Home Sport GAA Former Laois footballer Munnelly takes coaching role with Roscommon club

Former Laois footballer Munnelly takes coaching role with Roscommon club

Ross Munnelly

Former Laois footballer Ross Munnelly has taken a coaching role with a top Roscommon club.

The Arles-Kilcruise forward was confirmed as part of the management team for Pádraig Pearses over the weekend.

The club are to be managed by Frank Canning – brother of legendary Galway hurler Joe.

Canning previously managed Portumna to All-Ireland club senior hurling glory in 2014.

His son Seán currently plays football and hurling with Padraig Pearses’ and was on the U-20 team who defeated St Brigid’s in last year’s county final.

Munnelly is to act as the coach of the team under Canning with local men Niall Finneran and Cathal Óg Sullivan confirmed as selectors.

Padraig Pearses have won two of the last four Roscommon titles with victory in 2019 and 2021.

They were managed by Pat Flanagan for those wins and they also claimed their first ever Connacht title in January 2022.

Back in December, Munnelly brought a Laois career that began back in 2003 to an end.

Munnelly’s decision end to his incredible county career ended the link to the 2003 Leinster-winning team.

At 20, he was the youngest member of that side, having broken on to the team under Mick O’Dwyer during the run to that season’s Division 1 league final.

He was also the last player in Leinster outside of Dublin to be an active holder of a provincial medal.

Statistically, he was the record holder in terms of appearances for Laois, in league and championship, having played 222 competitive games for the county, well clear of second-placed Michael Lawlor, who played 168 times.

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