Kerry hurlers swoop for highly-rated coach Cork were urged to fast-track

Charleville coach James Kennedy. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Kerry have appointed highly-rated hurling coach James Kennedy as head coach in John 'Tweek' Griffin’s backroom team for 2027.

Kennedy worked with former soccer international Dominic Foley with Charleville this year, guiding the club to the Cork knockout stages for the second year in succession.

In August, Foley urged the Cork county board to "wake up" and get Kennedy into their ranks before he was snapped up by another county.

“A little agenda for me, but the county board needs to wake up and see what's going on in our club. It hasn't happened by accident,” Foley told the Irish Examiner.

“We've got a fella, James Kennedy, who is second to none. He is top class.

"To the boys above in the county board, come and have a look at him.

“There are teams and counties coming after him. Why aren't we looking to get him involved with our minors or under-20s or even our senior team? He's that good.

“Please start looking at him before someone else takes him."

That plea went unheeded so far when Cork underage backrooms were being appointed and Kennedy has now been added to the Kerry setup, joining Griffin's brains trust alongside Tipperary hurling legend Brendan Cummins, who will player development coach.

Damian Ryall is the hurlers S&C coach with Jack Quinn as his assistant.

The setup was ratified at last night's Kerry county board meeting.

Meanwhile Kieran Donaghy was ratified as coach/selector with the Kerry senior footballers, replacing Cian O’Neill.

While David Clifford (Keel) was ratified as a minor football selector with Cathal Moriarty as coach.