There will be at least one new face in Niall Carew’s backroom team for Carlow’s senior footballers.
Kildare native Ronan Joyce is replacing Ger Brennan as team coach for the 2022 season.
Joyce was in charge of Ballymore Eustace this past season alongside selectors Alan Cullagh and John Conway.
In the space of the year, Joyce saw his side secure promotion to Division 2 for 2022, pipping Kilcullen by a point to top spot in the EMS Copiers Senior Football League Division 3.
Ballymore Eustace made huge progress in Kildare’s intermediate football championships this season in just their second year back playing at the grade.
A comprehensive win over Nurney in the quarter-finals was followed up by a 2-11 to 0-12 win over Leixlip in last month’s semi-finals. Facing an intermediate final on Halloween afternoon, Joyce’s side matched Kilcock point for point to force a replay at the start of this month.
At the second time of asking, this weekend past, Kilcock proved too strong, brushing Ballymore Eustace aside 1-16 to 0-07.
All eyes will be on the closing stages of the Carlow football championships and the Leinster championships due to get underway later this month with the potential of new inter-county recruits for 2022.