Cian O'Neill to leave Kerry backroom team as Jack O'Connor makes changes

Shane O'Rourke, who previously worked with the Kerry minor footballers, is tipped to join Jack O'Connor's backroom team as a strength and conditioning coach

Cian O'Neill had been part of the Kerry management team for the last two seasons. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Cian O’Neill will not be part of Jack O’Connor’s management team in 2027, the Irish Examiner has learned.

O’Neill’s departure after two seasons is one of a number of changes O’Connor will be making to his coaching ticket for next year. Shane O’Rourke, a lecturer in sports performance in MTU, is tipped to join the set-up as a strength and conditioning coach.

Kildare native O’Neill was part of the set-up for the last two seasons having previously assisted Galway. He came on board in September 2024 when Paddy Tally, who later took the vacant Derry manager’s position, was due to step into the performance coach role.

Last year’s final victory over Donegal was his second All-Ireland SFC success with The Kingdom following the 2014 victory over the same county.

O’Rourke previously worked with the Kerry minor footballers and senior hurlers as well as the Clare senior footballers during Peter Keane’s time in charge. He was strength and conditioning coach to his native Dingle when they claimed the All-Ireland senior club title earlier this year.

Jason McGahan is Kerry’s full-time high performance manager and in addition to that role the Armagh man has been the strength and conditioning coach to the seniors since 2019.

Meanwhile, Irish Examiner columnist Patrick Horgan’s autobiography, Hoggie, written with fellow Glen Rovers man Michael Moynihan of this newspaper, will be released on October 8.

Published by Gill Books, Horgan says it is a book “about passion, resilience, family, evening spent striking frees in the Glen and a lifelong devotion to hurling – a game we all love.” 

Elsewhere, Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea has indicated Kobe McDonald could return to line out for Crossmolina in this year’s Mayo senior football championship.

Speaking to Streamsport after their coverage of Breaffy’s opening SFC win over Ballaghaderreen on Sunday, O’Shea said: “Crossmolina last night, they were absolutely electric and Ballintubber really put it up to them. They have Kobe to come back. Ballina, Castlebar, Westport… we’re way behind those three or four teams.”