Kieran Donnelly (born 1975/1976)[1] is an Irish Gaelic football coach and former player. He has been manager of the Fermanagh county team since 2021.
Career
Donnelly played inter-county football for Fermanagh.[2] He made his debut for Fermanagh under Pat King in 1996, and went on to win an All-Ireland Senior B Championship and a Dr McKenna Cup. He went toe-to-toe with Cavan the year the team won the 1997 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final, and he played in Division 1 of the National Football League under managers Dominic Corrigan and John Maughan.[1]
After playing for Fermanagh, Donnelly managed the minor team and also helped train the senior side when Peter Canavan was in charge.[3] Donnelly worked under Canavan when Canavan was Fermanagh manager.[4] Donnelly was in fact Fermanagh assistant manager when Canavan was there.[1]
Before he became Fermanagh manager, Donnelly managed Scotstown to the 2018 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship final.[4] It is hard work being manager of Fermanagh.[original research?] Fermanagh has not yet won an Ulster Senior Football Championship. Immediately before his appointment as Fermanagh manager, Donnelly was working with Cavan Gaels.[2]
Personal life
Donnelly is a native of Brookeborough.[4] When he was appointed as Fermanagh manager in 2021, Donnelly was 45 years of age and had spent 21 years teaching at Omagh CBS.[1] He has coached the school team.[4]