Carrickmore appoint new management team

CARRICKMORE have appointed a new management team for the new season spearheaded by Noel Slane and Ciaran McBride alongside coach Mickey Gallagher.

Former Carrickmore footballer Mickey Gallagher was part of the interim set-up that stepped into the breach in the wake of the side’s first-round championship defeat to Edendork, prompting a resurgence that saw the team fall narrowly short to Trillick in the Division One final.

He’s staying on in a coaching capacity while the managerial duties will be shared by Noel Slane and former Tyrone footballer Ciaran McBride.

McBride has a long association with the club having moved to Carrickmore during his own playing days, while club native Slane managed nearby Beragh in the last two seasons, guiding the team to the Intermediate play-offs last year.

Slane has extensive managerial and coaching experience and assisted Stephen O’Neill at Dungiven before coming on board at Beragh in 2021.

McBride is Head of Sport at Omagh CBS and was part of the management team that oversaw the Kevin Road school’s run to Hogan Cup honours on St Patrick’s Day in 2023.

A mainstay of the Tyrone team that won back-to-back Ulster titles in 1995 and 1996, reaching the final in 1995, McBride has managed a number of clubs as well as the Monaghan U21s, helping to deliver an Ulster title in 2016.

Also on board is Omagh man Conall McElholm, who has been the lead strength and conditioning coach overseeing the Tyrone senior footballers for the last year.

Coalisland have also appointed to move a new management team that will be headed up by Derry duo Ronan Rocks and Slaughtneil’s James McGrath. Rocks is a former footballer with the Loup, winning an Ulster title under Malachy O’Rourke two decades ago, and the pair managed the Derry Masters last year, winning a national title.

Meanwhile, the Tyrone CCC has announced its plans for youth fixtures for the season ahead. U14 and Minor football will commence at the beginning of the March while U16 is likely to begin in early August. Youth Hurling dates are to be confirmed but will run in conjunction with Táin Óg fixtures that are already in place. The summer holiday period, meanwhile, will run from July 6-July 18 inclusive.