Former Footballer of the Year Dublin star takes on Celbridge role for 2019

Former Dublin star Paul Curran has been named as the new manager of the Celbridge senior football team for 2019, replacing clubman Trevor O’Sullivan in the role. O’Sullivan, who led Celbridge to a county final appearance in 2017 where they were defeated by Moorefield, stepped down last month on the back of a county semi-final exit to Athy. His position has been filled by the high profile Curran, who has previously enjoyed managerial success with Ballymun Kickhams in Dublin and Clann na nGael in Roscommon, winning a Leinster title with the former in 2012 and then claiming honours in Roscommon with the latter in 2015. Celbridge GAA confirmed the appointment with a short announcement on social media, stating; “Celbridge GAA are delighted to announce Paul Curran as our new Senior Football Manager for 2019. “Paul will be a wonderful addition to our club and we wish both him & our Senior Football panel every success for the season ahead.” As a player, Curran won an All-Ireland title with Dublin in 1995 and was also named Footballer of the Year on that occasion, while he claimed All-Star awards in 1992, 1995 and 1996. Curran was heavily linked to the Offaly job last year but turned it down, while his name was also mooted for the vacant Roscommon role before it was filled by Anthony Cunningham recently. Curran’s is the latest in a number of exciting appointments that have been confirmed across Kildare in the off-season. Last week it was announced that former Moorefield stalwart Philip Wolfe would be taking the reins at Carbury after spending two years in charge of Eadestown, while U20 All-Ireland winning Kildare manager Davy Burke is the newest incumbent of the Sarsfields hotseat. There are still some positions across the county yet to be filled, with Clane on the lookout for a manager following the departure of Mick Culhane, while Naas have yet to appoint a successor for Declan McCabe and Eadestown have not yet announced a replacement for Wolfe. The 2019 season is already shaping up to be a mouthwatering affair as Moorefield look to secure a third county title in succession while there are plenty in the chasing pack who will be looking to dethrone them.