FIVE-TIME ALL-IRELAND CLUB winner Annmarie Burns has been appointed manager of the Monaghan Ladies senior football team.
Still playing with her club Donaghmoyne, Burns moved into their management set-up in 2014.
She took over a coaching position with the senior side, working alongside Francie Coleman and Noel Marron to guide them to historic back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 2015 and 2016.
This year, the Fontenoys again reached the Ulster final but were beaten by Tyrone kingpins St Macartan’s.
Described as a ‘hard taskmaster’ by clubmate and Monaghan star Sharon Courtney, Burns was ratified at a county board meeting on Wednesday night and succeeds Paula Cunningham at the helm.
“I’m looking forward to this new challenge,” she told Alan Gunn for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA).
“There is plenty of potential in the county and hopefully we will be able to work as a team to achieve the final goal.”
The Farney were beaten by Donegal in the Ulster final earlier this year, while it was then-reigning champions Cork who ended their All-Ireland qualifier campaign.
Burns’ first challenge will come in the form of the Lidl Division 1 National League in the New Year, this their 26th successive year in the top flight.
Her full backroom team will be announced in the coming weeks.
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