Adrian Sheehan back at Fossa helm following Jerome Stack’s surprise departure

Stack's surprise departure threw a spanner in the Fossa works ahead of the Munster Club IFC campaign

Adrian Sheehan managed Fossa to the 2023 All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Kerry intermediate football champions Fossa have appointed Adrian Sheehan as manager for their Munster campaign. He fills the void created by the sudden departure of Jerome Stack just two weeks ago.

It should be a smooth transition from his most recent stint with East Kerry. Sheehan was manager, and now Galway boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice the coach, when Fossa won the 2023 All-Ireland junior title, beating Tyrone champions Stewartstown Harps in the final. 

Sheehan was in charge when they beat neighbours Listry in the Kerry premier junior decider in November 2022. David and Paudie Clifford combined for 3-14 to break Listry hearts in extra time.

The Ballyheigue native then had two attempts at winning the intermediate championship but Fossa lost to Milltown/Castlemaine by a point in the 2023 final. Sheehan was replaced by Jerome Stack, who spent two years with the club, losing the intermediate final to An Ghaeltacht in 2025 before this year guiding Fossa all the way to second tier success with a narrow win over Kilcummin.

Victory secured senior football for Fossa in 2027 and fuelled hopes of a successful Munster campaign and another Croke Park appearance next January. Stack’s departure threw a spanner in the works as Fossa prepared to meet either the Waterford or Clare intermediate champions on November 22.

However, the return of Sheehan, who had seven Fossa players involved with East Kerry this year, means that he will be in charge of more or less the same squad with which he enjoyed so much success.

Sheehan was part of Wayne Quillinan’s backroom team when the Kerry minors lost the 2025 All-Ireland final to Tyrone by a point.

Fossa are expected to issue a statement today confirming Sheehan’s return and naming his selectors, without addressing Stack’s sudden departure.