All-Ireland winning Cork hurler Kevin Murray has been added to John Cleary’s Cork football backroom team for the 2026 season.
Off the back of Cleary being handed a fresh two-year term by the county board executive last month, changes were expected to his backroom team, with the first new addition that of 1999 All-Ireland hurling winner Murray.
It is expected that Murray will be involved in the coaching and sports science departments of the Cork football set-up.
Working as a sports technician in MTU Cork’s Department of Sport, Leisure and Childhood Studies, where he last year completed a masters in coaching science, Murray’s coaching credentials are more pronounced on the hurling side.
He worked alongside his brother Paudie during different periods of the latter’s 10-year spell as Cork camogie manager, serving as coach for the 2017 and ‘18 All-Ireland final wins.
Former Cork captain Linda Collins said of Kevin in 2021 that his training sessions were “new level. He doesn’t like cones laid out or anything. I just love training under Kevin because you come out of training and you are not only physically wrecked but you are mentally wrecked from trying to make decisions on the ball and trying to figure out the drills in different conditions. He definitely challenges you.”
In an Irish Examiner interview with Kieran Shannon last year, Murray provided insight into his coaching approach and philosophy.
“I think anyone who is interested in coaching in this country should read Paul Kinnerk’s thesis and the value of games-based pedagogy. I always ask myself when I leave the pitch: did they just perform or did they learn?
“We need to understand what we are chasing today. What is the aim of our session? I’d be very explicit about us having a tactical theme for the session, like maybe attacking out from the back.”
Football was his first code. He grew up five miles outside Dunmanway and helped Dohenys graduate to the senior ranks during his playing days. His football education was furthered by over a decade spent as the skill and athletic development coach in Billy Morgan’s UCC Sigerson Cup set-up.
Currently overseeing the St Finbarr’s minor team, news of Murray joining Cleary’s sideline ticket, which already includes fellow Barrs clubman Jim O’Donoghue, will intensify discussion on a possible return to the panel in 2026 of Steven Sherlock. The inside forward opted out ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Cleary’s slightly tweaked backroom for the 2026 campaign is to be confirmed in full at next week’s county board meeting.