Shane Hand has made a quick return to management with Tullamore just weeks after leaving Offaly hurling kingpins Kilcormac/Killoughey.

In a surprise development before Christmas, K/K decided not to reappoint Hand as manager after he led the club to back-to-back Offaly SHC titles and a Leinster club final appearance against All-Ireland finalists Na Fianna.

The successful Hand guided K/K to Offaly SHC final appearances in each of the three years he was in charge. After losing to first-time winners Shinrone in 2022, they turned the tables on the Tipperary-border club in spectacular fashion in 2023 before retaining the Sean Robbins Cup at Ballinamere’s expense last year.

Tullamore have now swooped for Hand as they seek to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Offaly SHC ranks. Meanwhile, K/K remain on the hunt for a new manager with outgoing coach Tony Gleeson – who also coached Offaly’s All-Ireland U20 champions last year – believed to be the frontrunner.

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