Newman to front the return of North Tipp to the Oscar Traynor fold
By Gary Culbert
It has been over twenty years since a squad of North Tipperary’s best soccer players took part in the Oscar Traynor Trophy – the inter-league competition which sees representative squads from different leagues around the country go head-to-head.
However, the North Tipperary & District League (NT&DL) have confirmed it will make its return later in 2026.
It will be headed up by Henry Newman as manager when he steps down as boss of BT Harps at the end of the season.
He will be joined by coaches Johnny Coleman & Declan Fogarty; Goalkeeper coach – Dave Jones; Team Liaisons - Mark Fennell & Shane Purcell; Physio/First Aid - Sean McCormack. All bar one are currently involved with the BT Harps senior team.
Newman’s appointment represents a considerable coup for the NT&DL and he believes that the timing is right to revive North Tipp’s Oscar Traynor set-up.
“It’s a more modern world than it was 20 years ago; there’s more coverage of the league now,” Newman said.
“I think lads will want to be seen to be involved with the team in the current climate, there will be real competition to have your name announced in the media as having made the cut.”
Newman is easily the most successful active manager in the league, having won every major trophy since starting out with the old Templemore FC, following on with lengthy spells with Blackcastle United, Nenagh Celtic, and BT Harps the latter whom he was also a founding member. He has had a massive influence on many clubs and people around North Tipperary, but naturally enough, he too has had his own inspirations throughout his storied career.
“There were some great footballing men with me at every club; Mick Ryan, Jimmy ‘Spooner’ Ryan, Ger Sweeney, and of course Patrick Fennell who was with me for the last few years managing Harps.
“They were all leaders in their own right but possibly preferred to stay in background. Sadly though, some of the people who had biggest influence on me have all passed; Michael Fennell, who is the brother to my current assistant manager at Harps, Mark Fennell. David Coleman, who sadly died last summer, is the brother to my current head coach, Johnny Coleman.
Coaching Group
Newman may be a household name in Tipperary soccer, but the average punter will be less familiar with the backroom team he has assembled.
Upgraded to the role of BT Harps head coach at the start of this season, Johnny Coleman has been credited with playing a big part in their success over the past two seasons with the 38-year-old keen to stress the benefits of a player committing to the Oscar Traynor squad if they are invited in.
“It should be seen as an absolute honour to represent your league,” Coleman said.
“I guarantee that the true soccer players - the ones who love the game - they’ll come. You will be training alongside only the best players in the league, so when you turn up to a training session, you know it’s going to be high tempo, high intensity and ultra-competitive. That way, we will be able to see who is here to actually make an impact and get into the team.
“Sometimes, teams in our league pick themselves, but it’s not going to be the case with this squad; we want proper competition.”
He added: “The league committee have put their trust in us, but we’re at the mercy of getting the right players in; if we get the right players in, we’ll work with them and try to compete.
“We’ll have everything ready to go, we’ll be the first here and last out. After that, all we can do as coaches is try to pass on our knowledge and our commitment on to the players, ultimately to make them better and bring them together collectively. If the players that come here improve, that’s a win for us.”
Getting Involved
Coleman has previously been a part of both North & South Tipperary Oscar Traynor squads which he found really enjoyable, making friends for life.
“You’re kicking each other normally on a Sunday, but it’s funny, once you put on that North Tipp jersey it brings out that bit of togetherness,” he said.
“You’d be very surprised how quickly they’ll be fighting for each other, that’s the type of culture we want to instil.”
The return to Oscar Traynor competition for the NT&DL is undeniably a good-news story for soccer in the region, but Coleman is not naïve as to the magnitude of the task at hand.
“We’re under no illusion that we are going to go out and compete straight away, it’s the first time North Tipp have entered in over twenty years. Our main goal is to get it up and running this year, get everyone together, and try and compete the best we can.”
Coleman certainly brings intelligence, charisma, and unwavering passion to the management team. But it is the older of the two coaches, Declan Fogarty, that speaks with a certainty and confidence that could only have been gained from thousands of hours on the sideline and in the dressing room.
“We’re just a bunch of lads that want to progress the league,” Fogarty said.
“Some people still have this whole thing that it’s only North Tipperary, but it’s our job now to change that attitude. We think there’s an appetite, now it’s the next level; what do we do next?
“It’s about us setting a standard, let there be no doubt about that. From the dressing room to the training ground, there will absolutely be a standard set in everything we do.”
As much as Fogarty is right in saying that this will progress the NT&DL, it is also true to say that it will help to keep players and teams in the league as since the last Oscar Traynor team will not have the services of players from Nenagh AFC, Lough Derg, and Killavilla United who have moved to neighbouring leagues while Nenagh Celtic don’t have an adult team at the moment.
“We think now is a perfect opportunity to give players that something extra, and there is an appetite for it; there’s a want out there for something more,” Fogarty added.
“Now is the time for the league to be able to say: There’s no reason to leave here. We also know there’s a huge drop-off at youths’ level, so what are we going to do about it? They need a pathway, hopefully we can be the ones to provide something for them to aspire to, a milestone to aim for.”
“Soccer players don’t get the chance to wear their county colours like other sports do. We know they want that opportunity, it’s vitally important that we create it for them because they deserve it as much as any other sport.”
On the mention of other sports, it felt like a good time to ask the management team about the elephant in the room when it comes to soccer in North Tipperary, which is the GAA. One question that managers at soccer clubs have to ask themselves every season is: should they play dual sport players or just pick from players that play soccer only.
Newman said: “The reality is, North Tipp is full of GAA players that play soccer too, and some of them are top soccer players. The GAA lads will probably want to be involved, but whether they can commit to it is another thing.
“We’re open to everything once there’s a commitment from the player; commitment is imperative. Give me a lad that is committed, loves soccer, and takes pride in the North Tipp jersey. If that same guy also plays GAA, then the answer is that we’re not closing this off to anyone.”
Training
The NT&DL encompasses a large geographical area: from the Slieve Felim mountains of Rearcross in the West, all the way over Grange United near Borris-in-Ossory in the East; Offaly and Galway are represented by Portumna Town and Shinrone United, whilst Holycross and Borroway Rovers form the border with the South Tipperary & District League.
Johnny Coleman outlines that when it comes to training, flexibility, and communication on everyone’s part will be key to the project’s success.
“Training will probably be run on Wednesday and/or Friday nights, depending on the time of the year.
“Trainings will go into that bit more detail, so you are looking at a 75-to-90-minute session.
“But we are also conscious of the players travelling longer distances to training. We know some lads are in college or working long hours or shift work. The Friday night trainings are probably best for those away for college, in any case, we know that these guys are playing on college teams and looking after themselves throughout the week.
“We will try make things as flexible as possible, but good two-way communication is key too.”
Henry Newman added: “Nothing is set in stone, we are flexible and open to having the odd session on grass pitches throughout the NT&DL, be it under lights or otherwise.”
When it comes to scheduling North Tipperary squad activities, the management are conscious of the need to outline their plans to the club managers well in advance with scheduled training and friendly schedules a month in advance or when there are no fixtures in the top two divisions on the weekends of competitive Oscar Traynor matches.”
Style of play
In terms of style of play, the management said they are open to the players that commit to the cause, rather than picking players to suit a long-ball, counter attacking style of play. “That’s not in our DNA at all,” Coleman said.
“A lot of our training is based around high intensity, possession-based football, moving lads around the field,” while Declan Fogarty pointed to the new 4g pitch at BT Harps: “There’s a half a million euro carpet out there; the ball won’t be leaving the ground too often, rest assured.”