Cork's Naomh Abán name GAA coaching ticket that many inter-county teams would relish

The Ballyvourney club have gone over the county bounds to snag a trio of high-profile Kerry GAA names

LEADER: Kerry legend Seamus Moynihan is part of an impressive Naomh Abán management and coaching ticket for 2026. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

BALLYVOURNEY'S Naomh Abán, who suffered semi-final agony by a single point for the second year in a row in Cork’s Premier IFC, are going all in to get over the line in 2026.

The Muskerry club confirmed Thursday a coaching line-up that wouldn’t look out of place at inter-county level – Kerry All-Ireland winners Pat Flanagan and Seamus Moynihan joined by Beaufort’s Gary McGrath alongside manager Jimmy Allen and selectors Tomás Hallisey, Michael Scanlon and Gary Mór O’Loingsigh.

McGrath may be the least-known of the Kingdom trio but he has compiled an extensive coaching cv that features colleges success with St Brendan’s Killarney at Munster and Hogan Cup level. He has also coached the Kerry U21’s, Mid Kerry, and Killarney Legion.

Bringing in GAA great Moynihan and renowned coach Flanagan also represent eyebrow-raising coups.

The Glenflesk legend comes on board with Naomh Abán as defence coach and trainer for the season ahead. Flanagan will oversee the club’s S&C, having first made his mark with Jack O’Connor’s Kerry All-Ireland winners in 2004.

“As a strength and conditioning coach with the Kerry football team, Pat was part of the coaching staff that won three All Irelands, three National League Titles and four Munster Titles. Pat also was part of coaching teams that won two Sigerson cups with IT Tralee. Pat has worked with many senior county GAA teams including Cork, Waterford, Cavan, Laois, Dublin, Tipperary and Wexford, as well as multiple title winning senior football and hurling club teams in Kerry.”

Naomh Abán were beaten by eventual champions Aghabullogue, 2-11 to 0-15 in last month's Cork Premier IFC semi-final.