Shock as Fossa lose manager Stack ahead of Munster campaign

Departed Fossa manager Jerome Stack. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Kerry intermediate football champions Fossa have been shocked by the departure of manager Jerome Stack ahead of their Munster club campaign.

Stack has stepped down along with his two selectors, Bernie Collins (Castlehaven) and Conal Kelly. 

Fossa beat Kilcummin in a cracking county IFC final on September 15, and are due to play a Munster club semi-final against the Clare or Waterford winners on November 22.

Powered by the Clifford brothers, Fossa are expected to negotiate that hurdle and would possibly face Cork opponents in the Munster final on December 6.

Fossa club secretary Merry Talbot confirmed that the rumours about Stack’s departure were true and that he and his selectors had left their positions in recent days. He said that the club would be making no further comment on the matter.

It is believed that Stack was unhappy that seven Fossa players who were on the East Kerry panel were training with the district side rather than the club. He wanted three of the seven to train with the club last Friday night and when this did not happen, he pulled the plug, according to an insider.

East Kerry were shocked in the county semi-final by Spa on Sunday.

Stack is a highly respected coach who has coached many top clubs included Connacht champions St Bridget’s.

However, the Listowel native has history on the issue of club players training with districts. In November 2021, he registered annoyance that some of his Na Gaeil players were training with St Brendan’s ahead of the Kerry SFC semi-final. Na Gaeil had eight starters on that St Brendan's team

On the morning that Na Gaeil were due to play Beaufort in the Kerry IFC final in Fitzgerald Stadium, Stack walked away. Na Gaeil had sought a postponement of the final due to a Covid outbreak in the squad, but decided after a player vote to fulfil the fixture rather than give a walkover.

Mark Bourke, who had two sons on the team, took temporary charge and Na Gaeil beat Beaufort and went on to win Munster.

Fossa have yet to name a replacement but they have almost six weeks to that Munster semi-final date. Though they are due to play an O’Donoghue Cup game against Gneeveguilla, probably on October 24th.

Meanwhile Listry have confirmed that John Evans has stepped away after a two-year stint with the club.