Former Waterford selector Bennett expected to take Carlow reins

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald is congratulated by selector Pat Bennett (right) in 2011. Pic: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE

Former Waterford and Antrim selector Pat Bennett is expected to replace Tom Mullally as Carlow manager.

The Ballysaggart man, who led Ferns St Aidan’s to their first Wexford senior hurling championship title in 2022, assisted Davy Fitzgerald in Antrim this past season.

Bennett previously worked with Fitzgerald in Waterford and Wexford and was Kerry’s coach and selector during Stephen Molumphy’s time in charge between 2022 and ‘24.

Father of Waterford hurlers Kieran, Shane and Stephen, former Déise hurler Bennett has also managed other clubs such as Bruff in Limerick and Boherlahan-Dualla in Tipperary. He was selector with Waterford’s U20s in 2020 and ‘21.

Carlow are keen to move quickly and fill the vacancy left by Kilkenny native Mullally as collective inter-county training resumes this Friday.

Bennett is likely to retain his fellow Waterford man and coach Shane Briggs who joined the Carlow set-up this past season having previously worked with Bennett in a number of teams such as Kerry and Ferns.

Carlow commence their 2026 with a Walsh Cup opener at home to Dublin on January 4. They start their Division 1B campaign at the end of that month before their Joe McDonagh Cup run gets going in April.