Back in the game: Ann Downey takes the reins at Kilkenny GAA club

Kilkenny Camogie legend Ann Downey is going back into management, to take charge of the Ballyragget intermediate men’s team for next season.

During her career Downey won an unprecedented 12 senior camogie All-Ireland’s as a player and one as a manager.

She stepped down as the Cats camogie manager after Kilkenny fell short in their bid for the O’Duffy Cup, beaten by Galway in the final.

Downey told the camogie squad of her decision to step down as manager in the dressing room after that defeat, the Cats third final defeat in a row.

The announcement was made last night that Downey has agreed to become the manager of the Ballyragget intermediate hurlers for next season.

St Patrick’s Ballyragget lost their senior status last summer and were relegated back to Intermediate level. Ann will hope to replicate the team’s achievement of 2017 when they won the county intermediate championship and returned to senior level

Speaking with the Irish Independent about her appointment, Downey said: “I’m looking forward to it because there are some great young lads that can hurl here.

“You would hope to go back up (senior), to be quite honest, that would be the aim.”

And her appointment has been welcomed online, with RTÉ’s Sunday Game presenter Des Cahill calling it a “Milestone for women.”

His comment was quickly jumped on by the twitter group called Womenshurling – who corrected Cahill and said: “It’s more of a milestone for Ballyragget to have a manager of that profile.”