Kilcormac-Killoughey make huge call with decision to replace championship winning manager

KILCORMAC-Killoughey have made a huge call by giving a pre-Christmas P45 to the manager who has led them to back to back Senior Hurling Championship titles and to the Leinster club hurling final this year.

Shane Hand was told by the club on Saturday evening that they would not be reappointing him for 2025. Hand has confirmed that he has been replaced but didn't wish to make any comment other than that.

The decision to replace Hand will be a controversial one as it is believed that he wanted another year at the helm. The Kilcormac man had served for three years, leading them to the Senior Hurling Championship title in 2023 and 2024. They reached the Leinster club Senior Hurling Championship final a few weeks ago, where their youth and physicality caught up with them and they were beaten by Na Fianna of Dublin.

Kilcormac-Killoughey have some of the best young talent in the county, and country, and made definite progress during Hand's time there. They were steam-rolled by Shinrone in the second half of the 2022 senior hurling final and there was speculation about Hand's future after that.

He was given another year and they turned the tables spectacularly on Shinrone in the 2023 final. They ran riot in some of their group games in Offaly this year and against Coolderry in the semi-final before grinding out a hard earned win over Ballinamere in the final.

Hand had to guide some of K-K's outstanding young talent onto the team, assessing the right time for each one. K-K have had several outstanding players on the outstanding Offaly minor and U-20 teams in recent years. Brecon Kavanagh and Adam Screeney starred in the 2023 win, others were held back before being introduced this year, including James Mahon, Leigh Kavanagh, Ter Guinan and Daniel Hand – K-K have also won back to back senior “B” hurling titles in the past two years.

K-K look set for a period of dominance in Offaly and Leinster and All-Ireland club titles will come onto the table as goals in the coming seasons. Na Fianna showed that they still have plenty of road to travel before that happens but that is where K-K have to be aiming at.

Tipperary man Tony Gleeson came on board as a coach with K-K after the 2022 reverse against Shinrone and Hand has spoken about his importance to them and what he has brought to the table.

K-K have not announced new management yet but are likely to have a clear idea of where they are going and who they will be talking to. The likelihood is an outside appointment with pedigree and it will be interesting to see who they unveil in the coming weeks.

While Hand didn't want to comment, he is certain to be bitterly disappointed at the decision. He previously managed Ballinamere to intermediate and senior B hurling titles in the late 2010s and has been an Offaly U20 hurling selector. A member of dominant K-K underage sides in the 1990s, he has a great passion for his home club and their players – his youngest son Daniel was on the All-Ireland winning Offaly U20 hurling panel this year and won his place on the K-K senior team, playing very well in some games. The presence of a son on the team could have been one of the factors that have led to K-K deciding to appoint new management while there may be a feeling among some in the club that an outside man is needed to help them to take the next steps forward.