Division 2A – Meet the managers

Three Division 2A teams have new managers in place for the league campaign, while five have retained their management team from last year.

Carrickcruppen: Barry Flynn

Flynn is back for another year in charge of Carrickcruppen, having led them to the IFC title in 2021.

Cruppen experienced a tough year at senior level last season and were ultimately relegated from Division 1B.

But they are a young side full of potential and will be one of the big hitters in Division 2A in 2023.

Culloville: Damien Feeney and Eamon Hughes

Damien Feeney and Eamon Hughes are the joint-manager of Culloville for the upcoming season.

Both Feeney and Hughes were part of Kieran Hatzer’s management team last season when they won Division 2B.

Shane O’Neill’s ended their run in the championship and Culloville will want to test themselves against the best at Intermediate level.

Pearse Og: Garreth Thornton

Pearse Og are one of three teams relegated from senior last season, along with Carrickcruppen and Cullyhanna.

Former Belleek boss Garreth Thornton replaces the outgoing Conor Clarke. He’ll be joined by Brendan Savage and Frank Dawson.

Thornton guided Belleek to a JFC title in 2021 and they were a competitive force in Division 2B last year.

St Paul’s: Ronan Clarke

St Paul’s were incredibly unlucky to lose out in the Intermediate final to Shane O’Neill’s last year.

It proved to be Shane McConville’s last year in charge, with 2002 All-Ireland winner Ronan Clarke stepping into his place.

Clarke was involved with Keady last year and was recently involved as a coach in the Armagh minor set up too.

Two Division 2A teams have new managers in place for the upcoming league campaign, including last years beaten finalists St Paul’s.
Photo Credit: Richiespics

St Patrick’s: Stephen Reel

Reel is back for another year, along with Malachy Mackin, and he’ll hope to get them back to senior football.

The loss of Jason Duffy, Aidan Nugent and Ross McQuillan for the majority of the season hampered their league form in 2022.

They suffered relegation from Division 1B, but with a full team, they will be a force to be reckoned with at Intermediate level.

Tullysaran: John Devine and Davy Harte

Tullysaran remain one of the big hitters in Division 2A and Tyrone All-Ireland winners John Devine and Davy Harte are back in charge.

The pair took over last season and led the O’Connell’s club to the last four of the Intermediate Championship.

Their season was eventually finished by St Paul’s in that classic semi-final encounter, and they’ll hope for another big year.

Photo Credit: Richiespics

Tir na nOg: Jim McCooe and Brian Mallon

Tir na nOg earned promotion to Division 2A by finishing second behind league winners Culloville last year.

They were knocked out of the Intermediate Championship in the first round, losing to Wolfe Tones.

Jim McCooe and Brian Mallon back for another season in charge of the Portadown club and they’ll aim to secure their status.

Wolfe Tones: Peter Nugent

Tones were competitive in Division 2A last season and made the IFC quarter-finals where they lost to St Paul’s.

They lost out to their Lurgan rivals after extra time, which will offer some hope for the year ahead.

Tones native Peter Nugent is back this year, joined by Seamus Heffron, and they will be hoping to push on again this year.

Two Division 2A teams have new managers in place for the upcoming league campaign, including last years beaten finalists St Paul’s.
Photo Credit: Chris Totton