Kilkenny hurling legend Richie Power will be involved with Wexford club Shelmaliers for the coming season though it could have been Ballyhale Shamrocks that he was managing.
Power, an eight-time All-Ireland winner who hails from the Carrickshock club, was in the running to succeed Pat Hoban as Ballyhale boss.
"I had a conversation with Ballyhale," Power explained ahead of his episode of TG4 series Laochra Gael which airs Thursday, January 25th at 9:30pm.
"When it came to the decision time I actually pulled my name from the running.
"Look, it was nice I suppose to be thought about for a job of that magnitude. At the time I just felt myself that it wasn’t the right decision."
29 October 2023; Jack Nolan of O'Loughlin Gaels in action against Adrian Mullen and Paddy Mullen of Shamrocks Ballyhale during the Kilkenny County Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Shamrocks Ballyhale and O'Loughlin Gaels at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Ballyhale's reign as Kilkenny champions ended last year when they lost to eventual All-Ireland finalists O'Loughlin Gaels by a point. Shamrocks had won five consecutive titles between 2018 and 2022. They also reached four All-Ireland finals during that run, winning three.
"I just kind of got the feeling that the players maybe wanted a different direction," said Power.
"They wanted some of the previous management involved. Personally I kind of wanted to bring in my own management [team] and just freshen things up completely. I kind of got that feeling from it.
"If the players aren’t going to be entirely happy, at the end of the day they are the most important people in a setup and for that reason, I pulled my name from the running on the Tuesday night before the committee met.
22 January 2023; Shamrocks Ballyhale players, including goalkeeper Dean Mason, centre, celebrate after their side's victory in the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Shamrocks Ballyhale of Kilkenny and Dunloy Cúchullain's of Antrim at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"Look, happy with my decision. It would have been a huge opportunity, a huge club with great success. They are next door neighbours to ourselves at home here.
"And I’ve nothing but admiration for Ballyhale Shamrocks. Maybe the opportunity will arise down the line but who knows.
"The decision is made for the coming year and I am happy with that.
"I am actually going down to Wexford for the coming year with Shelmaliers, so that’s where I’ll be plying my managerial skills or trying to learn more for the year ahead."
18 February 2017; Richie Power of Carrickshock during the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final match between Ahascragh - Foghenach and Carrickshock at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
In the Kilkenny All-County League last year, Power, who was managing Carrickshock, found himself on the sideline beside his former inter-county manager Brian Cody who was in charge of James Stephens.
"It was a heavy defeat from our perspective," said Power.
"We're an intermediate club, the Village would be senior. I suppose it's great for our club to have games like that and have the competitive edge.
"I would like to have got one [over him]. It was just for us getting to play a senior team to be playing at that level, just to see if we could possibly win an intermediate, that's the level you have to get to.
"I don't think Brian was worried about Carrickshock intermediate teams. It was a good workout for both teams, we learned a lot."
See Also: Kilkenny Legend Wants GAA To Step Up After Club Hurling Final Controversy
