Team selection has more often than not been a collective role with usually two or three people appointed to the position. This was very much the case during the vast amount of time that the club has been in football. Recently this situation changed with the club opting for a manager to act alone.
Moss MacAuliffe 1984/85 to 1987/88
Moss was the club’s first ever manager having been elected to the position at the formation meeting in February 1984. A highly respected person within the club who enjoyed much success while in the position. Took the club to the Division 2 League Cup semi final in the first year only to lose on penalties to Killeaney.
The following season he guided the club to their first ever honour when they lifted the inaugural Division 3 title. Another league cup semi final appearance was achieved that season before the team won promotion to the top flight in Desmond League football in the 1987/88 season. Resigned his position shortly after the start of the 1988/89 season before returning briefly to manage the clubs “B” team in Division 3 during season 1989/90. Moss is a former club president while he has also held the position of chairman in the club.
Moss Doody 1984/85 to 1992/93
A truly knowledgeable football man and a real gentleman to boot, he shared the role of team manager with Moss MacAuliffe. Stayed on the selection committee in the wake of MacAuliffe’s resignation, leading the side to the Munster Junior Cup Area title of 1988/89 and an appearance in the F.A.I. area final of the same year. Saw the club finish third three seasons in row in Division 1 in 1988/89, 1989/90 and 1990/91.
When the position of manager came up for decision at the start of season 1994/95, Doody opted now to seek the job. Has served on the committee as Chairman and is currently the club president.
James Clancy 1988/89 to 1990/91 and 1993/94 to 1994/95
James joined the selection committee with Liam Fitzgerald and Ned Cagney after the departure of Moss McAuliffe, enjoying the same success as Moss Doody. Returned to manage the team on his own the season after their first relegation in 1992/93, guiding the club back to top flight football as Division 1 runners-up in season 1993/94.
Resigned from the position on 10/9/1995. Was elected on the clubs first ever committee in February 1984 and still on the committee in the role of Club Secretary.
Eddie Houlihan 1992/93
Managed the team for one season, a period during which they experienced their first relegation, 1992/93. Eddie took the side to their first ever League Cup final, in the Division 1 final of 1992/93 where Rathkeale defeated them 4-0.
Served on the club committee where he held the position of chairman.
Noel Forde 1995/96 to 1996/97
Came in at a difficult time for the club replacing James Clancy on 10/9/1995. Guided the club to their first ever Desmond Cup semi final when Adare United beat them 2-0 during his first season in charge but was unable to stop the side sliding back to the second division. Declared himself unavailable to act as manager after season 1996/97.
Served on the clubs management committee.
Al Finucane 1997/98
The former Republic of Ireland international held the position for just one season.
Much was expected however the team failed to deliver.
John Murphy 1998/99
Commuted between Tralee and Ballingarry three times a week to manage the team during season 1998/99 while the club were in the first division. His effort didn’t get the reward it deserved with the team making little impact.
Timmy O’ Halloran 1999/2000 to 2001/02
The Charleville man proved to be an exceptional coach, laying the foundations for the team that won the Premier division title. During his second season he took the side to the fifth round of the F.A.I. Junior Cup, just the second time in the clubs’ history.
However it was during his third term in charge that he delivered unprecedented success in the form of the Desmond Cup being won by Ballingarry for the first time. That same season the team lost out on the first division title by drawing their last game of the season while they also appeared in the League Cup final, a game they lost 2-4 to Creeves. Timmy went out on a high following the cup success.
George Quinlivan 2002/03 to 2008/09
The former Limerick United and Galway United player inherited the clubs’ best ever squad and utilised their talents to the maximum. The first division title was secured in his first season at the helm and that was followed the next season by the ultimate honour, the clubs’ first Premier Division title. He guided the team to the Premier Division League Cup final of 2004/05 but saw them lose 1-2 to Rathkeale.
He also guided the side to the fifth round of the FAI junior cup and the Munster junior cup fifth round on two occasions each where they were never beaten by more than a goal. In season 2006/07 he added the Desmond cup to his list of honours however the club experienced relegation in the same season. The following season he managed the team to the division 1 title and divisional league cup double, a first ever double for the club. His final season in charge (2008/09) saw the team finish fourth in the Premier. His five trophy haul represents the most successful period in the clubs history.
James Higgins 2009/10
James Higgins was appointed to the position of manager in July 2009 following the departure of George Quinlivan. Higgins is easily Ballingarrys most recognisable former players having made a record 363 A team appearances (8 goals) for the club during a career that spanned a 17 year period from 1984. During his playing days, at which he was an outstanding centre half, he picked up numerous awards including Desmond league youth player of the year (1984) and won the Desmond Cup with Ballingarry in 2002. Management has also seen him achieve success with the ladies team and last season (2008/09) where he was assistant manager with the B team that won the Division 3 title.
His tenure as A team manager lasted just one season. The loss of eight players from the previous seasons squad left him at a huge disadvantage from the start. Unfortunately the team was relegated by just one point.
George Quinlivan 2010/11 to 2014/15
George Quinlivan was re-appointed as A team manager after an absence of one season. His first task was to return the team to the Premier Division following their relegation the previous season. This he did in style as the team went unbeaten while winning the title by a huge 13 points. He also brought the Division 1 cup as part of the double, the second time the club did the Division 1 double under Quinlivan. This however was to be the last piece of silver won under George. In his final season he took the club to the last eight of the Munster Junior Cup, a new record for the club.
He had served the club for thirteen seasons and when he left he was up to then by far the most successful manager in the clubs history.
