McCabe yet to reveal backroom as Hyland declares interest in U20 role
GAA news
The make-up of Dermot McCabe’s Cavan senior backroom team has yet to be disclosed, with the details surrounding the process of appointing the next U20 team manager also unclear at present.
The last two U20 managers have been appointed in August and July respectively so time will be of the essence for the county board in terms of filling the role, with former Cavan U21 and senior team manager Terry Hyland declaring his interest in applying.
The Lacken clubman stated that he has spoken to a number of county board officers to inform them of his interest and is intent on putting his name forward when the process gets underway.
“I expressed an interest back a number of weeks ago, I know they haven't got their format ready yet in terms of what they're going to do with it, perhaps they need to negotiate with the senior management because the way they're talking, they need a link, but I don't know what that link is,” Hyland said.
“But yes, I would be very interested in putting my name forward. I'm probably coming back to where I started but I always loved and enjoyed being involved with underage football. They may consider me or they may not, we have to wait and see.”
Hyland led Cavan to three Ulster U21 finals from 2010 to 2012, winning two and reaching the All-Ireland final in 2011. He went on to manage the Cavan and Leitrim senior football teams.
The board confirmed last month that the same sub-committee would be in place to appoint the U20 manager as appointed the senior manager. That committee consisted of Mark O'Rourke (chairman), Martin Cahill (secretary/Head of Operations), John Keating (vice-chairman), Tom Moore (treasurer) and Peter Reilly (former Cavan player and U21 manager). Moore stepped aside due to a conflict of interest when Finbar O'Reilly was nominated and was replaced by respected former Cavan player Niall Murray. At the time of writing, the board has made no public comment on the process for appointing the new U20 manager.
“I’m not going to say too much on the actual process at present,” chairman Mark O’Rourke said on August 26.
“Part of Dermot’s presentation and his vision for the county was that there will be a strong connection and cohesion between the U17s, U20s and senior team,” he added.
It is believed that Fintan Reilly, who is a selector with the senior team under McCabe, could be favoured for the U20 position. McCabe and Redhills native Reilly have worked together successfully in the past; they were joint-managers of Gowna when they won the Senior Championship in 2022 and 2023 and the Division 1 League in 2021. Reilly previously managed Templeport and Drumlane to Junior Championship successes.
Also confirmed as a selector with the senior team is Derry native and Monaghan resident Diarmuid Scullion, who is highly regarded. The Anglo-Celt understands Scullion has been on Cavan's radar for some time. He met with McCabe, in his role as Head of Games, and a Cavan county board officer last year with a view to his being involved with the Cavan minor team but it came to nothing.
He subsequently linked up with McCabe as a selector with the Westmeath senior team last year and is now expected to be a key cog in the Breffni senior backroom.
The board have stated that another selector will be appointed although there is no indication who that will be. One man understood to have been considered is the aforementioned Murray, although he is not expected to take up a position on the senior management.
While there may be one or two retirements, McCabe should have strong buy-in from the Cavan players, many of whom he previously worked with at Gowna and when a selector under Mickey Graham from 2019 to 2021 inclusive.
Senior members of the Cavan panel, understood to have included Ciaran Brady, Paddy Lynch, Gearoid McKiernan and Conor Madden, approached McCabe to ask him to allow his name go forward for the role. It is believed that the new manager has strong backing among the wider panel also; this newspaper has spoken to other players, two of whom have stated that McCabe “sets high standards”.
Another stated that he had consulted with friends on the Westmeath panel and they spoke highly of McCabe as a manager and were disappointed to lose him.
Numerous attempts by the Anglo-Celt to contact Dermot McCabe since he was recommended for ratification six weeks ago have been unsuccessful.