Former Cork footballer in line to coach Bantry Blues this year

Colm O’Driscoll is set to be involved in the Bantry Blues backroom team this season as coach.

The Tadhg MacCarthaighs clubman has built up his CV in recent years having been involved with a number of teams in Cork. His previous role was with Ilen Rovers, who he was with for the last couple of years in what was a very challenging time for all involved as the Baltimore-based outfit suffered relegation two years on the bounce. The West Cork team lost their status from the SAFC in 2023 followed by demotion from the PIFC grade last year.

O'Driscoll is highly thought of in coaching circles and did great work with the Newcestown senior football team previously.

The now 36-year-old was an important figure on the Cork senior football team for many years and netted a last-minute winner which secured All-Ireland glory for the Cork U21 footballers in 2009.

Bantry Blues' Ruairí Deane is tackled by Iveleary's Barry O'Leary last year. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

This latest role will be a big challenge for O’Driscoll with Bantry Blues one of the fancied sides to go very deep into the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC this year. The team in blue and white lost the 2022 and ’23 finals before falling at the quarter-final hurdle last year.

In their championship group stage this season, the West Cork side will meet last year’s beaten finalists Aghabullogue, Aghada and Nemo Rangers’ second team.

In other news, Darren Farry has been confirmed as Valley Rovers new football coach for the 2025 campaign.

The secondary school teacher in Coláiste Choilm was coach of Nemo Rangers under Paul O’Donovan when they won the Cork Premier SFC in 2022.

Denis Kiely is going into his second season in charge of Valley Rovers as he has freshened up his backroom team after the green and white failed to qualify out of their respective Premier SFC group last year.

Valley Rovers manager Denis Kiely. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

After making the quarter-finals in 2021 where they were beaten by Castlehaven, the Carrigdhoun side haven't made the business end of the championship since. They finished third in their group in the last two campaigns while they finished bottom in 2022 but avoided the relegation play-off.

Valley Rovers will meet holders Castlehaven, Mallow and Newcestown in their championship group stage this year.

Finally, former Kerry U21 footballer Kieran Cronin will coach Canovee this year. The St Michael’s Foilmore man, who managed his club to back-to-back South Kerry senior titles in his 20s before having stints with Macroom and Legion, was part of Jack O’Connor’s Kerry U21 (now U20) set-up.

Cronin was also previously a selector with the Cork U20 football team under Bobbie O’Dwyer and was part of the Aghabullogue management team that helped their side win the Cork IAFC in 2023.

New Canovee coach Kieran Cronin, third in from the left, when he was a selector with the Cork U20 footballers. Picture: George Hatchell

It will be his second stint involved with the Muskerry outfit having guided Canovee to the Mid-Cork JAFC final in 2018.

Canovee are one of the favourites for the Premier JFC title this year. They lost the final last season by a point to rivals Kilmurry.

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