Henry ends Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins reign after hugely enjoyable three years

County Champions Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins are on the look-out for a new manager after Mark Henry informed his players following Sunday’s AIB Connacht Club Senior Championship defeat at the hands of Salthill Knocknacarra that his three year term in charge of Leitrim GAA’s most successful club had come to an end.

The Fermanagh man confirmed to the Observer after Sunday’s 3-16 to 2-15 defeat at the hands of the Galway champions that his time with Ballinamore had come to an end: “As I said to the boys, it's been a hugely enjoyable three years for myself and Conor Doherty, who came down with me, and the whole backroom team. It's been a brilliant three years., hugely enjoyable. Some setbacks along the way but the boys got what they deserved two weeks ago here in terms of winning their championship ”

Mark felt that a change of voice in the dressing room could keep the 2026 County Champions at the top: “As I said to them, you can see the quality is there for them to continue to push on - I genuinely feel that a change of approach, a change of voice, you know yourself, will freshened them up a wee bit and will do them no harm at all.”

Given his rapport with the players and the success Ballinamore have enjoyed in reaching three County Finals in a row, was there a temptation to stay on? “Of course there is and make no mistake about it, that temptation is very much there. But in the emotion of two weeks ago or today, you could maybe make a wrong decision. Looking at the thing on balance, I think genuinely the boys will benefit. They're in a really good place and a really good group of fellas to work with. Make no mistake about that.

“I think a fresh approach and a fresh voice is what they need. Three years is a long time for that group of players to be listening to the same voice three times a week and maybe more.@ laughed Mark as he chatted with the media.

In signing off, Mark was full of praise for the resilience and commitment of Ballinamore’s players: “They are a resilient group of players. The setbacks that they have taken and they have bounced back and come back again. And the commitment, it's not simple. You guys will know the travelling that has to be done for training - half of our team living and working in Dublin or at college.

“Take, for example, the two McGoverns there, extending their stay - that was a demonstration too, of how seriously we wanted to take this game. Lots of lads have made lots of sacrifices over the three years. I'm delighted that they had that resilience to bounce back and get what they deserve which was the county title two weeks ago.”

SEE THIS WEEK’S LEITRIM OBSERVER FOR MORE REACTION FROM BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS MANAGER MARK HENRY AFTER THEIR AIB CONNACHT CLUB SFC DEFEAT TO SALTHILL KNOCKNACARRA