O'Hora resigns as Kildare manager
Diane O'Hora has this evening resigned from her position of Kildare LGFA senior team manager Photo: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes
The Kildare LGFA executive have this evening confirmed the resignation senior team manager Diane O'Hora.
In a statement they said:
"We at Kildare LGFA regret to announce the resignation of our Senior Intercounty Manager, Diane O’Hora this evening.
"We would like to thank Diane for her dedication and commitment to Kildare LGFA over the past 3 years and we wish her all the best with her future endeavours.
"We will shortly be advertising for a new intercounty manager for the 2025 season. But for now, we would like to take this opportunity to wish Diane the best and to thank her."
A former All-Star and All-Ireland winner as a player with her native Mayo, O'Hora's first involvement with Kildare came during 2022 when she worked on Sean Finnegan's management team. Following Finnegan's departure, O'Hora stepped up to become manager ahead of the 2023 and what followed was the best year for football in the history of Kildare LGFA. Kildare suffered just one defeat across the entire year as they picked up three trophies, a season that culminated with All-Ireland Intermediate glory in Croke Park.
Under O'Hora, Kildare continued that level of form into 2024 and they secured their second consecutive league promotion to ensure they Division 1 football for 2025. Although Championship at senior level proved a steep learning curve for a young Kildare team beset by injuries, a last gasp winning goal by Neasa Dooley in the relegation final against Laois means that once again next year Kildare will be competing against the best teams in the country.
In a statement, O'Hora said:
"I would like to take this opportunity to say I have had an amazing three years with the Kildare ladies team! I was coach in year one and then managing for the last two.
"It is always a tough decision when you enjoy what you do and I have loved every minute of my time here in Kildare.
"Amazing people, clubs, kids and seriously talented wonderful players. With up and coming development plans I cannot but have so much optimism for the future of the senior team and county as a whole.
"I have been blessed to work with a great management team and a special thanks to every one of them for the sacrifice and commitment they gave to achieve our goals over the past two years.
"The county is in the safest of hands with the executive I have worked with this season, their vision, professionalism and commitment to Kildare was an absolute pleasure to work with and I wish to thank them for their unwavering support.
"My very best wishes to everyone involved in Kildare ladies football for the future in all competitions, club and county, moving forward.
"Thank you for the memories."
The Kildare LGFA Executive Committee went on to praise and thank O'Hora in a further statement.
"It is with great regret that we must announce this evening our Senior County manager, Diane O'Hora, has resigned her position as Kildare Senior Team manager. Following two successful seasons with Kildare, Diane has made this difficult decision due to personal and professional obligations.
"A word of thanks must go to Diane for her time, effort, commitment and passion. During Diane's tenure with Kildare the team won a Leinster and National Intermediate title, a Division 3 title and the 2024 season saw Kildare win the Lidl Division 2 Final and promotion to Division 1 for 2025. The season ended with a hard fought relegation battle against Laois which saw Kildare retain it's senior status for 2025. Kildare LGFA would like to thank Diane for her unwavering commitment to Kildare and of course take this opportunity to thank her backroom team for their hard work and commitment this season.
"Diane brought our senior panel to the highest level in the association, and we wish to extend our warmest gratitude and best wishes for the future to Diane and her management team."
