Shine appointed as new Kildare ladies boss

Kerry native Graham Shine has been announced as the new manager of the Kildare senior ladies football team, subject to ratification at this evening's county board meeting.

The appointment brings to an end the search for a successor to Pat Sullivan after Kildare LGFA confirmed in July that his two-year tenure had come to an end.

Shine arrives in the position with an abundance of experience. Following All-Ireland success with Kerry at Under-16 level, he was appointed manager of the county's senior side, leading the Kingdom to a Munster Senior Championship title and an All-Ireland semi-final appearance in 2017. His spell in charge ended the following year after Kerry suffered relegation from Division 1.

He subsequently took charge of Limerick and guided them to the 2023 All-Ireland Junior Championship final at Croke Park, where they were defeated by Down.

More recently, Shine was involved with Clare. He served as part of Wayne Freeman's management team in 2023, when Clare lost both the National League Division 3 final and the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final to Kildare. After Monasterevan native Freeman departed the role, Shine took over as manager but was unable to guide Clare beyond the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship quarter-finals in either of his two seasons at the helm before his departure was announced last July.

The delay in making the appointment means Shine will not have the opportunity to attend any Kildare club championship matches before finalising his panel for 2027. The make-up of his backroom team has yet to be confirmed.

Kildare endured a mixed 2026 campaign. Despite some encouraging performances, they were relegated from Division 1. That was followed by the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a first Leinster Senior Championship crown when Dublin struck late to win the provincial decider. The Lilywhites responded by reaching the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Championship before their season came to an end against Armagh. Shine is the man now charged with taking the talented group of players forward. 

Kildare LGFA has also confirmed a number of underage inter-county management appointments.

St Laurence's club man Adrian Doyle will lead the Under 21 team, with All-Ireland Under-16 winning manager James Costello stepping up to take charge of the county's minor team.

Senior Team: Graham Shine 

U21 Team: Adrian Doyle - St Laurences 

Minor Team: James Costello - Naas 

U16 Team: Rachel Hughes - Round Towers 

U14 Team: Gerard Quinn - Clane