Kildare’s Johnny Byrne the new Longford senior hurling manager
Former Kildare dual star takes over from Diarmuid Cahill
By Colm Murray: Longford GAA PRO
Former Kildare dual star Johnny Byrne has been ratified as the next Longford senior hurling manager. Johnny will take charge of the 2026 Lory Meagher Cup champions, succeeding his former Coill Dubh teammate Diarmuid Cahill.
Johnny has a decorated career at both club and county level, winning Kildare Senior Hurling Championship titles with his hurling club Coill Dubh in 2014 and 2015, the latter as captain and claiming the Kildare and Leinster Intermediate Football Championship in 2023 with his football club, Allenwood.
Byrne played at the highest levels for his county as a dual star for over a decade, featuring on the U-21 Leinster Football Championship winning Kildare team in 2013 and as a regular defensive powerhouse under the Senior teams guided by Kieran McGeeney, Jason Ryan, Cian O’Neill and Jack O’Connor.
Having started his inter-county hurling career at a young age in the early 2010’s, Johnny retired from the football panel to concentrate solely on hurling at the end of the 2020 season, going on to win the Christy Ring cup in 2022 and helping Kildare to top spot in Division 2A in 2023.
Longford GAA Chairperson Derek Fahy welcomed Johnny’s appointment saying “Johnny has a fantastic track record of winning both on and off the field at both club and county level.
“He will be a tremendous addition to the Longford Hurling scene as we look to build on the success of League promotion and Lory Meagher Cup glory in 2026. We wish him, his management team and the county hurling panel all the best in 2027 and beyond.”
The County Hurling Management team will feature Ross Carew and Ian Dunne as coach and performance analysis, Julia Gruszczynska as performance nutritionist, while Tommy Hawes and Brian Crossan return as selectors and Tom Devereux, Ashling Lyons and Tony Ghee return in their respective roles.