Former All-Ireland hurling referee Diarmuid Kirwan is set to take over the Éire Óg hurlers.
The Offaly native will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role as the Muskerry club look to make an impression in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC in 2026.
The new boss has enjoyed underage success as a manager with a number of teams in Éire Óg and he has played a big role in Muskerry doing very well in recent years.
He’s expected to replace John Malone at the helm.
Former All-Ireland hurling referee Diarmuid Kirwan. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Joining Kirwan on the new management ticket will be the experienced Eddie Murphy, who will be the coach.
The Bishopstown native is now based in Tralee and has enjoyed wonderful success with a number of clubs both on Leeside and in Kerry and even further afield.
Eddie’s father is the famous Ballincollig and Muskerry player, Willie ‘Long Puck’ Murphy, who was a member of the storied Cork hurling side who won the four-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles between 1941 and 1944.
Eddie has had great triumphs coaching teams most notable at this Premier Intermediate grade. He has guided Bishopstown and Ballymartle to success at this level and came very close with Carrigaline in 2024, where they lost to Watergrasshill in the final.
Carrigaline were beaten by Ballincollig at the quarter-final stage this year with Eddie stepping down in the aftermath of that defeat.
In total, the new Éire Óg coach has been part of 12 All-Ireland wins – one football, two camogie and nine in hurling. As well as Ballymartle’s All-Ireland Club IHC win of 2011, he helped Bennettsbridge of Kilkenny to Junior and Intermediate All-Ireland titles in the 2015 and 2016 seasons respectively.
He will be looking to make an impact straightaway with an Éire Óg team looking to rediscover their spark.
Ballymartle coach Eddie Murphy and Paul Coughlan after defeating Cloyne in 2011. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Since winning the IAHC title in the 2020 season, they haven’t come close to winning the county at the higher grade.
The Ovens-based outfit have failed to qualify out of their group since coming up.
Éire Óg have a decent squad on paper and the hope is that the new management will push on the panel of players.
They will be missing arguably their best player in Eoin O’Shea for the start of the season with the latter travelling. There’s a quiet confidence that he will play some part in 2026 though.
Éire Óg’s Conor McGoldrick in action against Carrigaline this year. Picture: Denis Boyle
Éire Óg will be in the RedFM Division 3 Hurling League next year after suffering demotion from Division 2 this season.
They will discover their Co-Op SuperStores PIHC group stage opponents on Tuesday, December 9 when the draws are made at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.