Garryowen FC unveil new senior coaching team for 2023/2024

GARRYOWEN FC has unveiled their senior coaching team for the 2023/2024 season.

John Staunton is the club's Director of Rugby. During his playing career, Staunton played with Galbally RFC and St
Munchin’s College, before joined Garryowen FC on leaving school.

Played across all levels for the 'Light Blues' from U20s to senior, enjoying All-Ireland League success as well as Munster Senior Cup, Munster Junior Cup and an All-Ireland Cup win in 2008.

His coaching career began aged 13 with his father in Galbally RFC and he has since been involved in coaching with Munster Schools, Castletroy College, LIT, Munster Colleges, Kilfeacle RFC, Young Munster RFC as well as Garryowen FC

Staunton was IRFU Ulster Bank League Coach of the Year in 2017.

Garryowen has also confirmed that scrum-half Neil Cronin will also take on the Attack Coach role with the club. The Munster Rugby player captained Munster Schools Junior and Senior Cup sides at his alma mater Castletroy College, winning the Junior Cup in 2008.

After finishing school at 18, Neil Joined Garryowen FC having been involved with Munster sides at U18, U19 and U20s level. 

During his time with Garryowen FC, he has won two Munster Senior Cups and two Bateman Cups, captaining the 'Light Blues for three seasons. 

He was also involved with the Irish clubs team for five years, Captaining the team in 2018 before joining the Munster senior squad in 2018.

He made his Munster Senior debut in December 2014 against Leinster and has been fully contracted with the club since 2018,
winning the URC this year.

He was involved in coaching the St Munchin’s College Junior Cup team to victory in 2018 and has been involved in coaching the Castletroy College Senior Cup team.

Mark Butler is the Defence Coach with All-Ireland League Division 1B side Garryowen this season. Butler has worked in the Munster Academy since 2016 as Provincial Talent Coach.

He is the current Ireland U19 head coach and a former Munster A/Development coach.

Mallow native Neil Lucey is the Garryowen Forwards Coach. Lucey was Head Coach of CBC in 2016 winning the Munster Senior Schools Cup. 

From 2015 to 2017 he was forwards coach in Sundays Well and from 2017-2022 coached at UCC, two years as
U20’s Head Coach, two years as Forwards Coach with the Senior team and one year as Head Coach of the Senior Team. 

He was forwards coach of the Munster U18 Schools in 2019 and of the Munster U19’s in 2020.

Garryowen FC will be captained this season by Jamie Heuston. Jamie began playing his rugby with Kilfeacle & District RFC.

He is a part pupil of Castletroy College where he won a Munster Schools Junior Cup in 2013.

He joined Garryowen FC after school, winning a Donal Walsh Munster U20 Trophy in 2017, a Munster Senior Cup and Bateman Cup in 2019. Jamie represented the Ireland clubs team in 2020.

Damien O’Donoghue is the Athletic Performance Coach will Garryowen this season.

Andrew Bermingham is Chairman of Rugby at the Dooradoyle club. After being capped for Ireland at Schoolboy and
Under 21 level, he won three senior cup medals with Garryowen FC.

After finishing his rugby playing career, Andrew has carried out many coaching and committee roles with the club.

Dr Jim Fehily is Garryowen FC Club President this season, while Les Byrne is Club Chairman.

Garryowen FC senior side kick-off their new season with a home fixture against holders Young Munster in the Munster Senior Cup this Thursday evening at Dooradoyle, 7.30pm.