Limerick duo looking to guide Cork club to back-to-back promotions
Former Limerick footballer and current selector Ian Ryan is part of the backroom team in Buttevant put together by his fellow St Senans clubman Jody O’Hanlon
TWO Limerick men are on the verge of guiding a Cork club to back-to-back county titles.
Former Limerick footballer and current selector Ian Ryan is part of the backroom team in Buttevant put together by his fellow St Senans clubman Jody O’Hanlon.
The north Cork side take on Kilmurry in Friday night’s Intermediate ‘A’ Football Championship final at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
It is a battle of the last two Premier Junior champions in the Rebel County with the Limerick pair looking to guide the Avondhu club to back-to-back promotions by the banks of the Lee.
The pair met in the 2024 Premier Junior semi-final and the first round of the group stage - with Kilmurry winning on both occasions.
In fact, the Muskerry division club are the only side to have beaten Buttevant in the championship over the last three seasons.
In 2025, Buttevant ended a 99-year wait for the county title at adult level, the two west Limerick men are looking to secure back-to-back titles for the north Cork village.
In Conor Hanlon and Mark Lenahan, they have lethal two-point shooters - but the club is keen to credit the Shannonside duo with off-field preparations.
"There were times when we were wondering where we were going. But when Joey Hanlon came in as manager ahead of the 2022 season, we gradually got things moving again,” team captain Lenihan told The Echo this week.
"We got our best players consistently available and everyone started pulling in the same direction."