Cunningham one of nine new managers as All County League Division 1 returns

The All County Leagues begin on Saturday evening and in the top flight eight of the 13 men wearing the Bainisteoir bib will be new for 2024.

It is a big turnover with the five clubs that have retained their managers being Naomh Conaill, Glenfin, St Michael’s, Gaoth Dobhair and Malin.

Some of the ‘new’ managers in charge are back in roles they had before or with their home clubs while there have been a few who have taken on challenges outside their parish area.

Among those are Pauric Bonner, who has taken the reins in Killybegs after managing Glenswilly last year, while Conor Cunningham has moved from Kilcar to Aodh Ruadh for the 2024 season.

Before training on Tuesday night, Cunningham said he was looking forward to the season and the challenge.

“Yeah, good to get involved. Obviously a bit late getting back in but to be fair the boys have a bit of work done already, so we are not playing catch up. Looking forward to it to be honest,” said Cunningham.

“I like the challenge. The easy option would have been to take a sabbatical and lick your wounds. I think if you enjoy it, you’re meeting new people all the time and you’re willing to learn, that’s the way I see it.

“Listen, you are going into a team (Aodh Ruadh) who are competitive anyway. They are a good outfit.”

Cunningham replaces another Kilcar man, John McNulty, at the helm at Aodh Ruadh and no doubt he will have a few conversations with his fellow parish man, who is now in charge of the Donegal Ladies team.

“I spoke to plenty before coming down and I’ve connections within the club anyway (Granaghan cousins) so I’ve a good idea of what’s going on.”

Cunningham has another Kilcar ally in Ballyshannon in Luke Carr, who is now living in the area.

As for his aims and aspirations for Aodh Ruadh, he is clear. “The aspiration would be to push on from last year, there is no other way around it. With the league coming up, the last two years it went down to the last game. One or two results and they would have made the league final.

“The championship, they topped their group and some might say they were unlucky with the draw, getting St Eunan’s in the quarters. Listen, I’m not coming up here to make up the numbers. We have to compete and push on and break that quarter-final barrier. 

“But listen, it's all about the luck of the draw as well. They have a squad and a team there to compete and win a championship, I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
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As regards personnel, the only one missing will be Colm Kelly, who has emigrated to Australia.

“The rest are available and we’re gaining a few from last year, Jason Granaghan from injury and overseas; Johnny Gethins from overseas as well as a few long-term injuries from last year, Senan and Oisin Rooney, Shane Delahunt. They’ll factor in the league at some stage.

“There are also some good prospects from underage to push on. There is a good squad, strong, fast, so it is a matter of coming up with a structure and a team plan to get the best out of the team.”

For Cunningham, it’s not about getting structure. “I’m not looking too far ahead in the league. For me the most important part of the league is to get a structure and get a pattern of play with the squad; to really improve the young players in the squad, the Aidan Sweenys, the Jack Gallaghers, to push them on.

“We've got a block of five games coming up and we’ll see where we are after that. Then we can reassess and re-engage to see where we can go with the leagues.

“As of now the two main aims are to set down a pattern of play and to really push the younger fellas on and to set down my own pattern and structure within the club to benefit the players.”

He is planning for the next month or so without Co U-20s Eoghan Kelly and Aaron Cullen. “I do speak to Shaun Paul (Barrett) often and I can’t imagine having the two boys and to be honest I’m planning to be without them for the next four to six weeks.

“I watched a good bit of tape of Aodh Ruadh from last year and he’s an exciting prospect. I suppose he’s carrying out a different role with the U-20s as a sweeper; it’s a role he won’t be doing for Aodh Ruadh, but it gives him great experience and he’s getting great coaching at that level.”

There will be interesting games coming up against Kilcar and also a local derby with Bundoran and with former Bundoran manager, James Keaney, in as coach at Aodh Ruadh, that fixture will have added interest.

“I think we play Kilcar in round 6 and there has been a bit of talk about it already. And there has been some talk about the fixture with Bundoran which is the last game of the season.

“We have two away games at the end, away to Malin and away to Bundoran. It could still be interesting.”

At the moment Cunningham has 22-23 lads at training which doesn’t include a big number away at college in Belfast, Dublin and Letterkenny, but he says every club is the same.

“They are coming back at the weekend in good shape and are doing their gym work.”

Aodh Ruadh have finished in 3rd place in the league in the last two years. Can they improve on that in 2024?. They begin their league campaign at home to Downings in Fr Tierney Park on Saturday evening at 5.30.