Cora Staunton takes up coaching role with Ballina Stephenites

REIGNING county champions, Ballina Stephenites have appointed Cora Staunton as coach for the upcoming season. The former Mayo footballer will replace Eanna Casey who has taken up a post with the St Mary's club in Sligo.

Staunton who won four All-Ireland senior titles with Mayo and eleven All Star awards worked with the Galway camogie team in 2023 and helped them to the national league title. The Carnacon woman will also bring a wealth of knowledge from her time with the Great Western Sydney Giants in the AFLW as well as playing rugby and soccer in Ireland where she won a FAI Cup title with Mayo.

She will work alongside team manager Niall Heffernan as the Stephenites begin their drive to retain the county title, won by defeating Breaffy in the 2023 decider. 

Heffernan is delighted with the appointment.

"I've known her since I was involved with the Mayo Ladies (team) and she is a massive new voice. We lost our last game (to Corofin) so clearly we have areas to improve on," said Heffernan, a former Mayo U-21 manager. It has also been confirmed that former Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke will be a player/coach in 2024.

Defeated county finalists Breaffy have yet to appoint a manager after Konrad Coghill stepped away from the post. The closing date for applications passed this week and it's expected an appointment will be made shortly.

Meanwhile, former Mayo U21 manager Mike Solan is the new manager of Tourlestrane. The Ballaghaderreen man guided Mayo to the U21 title in 2016 and has been Andy Moran's assistant with the Leitrim senior team for the past two seasons.