Naomh Eoin have turned to one of their own to manage the club's intermediate side for the 2019 season. Local publican Pat Foley has taken on the mantle of succeeding David Russell who in five years at the helm guided the club to its most successful years when Junior A Football Championship titles were won in 2014 and 2017. Having then helped the side to retain its intermediate status through 2018, David has taken on the task of managing Cooraclare in 2019 and Naomh Eoin wish him every success in his future managerial career.

Patrick comes to the manager role with 27 years playing experience since first lining out for Naomh Eoin as a sixteen year-old in the 1992 Intermediate Championship. An ever-present in the team since that day, his experience, passion and dedication to the cause for Naomh Eoin have been marked with four County Junior A Championships, including one as captain, plus league and tournament successes aplenty and many appearances for the County Junior side over multiple years. Foley has had notable success as a team manager too, when together with joint-manager Darragh Kelly, the pair guided the West Clare Gaels Club to the County Senior Ladies title and then went on to capture the 2010 All-Ireland Intermediate title. Pat also acted as player/manager for Naomh Eoin in 2007/08, but he hasn't confirmed yet whether he will try to combine playing with managing in 2019...... no doubt, if needed, he won't let the side down!

His management team for 2019 includes as selectors, two of David Russell's lieutenants from recent years, Michael Griffin and Johnny Troy, and they are joined by other former players, Oliver Keating (who was selector to the John Fennell managed side that captured a previous county title in 2005) and Martin Haugh, club chairman and the only man known to have played more times for Naomh Eoin than Foley himself.

Competing again in Division III League commencing next month, together with O'Gorman Cup fixtures and Intermediate Championship later in the summer, it's all systems go now for Foley and his Naomh Eoin side.

Naomh Eoin abu!