As things begin to take shape ahead of the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division, Kerry FC’s First Team Manager Conor McCarthy has today named his 2025 Management Team.
We would like to thank James Sugrue, Shane Guthrie and Del O’Shea, who are all stepping away from the first team management. A very committed trio during their time with the club over the last 2 seasons at senior level. Goalkeeping coach Del O’Shea steps away due to increased work commitments, while it’s a similar story for Shane Guthrie. Shane is currently building his own personal business, and we wish him every success with his project. For James, we hope to help him achieve the required coaching badges to manage at the League of Ireland level.
The team will be guided by the Killarney man who made his step up to head coach last year. As manager in 2025, McCarthy has drafted in former Galway United coach Chris Collopy as his assistant manager for the new term. Collopy, a native of Limerick, worked under John Caulfield during Galway’s route to promotion from the First Division and guided the Connacht side to a 5th-place finish in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division. Collopy brings a wealth of knowledge to the Kerry FC dressing room and has already started to put his stamp on the Kingdom’s pre-season preparations.
Chris Collopy, Kerry FC
Cormac Buckley has come into the First Team Management as a Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach. Buckley, who is from Cork will be a well-known face to some of the Kerry FC faithful as he signed as a player under Billy Dennehy in the club’s inaugural year back in 2023. Owner of Mid Cork Coaching, Buckley brings another dimension to the club’s backroom team and, as a former player, understands the needs of a player in 2025.
Speaking to kerryfc.com after announcing his 2025 management team, First Team Manager Conor McCarthy said “Firstly, I’d like to say a big thank you to Shane, Del and James for all the hard work during their time with the club. They’ve been a great asset to us, even going back as far as the Academy days. It’s great to have Chris and Cormac in with us now. The two lads are extremely committed and hard-working, and I can see their work on the players already at this early stage of the season. I’m looking forward to going into 2025 with them.”
Kerry FC Management Team 2025
Conor McCarthy – First Team Manager
Chris Collopy – Assistant Manager
Cormac Buckley – S&C Coach
TBC – Goalkeeping Coach
