Ballincollig Build For #EnergiaAIL Season With New Coaching Team

Former Ireland internationals Laura Guest and Leah Lyons are part of a high-quality Ballincollig Women’s coaching group, which has been assembled ahead of the 2025/26 Energia All-Ireland League campaign.

There is plenty of buzz around Tanner Park as Ballincollig – now led by new head coach Santiago Gonzalez – set out their targets for the year ahead, with the Women’s Division kicking off on Saturday, September 27.

While the Cork club finished seventh last season, there is a strong base to work with given Shirley Bailey broke through to represent the Clovers, and they have eight players in the newly-announced Munster squad, including Ireland Under-20 international Lily Morris.

Gonzalez, a dual national of Argentina and Italy, is well known in Cork and Munster rugby circles, given his work as a Club & Community Rugby Officer in the province, and his role as senior head coach at Bandon Grammar School since 2022.

The former scrum half has also played and coached successfully at Bandon Rugby Club, and brings to ‘Collig a player-focused approach grounded in technical excellence, modern sports science, and holistic development.

Supporting ‘Santi’ in the new Ballincollig Women’s coaching set-up are lead player coaching consultant Eugene McCarthy, the former Munster Women’s scrum coach who has over 30 years of coaching experience, defence coach Guest, and set-piece coach Lyons.

McCarthy (pictured above with his daughters Niamh and Muireann) coached the Munster Under-18 Women to their first Interprovincial title in 2017, and has been a cornerstone of Munster Rugby’s coaching structure for a number of years.

He currently serves as a Rugby Development Officer (RDO), a World Rugby Coach Educator, and an IRFU Coaching Course Tutor.

Guest and Lyons were both part of Ballincollig’s coaching group last season under Helen Brosnan, and will provide some valuable continuity as the Cork outfit, who host Galwegians in their All-Ireland League opener, aim to get more out of their young and ambitious squad.

2013 Grand Slam winner Guest has developed an impressive coaching pedigree, notably coaching the Munster Women for three years. She represented Ireland at three Rugby World Cups and brings a deep understanding of the game to her role as defence coach.

Her club career included standout contributions at Clonakilty, UL Bohemians, and Highfield, whom she guided to All-Ireland Cup success in 2013 as a player-coach. She is currently a senior rugby coach at Midleton College, with whom she has won a number of Mungret Cup titles.

Since returning home from playing and coaching in England, Lyons has quickly established herself as a young coach on the rise.

The 30-year-old has come on board as an assistant coach with the Munster Women ahead of the upcoming Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship, while she was set-piece coach for the Clovers last season.

During her playing days as a prop, she represented Munster, and both Harlequins and Sale Sharks across the water. Her coaching CV includes senior roles with England Rugby as lead and head coach for their Centre of Excellence, and head coach of the Surrey University Women’s team.

Ballincollig’s management team for 2025/26 also includes Dee Falvey as team manager, and Kate McCarthy as their IRFU liaison officer.

Another important addition behind the scenes is performance coach Ian Jones, who has worked with the USA Women’s 15s team, the Houston Texans in the NFL, and Cork GAA.