Karl Lacey appointed County Performance Lead at Donegal GAA academy

CLG Dhun na nGall have announced the appointment of Karl Lacey as County Performance Lead to the Donegal GAA Academy.

Lacey was earlier this week named as manager of the Donegal U-16s having stepped aside from Kilcoo, where he spent two years in charge, in January. 

The Donegal Town native will "lead the delivery of the National Strategy to improve the quality, coherence and consistency of player and coach development within our county, and will operate within a national approach to align both the Gaelic Games Player and Coach Pathways," Donegal GAA said.

READ NEXT: On and off the ball Michael Murphy makes the opposition think - Oisin Gallen

"Part of the long-term view is to enhance coach education for all units; club, coaches. We wish Karl every success in his new role and for his future with Donegal GAA."

Lacey took over the 2022 All-Ireland Club SFC winners in February 2023 and won the Down SFC in each of his two seasons in charge. Kilcoo were 2-12 to 0-9 winners against Burren in his first year in charge and repeated the trick 12 months later, with a 1-10 to 0-4 victory over the same team.

In Ulster, Kilcoo were pipped 1-8 to 0-10 by Tyrone champions Errigal Ciaran when Peter Óg McCartan kicked a stunning winner deep into stoppage in the 2024 provincial final.

Beforehand, the Donegal GAA Academy had been running for two years under Lacey, who resigned from the position in 2023, citing “a lack of support.”

In a show of solidarity for Lacey, his departure was followed by a mass resignation eight days later from all coaches in the county - believed to be numbered at approximately 40. On the field, Lacey was and is Donegal’s most decorated footballer - the 2012 Footballer of the Year, an All-Ireland winner, four-time All-Star and part of five Ulster SFC winning panels as player and coach.