Ballincollig basketball coach Ciarán O'Sullivan to join Fitzmaurice's Galway football management team

The coach of the year, whose former basketball international wife Claire Rockall is from Galway, has been courted by a number of inter-county set-ups

DOUBLE DELIGHT: Ciarán O'Sullivan is part of a growing cohort of leading basketball coaches whose tactical and technical nous is being pursued by leading GAA set-ups.

ONE of the country's top basketball coaches has been snapped up by new Galway football manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice to further bolster his 2027 coaching ticket.

Superleague coach of the year, Ballincollig's Ciarán O'Sullivan, will be part of Fitzmaurice’s new-look management with Lisa Fallon, Corofin’s Dave Morris, Tuam’s Gary O’Donnell, Maigh Cuilinn’s Gareth Bradshaw, and current Galway U20 manager Kevin Johnston.

Fitzmaurice is putting the final pieces of his backroom team together this week but has already secured the coaching smarts of O'Sullivan who guided Ballincollig to a National Cup and League double last season.

The Ballincollig man, whose former basketball international wife Claire Rockall is from Galway, has been courted by a number of inter-county set-ups and was believed to be part of Andy McEntee's plans in his bid to become Monaghan manager. 

Meath man McEntee has since been appointed the new Longford senior football manager with Armagh's John McEntee installed as Gabriel Bannigan's replacement in Monaghan.

IN DEMAND: Ballincollig head coach Ciaran O'Sullivan. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

O'Sullivan has also worked, albeit sporadically, with the Ballincollig senior footballers. He is part of a growing cohort of leading basketball coaches whose tactical and technical nous is being pursued by leading GAA set-ups. 

DCU Mercy Mark Ingle was an important backroom cog in Jim Gavin's all-conquering era of Dublin dominance. The ex-Ireland women's coach James Weldon was an important part of the Dingle backroom for their drive to a 2026 All-Ireland Club SFC title. 

He had previously been in with Kerry during Fitzmaurice's time as manager with his native county. 

Others like Jason Sherlock, Micheal Quirke, Kieran Donaghy and Liam McHale have all used their basketball skill set effectively in the GAA inter-county realm.

Ballincollig's O'Sullivan may be detailed to work with Galway players on key individual skillsets such as one on one defending, restarts and transition, each of which has an enhanced importance and profile in the new Gaelic football landscape.

Because he is also part of Michael Bree's men's international basketball management team, and remains Ballincollig head coach, O'Sullivan's role with Fitzmaurice and Galway will be limited to one session a week but with an expectation that it will be ramped up next April before the Connacht Championship. 

He is employed by Basketball Ireland as their head of development. After a shaky start due to compound injury issues, defending Domino’s Men’s Super League champions Ballincollig picked up a second win in a row on Monday, defeating Killester 84-79 to improve to a 3-2 record. 

They face UCC Demons in a Cork derby this Sunday.