Following his recent appointment as manager of the Cork U20 football team, these are good times for Aghabullogue’s Ray Keane.
After guiding his side to the Premier Intermediate Championship final last season, he is now hoping to go one better in this campaign. Last weekend, following their win over Aghada, they remain unbeaten for the season, and now they can prepare for a quarter-final against Kiskeam.
Born in Cahirciveen in south Kerry it was natural for Keane to be involved with Gaelic football at a young age.
“I was born and bred into the sport as my father was chairperson of South Kerry Board when they had a good run of successes in the county championships of 1981 and 1982.
Aghabullogue manager Ray Keane. Picture: Chani Anderson
“Having been reared in a family-run hotel it was the pitstop for supporters going to games in our town and obviously GAA was always the main topic.”
He began playing with the local St Mary’s club from a young age and having been educated in St Brendan’s Killarney and he could do little to avoid his beloved sport.
“After finishing my time in St Brendan’s, I moved up to CIT in 2000 and I played Freshers and Sigerson Cup with the college and in my time there, I also did some coaching with the Fresher’s team that gave me the ideal introduction.”
The local club back at St Mary’s wasn’t forgotten about as he got involved coaching at U10 level and realised it would be a priority when he finished his playing career.
I suppose the majority of guys just love to play but I was consistently thinking ahead and what was ahead for me when the boots were hung up.”
When he finished college, Tony Leahy asked him to be a selector and the rest is history.
“I was still playing back home and as my wife is from Ovens and an Éire Óg member and then I got involved coaching with their minor and U21 teams so it was full on for me.”
Tony Leahy was then appointed coach of St Finbarr’s Senior football team in 2015 and once again he turned to Keane for assistance in a selectorial role.
“In the middle of 2016, I took over as manager of the Barrs at senior level which was a great honour and two years later I guided them to a county championship success.
“I had just bought a Centra in Clonakilty and decided to step away and at that time I was a manager with the Bank of Ireland so it was a completely different path for me to take.”
In 2021, Keith Ricken took over the Cork U20 football team and again he reached out to Keane to join the management team.
Pauric O’Sullivan and Matthew Bradley, Aghabullogue, tackling Cian Hegarty, Aghada. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
“I only did it for one year and after taking another 12 months out of the game Aghabullogue contacted me to get involved.
“A gentleman called Mick Healy who I worked with at the bank and was secretary at Aghabullogue asked me to get involved and that’s where I am today.
”I am really enjoying it as I just love managing players and I think the buzz and craic of being with players and hoping you get the best out of them is always a priority for me.”
The challenge of being a dual club brings its own challenge according to Ray.
“Aghabullogue adhere to the tradition of being a dual club and that’s fine and for me. Respecting it is crucial and having your players every second week is the normal.
“When we played Nemo three weeks ago, I didn’t see my players again until the Monday before we played Aghada as hurling was the priority.”
Last season Aghbullogue lost the Premier Intermediate championship final following a replay to Kilshannig and there is firm belief they can go one better this year.
“We have just come off playing in a tough group and came through unbeaten but when you haven’t players on a consistent basis there is always something to work on, but I would hope we are getting there.”
The grading in Cork came in for special praise from Keane.
Going into the final group games there was 10 teams that could possibly go through to the quarter- and semi-finals and that shows the competivness of the championship.”
Looking ahead to the quarter-final Keane knows that Kiskeam will be a tough hurdle to get over.
“Kiskeam are a proud football club and we will have to be at our very best to ensure we get the opportunity to play Naomh Abán in the semi-final.”
