At least 23 clubs change managers for 2024 season

GAA news

Damien Donohoe

The turnover in club managers year on year continues to rise.

With at least 23 of the 40 football clubs, changing managers for the year ahead, some new names will have to appear on the list as others step away. Working in alphabetical order we’ll bring you the state of play as we enter late December.

The Ulster junior champions Arva are still in competition as they prepare for an assault on the All-Ireland but holding on to Finbar O’Reilly and coach Stephen Smith for 2024 is something everyone in the club would be hoping for.

Bailieborough have appointed their fifth manager in little over two years in Bryan Bates from Drumgoon. Bates, who parted company with Shannon Gaels, who are still looking for a manager, after bringing them to the Junior semi-final this year has plenty of experience and will look to bring the Shamrocks straight back out of Division 3 in the year ahead.

Mark Monaghan will stay in charge of senior quarter-finalists Ballinagh while Ulster intermediate finalists, Ballyhaise are hoping to retain Damien Keaney and Ciaran Owens for 2024.

Enda Sheridan has been replaced by Ciaran O’Malley as Ballymachugh manager after he parted company with Drumalee, allowing club men Kevin Downey and Peter McGinnity, who was a selector with the Cavan U20s for three years, to take the Lilywhites for 2024.

Belturbet are also going in-house as Mark Lawlor returns for another stint as the Rory’s manager while just down the road Gabriel Keogan has been replaced as Butlersbridge manager by Keelan Melaniff who coached alongside Jody Devine bringing Killygarry to the 2022 senior final.

Fergal Flanagan is staying on as manager in his own club Castlerahan while Cavan Gaels have appointed clubmen Seanie Johnston and Micheál Lyng as joint managers to take over from Jason O’Reilly.

Adrian Delaney stepped away from Cootehill Celtic after this year’s quarter-final with the man who guided St Vincent’s to the 2021 Meath junior championship, Hugh Durrigan, taking over the reins. Corlough have yet to appoint their manager while Cornafean have managed to hold on to Laurance Brady for another year.

Crosserlough looked to have secured Donal Keogan as their manager for 2024 but that arrangement fell through with Archie Beatty (manager) and Ryan Daly (coach) who were over Carrickmore in Tyrone, now taking over.

Fintan Cahill will remain in charge of Cuchulainns with Conor Maguire as coach while last year’s beaten intermediate finalists Denn are delighted to have Stephen Baxter leading the ship for another year with Darragh McCarthy a coach.

Gerard McGeough is back for a second season with Drumgoon while Drumlane have a replacement for Martin Dunne in club man Ollie Fay.

Former Cavan goalkeeper James Reilly is taking over his home club of Drung with the former Monaghan ladies manager Kieran Kearns in as coach.

It is hoped that Dermot McCabe and Fintan Reilly will stay on with county champions Gowna while Enda Ferris has agreed to remain in charge at Kildallan.

Barry Crowe and Doc Mulhall have parted ways with Kill who are believed to have appointed Glen Nulty from Cootehill as their new manager and Killeshandra are also in the hunt following the end of Ray McBrien’s term in charge.

Killinkere are still looking for Stephen Smith’s replacement while former Cavan and Leitrim manager Terry Hyland is remaining with Killygarry and has added Jason O’Reilly to his backroom team as S&C coach.

Monaghan duo Owen and Benny Lennon have left the Kingscourt manager’s role up for grabs but this year’s beaten finalists are taking their time to get the right man.

Knockbride have retained the services of Aidan McCabe for 2024 as they prepare for Division 1 and make another attempt to win the Sean Leddy cup. Lacken will have a familiar face at the helm as they prepare for the intermediate championship in 2024 as Mickey O’Connor has agreed to stay on.

Darren Greenan has stepped away from Laragh to take on the Monaghan senior ladies job with his replacement not yet announced. Kevin McDonnell has taken a selector’s role with the Cavan U20s and so parted company with Lavey but they have replaced him with clubman Liam Maguire, who coached under Seamus McEnaney in Corduff for the last two years.

Former Head of Performance with Cavan GAA, André Quinn, is a notable inclusion on the backroom team and Colin Malone will coach the team having previously served as manager.

Former Meath footballer Graham Reilly has taken the lead role with Maghera for the year ahead having coached them in 2023. Declan Beard remains in charge for a second year in Mountnugent while Mullahoran have appointed last year’s coach with Crosserlough and former Longford U20s manager Donal Ledwith as their manager for 2024.

Killygarry man Stephen McGovern remains on with Munterconnaught while their neighbours Ramor United have made a change. Jude and Pat McNabb have replaced John Brady at this years beaten senior semi-finalists.

Jude managed Oldcastle for the last three years while Pat was involved with the 2023 Hogan Cup winners Omagh CBS and former manager Ray Cole is also part of the management team.

Rory Dunne has decided to halve his work load with Redhills as he steps back to focus on playing and Colm Monaghan from Newtownbutler takes over the manager’s role. Peter McKeon remains as the Shercock manager with Paul Cooney staying on as coach for another year while Swanlinbar have appointed former player Michael Cunningham as their manager having been involved with Enniskillen Gaels when they won the senior championship in Fermanagh in 2022.

Declan Farrell and Andy McGovern have also taken up positions in the Cavan U20s set-up, vacating the Templeport top job.

Former Mullahoran manager Paul Prior from Ballinamore will take up the mantle having guided Leitrim Gaels to the senior semi-final in 2022 and he’s assisted by Adrian Gallogly.