Ó Sé brothers take over at under-20 and minor levels in Kerry

Marc Ó Sé replaces Wayne Quillinan as the Kingdom's minor boss. 

New Kerry minor boss Marc Ó Sé. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD.

Delegates at this month’s Kerry County Committee meeting ratified Tomás Ó Sé to remain as Kerry under-20 football boss, while younger brother Marc was also ratified as minor football manager, both on two-year terms.

Tomás was first appointed in 2022 to replace Declan O’Sullivan along with Bryan Sheehan and Seamus Moynihan.

He has won three Munster titles and lost the 2024 All-Ireland final to Tyrone. Following that, he was reappointed for one year along with Sean Walsh, Mark Fitzgerald and Aidan O’Shea, but again lost to Tyrone at the All-Ireland semi-final. 

He will be joined by former Limerick and Clare manager Mark Fitzgerald and 2000 All-Ireland medal winner Mike Frank Russell, while Maurice Horan, the former Mayo footballer, has been an ever-present in the backroom team.

Marc Ó Sé replaces Wayne Quillinan, who lost the All-Ireland minor final last year, also to the Red Hand.

The younger Ó Sé has senior management experience with Listry and Listowel Emmets, taking the latter all the way to an All-Ireland final, and has also won two Frewen Cups with Tralee CBS in recent years.

The younger Ó Sé has senior management experience with Listry and Listowel Emmets. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Kerry GAA also announced the appointment of a New commercial director. 

In a statement read to delegates by chairman Patrick O’Sullivan, he said that Kerry GAA is delighted to announce the appointment of Maura Ashe from Tralee as commercial director, a key role that will guide Kerry GAA’s commercial future and revenue growth. 

Said O’Sullivan: “This is an exciting step forward for Kerry GAA. The appointment of Maura as commercial director will allow us to strengthen our commercial process, grow and develop effectively, and advance major projects at our centre of excellence and other locations across the county.

"We are confident that Maura will bring energy, entrepreneurial leadership, and strong organisational expertise in her new role; qualities that will help us continue to build on our proud tradition both on and off the pitch.

"We very much look forward to learning from Maura and working with her in our ongoing efforts to expand commercial activities in Kerry GAA to ensure we are writing the next chapter of growth and success for Kerry."

Ashe added: “With a passion for effective media and sponsorship strategies, I have seen how sport can be a powerful platform for community connection and positive impact. 

"The commercial landscape in sport - especially in GAA - is evolving rapidly, presenting exciting opportunities for growth and innovation.

"My focus as commercial director will be on maximising the power and success of the Kerry team by building sustainable partnerships and revenue streams that reflect and support their legacy.

"I am looking forward to working with all stakeholders to build on Kerry’s outstanding sporting success and to unlock new commercial opportunities that benefit the county both on and off the field.” 

Kerry GAA Commercial Director Maura Ashe.

Ashe is a former managing partner at UM Ireland with a very impressive CV.

Kerry GAA, under the chairmanship of Tim Murphy, appointed Maurice O’Meara as a full-time commercial fundraiser at the end of May 2018, as the Kingdom stepped up its efforts to generate new revenue streams. However, it did not work out as O’Meara returned to golf, a sport where he had risen to prominence.

Meanwhile, the Kerry camogie board has announced the reappointment of John Madden from Causeway as the Kerry intermediate camogie manager for 2026. 

Maddden took over midway through last season. Since then, he played a pivotal role in preparing the team for the All-Ireland intermediate championship, reaching the All-Ireland final where they narrowly lost to Offaly.

Kerry under-20 football management team: Tomás Ó Sé [Bainisteoir] (An Ghaeltacht), Mark Fitzgerald (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), Maurice Horan (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), Mike Frank Russell (Laune Rangers). 

Kerry minor football Management team: Marc Ó Sé [Bainisteoir] (An Ghaeltacht), Niall O’Mahony (Spa), Ronan McAuliffe (Gneeveguilla), Noel Kennelly (Listowel Emmets), Cathal Moriarty (Milltown/Castlemaine).

Kerry minor hurling management team: Brian Sargent (Bainisteoir), Conor Bohane (Abbeydorney), Martin Daly (St. Brendan’s), James McCarthy (Kilmoyley), David O’ Grady (Ballyduff).