this month.

Casey is a former team-mate of Brennan’s, winning eight Leinster titles and was part of the 2011 All-Ireland winning panel. He has been involved with the ladies set-up going back to 2018.

As previously reported, Brennan’s management team is also expected to feature Denis Bastick, Niall Moyna and Dean Rock for the 2026 season.

Former Sligo manager Tony McEntee is to join Down as a member of Conor Laverty’s coaching team. McEntee replaces Ciarán Meenagh, who has taken over as Derry manager.