Barry takes the reins at Donaghmore/Ashbourne

Sean Barry has taken over as the manager of Donaghmore/Ashbourne senior football team as the club continues its search for Keegan Cup glory. 

Barry replaces Sean Kelly who will remain involved as a selector. Last year Barry was part of the management team with Kelly the man who wore the 'bainisteoir' bib. However for 2017 Barry will be patrolling the sideline.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne were regarded by many as the team most likely to take home the Keegan Cup for the first time however they came up against a highly motivated, efficient machine in the shape of Simonstown Gaels. 

Barry and Kelly are both highly experienced when it comes to coaching and currently Kelly is involved in preparing the Leinster team for the Inter-provincial series. Leinster take on Connacht on Saturday at Parnell Park. 

Despite losing out in the SFC final this year Kelly enjoyed considerable success with Donaghmore/Ashbourne. They won A FL Div 1 title  and the Feis Cup defeating Simonstown Gaels in the decider.

Frank O'Donnell, who has served as chairman of Donaghmore/Ashbourne for the last three years - and who will officially step down at Donaghmore/Ashbourne's annual meeting tonight - hopes the appointment of Barry will be a step towards the Meath SFC crown. 

'Hopefully we can finally win the title in 2017. We have been in two finals in the last three years and, I think, it's about time we did it,' he said.

'We're delighted that Sean Barry has taken the challenge of managing the team and that Sean Kelly is staying on as part of the management team.'

Among Barry's previous roles was manager of Simonstown Gaels and the Meath junior and u-21 football teams.