FORMER Kilcoo manager Conleith Gilligan has taken on a new challenge in Tyrone club football.
Gilligan, who stepped down along with joint manager Richard Thornton after the Co Down side lost its Ulster and All-Ireland titles last month, has been appointed as Edendork’s new boss for the 2023 season.
He takes over a team just promoted from the intermediate ranks, but blessed with some of the county’s top players, including 2021 All-Ireland winning trio Niall Morgan, Darren McCurry and Conn Kilpatrick.
He will be assisted by St Malachy’s clubman Justin Corr.
A spokesman for Edendork St Malachy’s confirmed that “Conleith Gilligan and Justin Corr will manage the club’s senior team in the season ahead”.
Edendork regained their senior status without winning either the League or Championship at Intermediate level last year, securing a return to the top flight through the play-offs.
Gilligan is one of the GAA’s most highly rated strategists, and was assistant to Mickey Moran when Kilcoo won the All-Ireland Club SFC title last year.
He stepped up, along with Thornton, to the position of manager following Moran’s decision to step away.
They guided the Magpies to a 20th Down SFC title and to a third consecutive Ulster Club final, but lost out to Derry side Glen in the provincial decider.
A former Ballinderry and Derry forward, Gilligan is an Ulster and All-Ireland winner with his club and a two-time National League winner with the Oak Leafs.
