COLM BONNAR AND Andy Moloney have been appointed as the new management team of Kilkenny club Ballyhale Shamrocks.
The five-time All-Ireland senior club champions have recruited the Tipperary duo to guide their fortunes for the 2014 season. Their appointment was ratified last night at a committee meeting of the South Kilkenny club.
The appointment comes shortly after the duo dramatically departed from the management setup of Waterford club Ballygunner. Moloney had been manager of the Ballygunner side who lost last year’s county senior hurling decider to Passage East.
He agreed to become a selector this year after Bonnar, a former Wexford manager and ex-selector with Tipperary and Waterford, was appointed. But both then departed in dramatic circumstances.
Ballyhale secretary Sean O’Sullivan confirmed the appointment to TheScore.ie and revealed that the duo had only been approached after the club became aware they had left Ballygunner.
“We had been aware that their original plan was to be involved with Ballygunner. We’re unaware as to how or why that ended up not being the case.
“They’re two seperate situations but we became aware then that Colm and Andy were available. It was only when the Ballygunner situation had completed itself that we contacted them.
“We’re absolutely delighted that they’ve agreed to come on board. We’re looking forward to the year ahead now.”
Ballyhale players celebrate their 2012 Kilkenny county final win
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Ballyhale Shamrocks have been a dominant force in Kilkenny in recent seasons, winning five of the last eight county senior titles as well as AIB All-Ireland club honours in 2007 and 2010.
They boast a team packed with star names like Henry Shefflin, Michael and Colin Fennelly and TJ Reid. Bonnar’s work with Waterford IT in the Fitzgibbon Cup has lead to him working with the likes of Shefflin and Reid before.
“We’d be very familiar with Colm’s work with WIT through our own players”, says O’Sullivan. “We’d know his broader work as well as Andy’s. We’re looking forward now to them being with us for the year ahead.”