Gary Shanahan 2015/16
No stranger to the club having played for Ballingarry B (2011-12 & 2012-13) before injury ended his career, Shanahan brought with him the experience of having played at League of Ireland level with Limerick FC where he spent three seasons having where he was voted the Youth player of the Year on two occasions. His junior career saw him play for the biggest junior club in Ireland, Fairview Rangers at youth and Junior level, while he experienced junior success in the form of Division 1A league and cup double with Limerick club Geraldines.
In management he had plenty experience of Limerick Desmond football having tasted success with Adare United where he brought them from Division 2 to the Premier. He has also managed Ballingarrys highly successful Ladies team (2014-15). However he managed the team for just one season as the team experienced a difficult time finishing just above the relegation positions. However they did secure a Premier League cup final but unfortunately lost to Broadford United in the decider.
Eoin Barrett 2016/17
Barrett became the thirteenth manager of Ballingarry when he was appointed at the start of season 2016/17. A former Ballingarry player with over 300 appearances for the club he also holds the notable distinction of being the youngest player to play for the club at just fourteen and a half when he debuted in goal for the B Team. He captained the side to their first Desmond cup success in 2001/02. He will know exactly what the club is about having played for 19 seasons for the Green and Gold during which he also won a Premier title.
Teak tough as a player there is no doubt that he will demand the maximum from his players. He has several coaching qualifications which he had put to good use as he managed at underage for the club where he has enjoyed success while he has also managed at inter league level for the LDS/GL.
It proved to be a difficult season for the new manager at the end of which he declined to continue in the post opting to return to refereeing instead.
Gary Shanahan 2017/18
Gary returned as manager at the start of season 2017/18. His second coming was short lived, just one season during which he guided the club to the last 16 of the Munster Junior cup and a final finishing Premier league position of fourth.
Dave Connolly 2018/19
The Elton native came with a wealth of coaching and management experience and at the time of his appointment the UEFA B coach was managing Limerick FCs under 15 National League team. He had previously coached Limericks U19 squad and had worked as part of the Coever Munster academy and the FAI ETP programme. In addition he managed Herbertstown and Prospect Priory of the LDMC.
As a player he appeared underage for Herbertstown, League of Ireland with Limerick FC at youth level and Prospect Priory, Herbertstown and Carew Park at junior.
However Connollys tenure was short lived with he and the club parting company after just seven games.
He was replaced by George Quinlivan who returned for a third time to manage the club. His time in charge would end with the cancelling of season 2019-20 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Darragh O’Grady 2020-21 to 2021-22
O’Grady was appointed as the fourteenth different manager of the A team and he brought with him a wealth of club and Desmond league knowledge and experience accumulated over a career that saw him play over 400 games for the club and a player who won virtually everything at both underage and junior level with the club.
He found himself in the enviable position of inheriting probably the best youths team the club produced since the youth team he graced himself in 2002.
His is no stranger to team management either having managed the highly successful clubs ladies team, underage with the club and has coached the Desmond Kennedy cup squad.
Unfortunately the season was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Robert Hannan 2022
Ballingarry FC are delighted to welcome Robert Hannan as the clubs new A team manager
Robert has a vast wealth of experience in this role playing and coaching outfielders and also goalkeepers of all ages both girls and boys at various different levels. He joins us after a successful time in Galway, where he has worked as head coach of Maree/Oranmore Fc youths u17/u18 boys and head of goalkeeping at the club. Where they won u18 premier league and u17 premier cup and also u18 Connacht cup runners up and u18 premier cup runners up. He was 3 years at the club and also coached various others teams such as Moyne Villa Fc, Merlin Woods Fc, Galway town u13 and u15s teams, Galway Gaa minors and Oughterard Gaa.
Robert has a well known background and knowledge of the local game in Galway having played and coached Gaelic Football for St Michaels GAA represented both St Mary’s College and GMIT in both Gaelic Football and Soccer, was a county minor and u21 with Galway in Gaelic Football played for various soccer teams in Galway such as Mervue United, Salthill Devon, Galway Bohs, Galway Hibernians and Maree/Oranmore Fc. Where he won many trophies as a player and coach in his time there.
He also had a spell of 6 years in Scotland playing and coaching working with clubs such as Forfar Farmington Fc, St Johnstone WFC, Jeanfield Swifts WFC, Dundee United Youths and J league, and Riverside Boys FC. He also played semi professional for Junior clubs such as, Kinnoull and Newburgh Juniors and played for the University Soccer Team where he studied Sport Science at the University of Abertay Dundee.
We are delighted to have Robert on board as the 15th manager of the clubs A team and hope his time here with us will be a very successful one.
Anthony Kamper 2023 – 2024
Ballingarry’s 16th manager who takes the reigns for the season 2023-2024 is Anthony Kamper.
Ballingarry’s 16th manager who took the A team reigns for the season 2023-2024 is Anthony Kamper. Anthony joined the club in 2021 and was appointed as manager of the Junior B-team. In his first season the B-team won the Division Three League Cup and was promoted to Division Two having finished the season in second place – just a point separated the B-team and the Division Three winners. Anthony’s second season with the B-team saw a repeat performance in Division Two. The club finished second in the League; however, promotion from the Division was never a possibility with the Limerick Desmond League restructuring the Divisions. Under Anthony’s guidance the of A team in the 2023-2024 season he guided the team back to the premier league winning the 1st division league and cup double. Anthony left the position in October 2024 two months into the 2024-2025 season.
Kevin Forde 2024 – present
Kevin Forde took over as A team manager from Anthony Kamper in October of the 2024-2025 season. Following in the steps of his Father Noel who managed the team in 1995-1996 to the 1996-1997 seasons. Having played 199 times for the club and scoring 103 goals. Captained the side in 2019/20 season Kevin brings a wealth of experience and enthusiastic attitude to the position.