McNulty relishing 'new challenge' with Aodh Ruadh

Kilcar man John McNulty was ratified as the new Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon manager on Monday night last and is looking forward to working with the Fr Tierney Park residents.

"It is a new challenge and one I'm really looking forward to," said McNulty this week. "They wanted me and when I met their main officers I was very impressed with the whole set-up."

McNulty takes over from Barry Ward, who was in charge of Aodh Ruadh for the last three years, winning the Intermediate Championship in 2020 and topping Division Two of the All County League in 2021, gaining promotion to the top flight.

The club also had their first year in senior championship last year after 10 years away and did well to reach the quarter-finals before going out to St Michael's.

McNulty stepped down as Kilcar manager at the end of last season after his second stint in charge of the club. He was to the forefront of much success in Kilcar in the last 20 years, especially at underage level.

His last game for Kilcar was in the senior championship semi-final against Naomh Conaill in 2021 while there was also the controversial delayed 2020 county final played last year which was the subject of appeals and counter appeals. The matter was finally put to bed in recent weeks.

McNulty has also spent time in the manager's bib in Mountcharles with St Naul's, winning a Donegal and All-Ireland Gaeltacht junior title in 2017. He has also taken charge of the Donegal Masters team.

He is hoping to hit the ground running in Ballyshannon and is awaiting the format that the league will take. Most of the backroom team that was there under Barry Ward remains with Aaron McGowan the trainer. McNulty is taking Declan Gallagher with him from Kilcar as his games analyst. Gallagher, who has a Ballyshannon mother, was with McNulty in Kilcar.

"We don't know yet what sort of format the league will take but I would be happy with a 15-team league. There will be the five or six strong teams but there would be many others who would be very even which would make for very competitive games.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the players and setting out our plans for the year," said McNulty.