Michael Hegarty returns to Kilcar as new senior manager

Kilcar have confirmed that former Donegal star and 2011 Ulster winner Michael Hegarty will take charge as the club's new senior manager for the 2024 season alongside All-Ireland winning trainer with Kilcoo Paul Devlin. 

The duo will replace Conor Cunningham who was in charge of the Towney side for both the 2022 and 2023 seasons before stepping down as manager last November alongside former All-Ireland winner with Armagh Barry O'Hagan. 

The six-time county champions have not won the Dr Maguire Cup since 2017, losing in the 2022 championship semi-final to St Eunan's, while falling to eventual winners Naomh Conaill in the last eight last season. 

The Donegal legend left Kilcar last summer to join Naomh Ultan, where he was not only a part of the Dunkineely squad but also part of the senior side’s backroom team. 

Hegarty last played for the Kilcar side up until 2022, 27 successive years after he made his debut for the Towney senior side as a 17-year-old on September 22, 1996, against Killybegs in Donegal Town. 

The Kilcar legend will be joined by Ballinascreen man Paul Devlin. 

Devlin led 'Screen ladies to their first senior championship in 2018 and spent two seasons in Mickey Moran's management team in Kilcoo, helping them to an All-Ireland club final in 2020, losing out to Corofin after extra-time. 

The Derry man has since managed St Mary's Banagher and John Mitchel's Claudy. 

Also, two former senior championship-winning managers will take charge of the Kilcar senior reserve side this season, with 2017 championship winner Barry Doherty and two-time Dr Maguire Cup winning manager in 1985 and 1993 Seamus Gallagher set to take up the positions.