while still a student in ucc, he had coached teams of kilmurry ibrickane gaa to clare u-16 and minor football titles. this took the attention of sr. cecilia, principal of st. joseph's secondary school, who needed a coach for their boys football team. morrissey agreed, and made his entry at the school. he took charge of the senior football team in a period that the relationship between the neighbouring clubs kilmurry ibrickane gaa and milltown malbay gaa were at an all-time low and rivalry at an all-time high. by forming a school team consisting of players out of the parishes kilmurry ibrickane, milltown malbay, doonbeg and cree-cooraclare, morrissey defused most of the tensions. he managed the team to the munster title in 1983.