High profile appointments for Kildare managerial duo

Two Kildare men have received high profile LGFA intercounty managerial appointments this week.

It’s one Kildare man for another for All-Ireland Senior Championship runners-up Meath as they have chosen Wayne Freeman to replace the departed Shane McCormack.

McCormack brought back to the All-Ireland final this year before losing to Dublin and it’s Freeman who will now step into his boots, having served as McCormack’s Head Coach Freeman, who featured for Monasterevin in this year’s Kildare Intermediate Football Championship, has built up a good managerial CV in his own right before becoming coach of Meath.

He won a National Division 4 league title during his three years with Louth, and then during his time managing Clare he took them to a Division 3 league final and an All-Ireland intermediate final in 2023, although they were beaten by his native Kildare on both occasions.

Freeman has been appointed on a three year term and is quoted on Meath LGFA website as saying:

“I am very happy to accept the opportunity to manage this brilliant group of players. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the group as the head coach throughout 2025, and I am excited about building on the foundations we've built as a group, continuing to develop and improve in 2026."

Earlier this week it had announced that Darren Kendrick had been appointed as manager of Division 2 side Wexford in his first senior inter-county role.

Kendrick has previously managed underage Kildare sides and most recently brought Sarsfields to a Kildare senior semi-final where they lost narrowly to eventual champions St Laurences.

In a statement released by Wexford LGFA, Chairperson Denis Nolan said he looked forward to working with Kendrick.

"We are very pleased to welcome Darren Kendrick to lead our Senior team. We wish Darren and his backroom team all the very best for the coming season, and we look forward to seeing them compete fiercely in Division 2 of the Lidl National League."

Kendrick is quoted as saying:

“I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed as manager of the Wexford Intermediate Ladies Football team,.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with such a talented and committed group of players. Wexford football has huge potential and I’m really excited to get started, build on the great work that’s already been done and help this group continue to develop and compete at the highest level.” “I’d like to thank the County Board for the trust they’ve shown in me and I’m looking forward to working closely with my management team and the players as we prepare for the season ahead.”