The County Committee of Sligo GAA has ratified the appointment of Stephen Sheil as manager of the Sligo senior hurling team.

The appointment is for a two year term with an option agreed for a possible third year subject to review.

Stephen will be assisted by lead coach Seamus Qualter and by Donal O’Brien. His team will also include further specialist input – on Strength and Conditioning, nutrition and psychology - to be finalised in conjunction with the existing core resources of Sligo GAA in those areas.  Stephen and his team will also have the support of high performance consultant Bernard Jackman on an advisory basis.

The appointment follows a competitive process undertaken by a selection committee established for the task by Sligo GAA’s management committee and led by Chairman, Sean Carroll.

Mr. Carroll said “We are really pleased with the quality of candidates that put themselves forward for the role and in the end it was a difficult choice to make. Our ambition is to build on the rise of our county senior team to Christy Ring Cup level over the past four years. While we slipped back in the League in the season just gone, we believe that the talent is there to rise again and maintain that level while also developing our younger players through to senior level”.

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Background Information:

MANAGER: STEPHEN SHEIL

Stephen Sheil started his GAA journey playing football and hurling with Kildavin / Clonegal GAA club in Carlow winning numerous county titles in both codes as well as Intermediate Hurler of the year in 1997. He represented his native county at all levels in hurling up to and including the Leinster senior hurling championship. He also represented Bunclody Vocational School and Carlow IT before relocating to Westmeath where he played with St Joseph’s GAA club. played for his native Carlow at all grades winning underage titles and playing in the knockout stages of the Leinster Senior Hurling championship. 

He started out coaching underage teams in St Joseph’s and has in recent years managed several adult teams in Meath and Westmeath reaching championship finals in both counties. His most recent management roles have been with Westmeath hurling minor team, TUS Athlone (Senior and Freshers) as well as Na Fianna, Enfield senior hurling team in Meath.

LEAD COACH: SEAMUS QUALTER

Seamus Qualter is a native of Turloughmore in Galway with whom he won county minor and senior hurling championship medals in the mid 1980’s. He also represented his county winning an Oireachtas medal in 1992.

As a coach/manager Seamus has wide ranging experience at club and county levels with spells managing Westmeath and Roscommon and minor, U21 and senior. With Westmeath he won 2 Christy Ring Cups in the mid 2000’s and led them to a memorable Leinster senior championship victory against Dublin during that time. He also delivered Division 2B and All Ireland B championship victories for Roscommon in the early 2010’s.

ASSISTANT COACH: DONAL O’BRIEN

A former Tipperary Intermediate and Mayo senior player, Donal has developed his coaching experience through the underage ranks in Mayo.

PREPARATION MANAGER: BERNARD JACKMAN

Bernard Jackman was born in Tullow, Co Carlow and is a former rugby player with Connacht, Leinster and Sale Sharks. He also represented Ireland at international level. He has coached at club level in Ireland, France and Wales. Alongside his coaching Bernard has worked as a rugby pundit and columnist whilst building his profile as a motivational speaker and high-performance consultant. He will work with the Sligo senior hurling team on physical and mental preparation on a part time basis.