Naas on the lookout for new manager after Murphy's departure

Four-in-a-row Kildare SFC champions Naas are on the look out for a new manager after it was confirmed this evening that Joe Murphy has been appointed the interim manager of Carlow for the 2025 Championship.

Murphy takes over his native county following the departure of Shane Curran last week after just seven league games in charge. 

The Éire Óg club man took over Kildare side Naas ahead of the 2022 season and helped them to retain the SFC title, and added further titles in 2023 and 2024. He also led Naas to a Leinster final but wasn't able to overcome the Dublin champions in each of his provincial campaigns. 

The current Carlow hurling manager, Tom Mullally, has been a long serving manager for the Naas hurlers and has enjoyed similar success but any thoughts of such an agreement with Murphy on the football side of things were quickly quashed. 

Naas confirmed the re-appointment of Murphy for the 2025 season on 3 January of this year but there was subsequent discontent within the club when the rumoured appointment of Rory Gallagher as coach made national headlines. Naas backed away from that appointment and Murphy has led the team through the opening two rounds of the League in recent weeks but he was obviously attracted by the lure of his home county in their hour of need. 

He will quickly get to action with Carlow due to face Meath in the opening round of the Leinster Championship on Sunday, while Naas will look to make an appointment that will continue the incredible success that they have enjoyed in the last four years. It is thought that the wheels are already in motion for Naas and they could even have a new manager in place before this weekend's league game against Clane.