Shane Keegan has been appointed as the new manager of First Division side Cobh Ramblers.
The Rams parted company with Darren Murphy earlier this month after 13 defeats in 18 matches, while interim management oversaw a more resolute display in a narrow defeat to rivals Cork City last Friday.
Keegan has been handed an 18-month contract at St Colman's Park. He previously managed Wexford and Galway United, winning promotion with Youths and being relegated with the Tribesmen.
He was part of the Dundalk management team when they qualified for the Europa League group stages in 2021.
The Laois man spent the last four months as Treaty United’s academy director. His first game in charge will be against his former club on Friday.
Keegan said: "I am delighted and excited to come on board as Cobh Ramblers’ new manager. To play a part in the club in this, their 100th year anniversary, was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. I look forward to getting straight to work with the players and staff as we all get to know each other over the course of the month of July.
"It would be a huge boost to us to get support out in numbers over the next few games. Then it is up to us to give people a reason to keep coming back. I really hope that I can play an important role in helping to grow Cobh as a club both on and off the field in both the short and long-term.
"I would also like to place on record my thanks to the board at Treaty United and wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season."
Ramblers sit eighth in the First Division table, eight points below seventh-placed Bray Wanderers, but they have an exciting FAI Cup draw as they’ll face another clash with Cork City.
Cobh chairman Bill O’Leary feels it is a promising appointment for the club: "We are delighted to have secured the services of a proven, experienced League of Ireland manager. Shane is highly thought of, and we regard him as the right man for the job at this time. All of us at the club look forward to working with him."
