Joe Brolly: Ger Brennan's steel can forge a new era for Dublin
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA manager merry-go-round: The full list of new arrivals and departures
Following the appointments of Andy Moran and Dermot McCabe as Mayo and Cavan managers respectively - both returning home - five inter-county football vacancies remain. The five jobs up for grabs are Roscommon, Westmeath, Waterford, Clare and Antrim. 11 inter-county football managers have left their posts since the end of the 2025 season - although Ger Brennan and McCabe moved jobs - indicating the fluid, demanding and precarious nature of the job. The phrase managerial merry-go-round slightly demeans the quality at this level, but there are certainly more and more career coaches moving around the counties. There are also plenty of incumbents that still have to be confirmed in their roles for next year, but a clear picture of what 2026 will look like has begun to emerge. By the time the (re)appointments processes are complete there will be a maximum of 12 football managers who have served two years or more. That means that 21 managers will either be going into their first year, or have served one year to date. Former Footballer of the Year, Moran was a coach with Monaghan this season, while he also served three years as Leitrim manager, so he has extensive inter-county experience. McCabe - who works as a coach for Cavan GAA - spent one year with Westmeath and was previously involved as a coach with Mickey Graham when the Breffni Blues landed the 2020 Ulster title. Their appointments bring the number of natives in charge of their own counties currently to 19 out of 28. And perhaps not surprisingly, eight of the nine longest serving managers (listed below) are locals. Wicklow's Oisin McConville is the only outside boss currently in a post to have served three years, and he recently agreed a fresh two year term. The other outside managers are McConville's Armagh All-Ireland winning team mate Justin McNulty, Malachy O'Rourke, Mike Solan, Steven Poacher, Ciaran Meenagh and Gavin Devlin. Malachy O'Rourke has lived in Tyrone for over three decades so could nearly be considered a local. Offaly have joint managers, with Declan Kelly a local, alongside Tyrone's Mickey Harte. Interestingly, seven of the eight outside managers, including Harte, are from Ulster - Tyrone (3), Armagh (2) and one apiece from Fermanagh, Down and Mayo (Solan). The longest serving football manager by a distance now is Kieran McGeeney, who has completed 11 years in charge of Armagh. Colm Collins is the only one in recent times to come close, taking his native Clare for 10 seasons, before leaving the post two years ago. McGeeney has lost coach Kieran Donaghy, but there has been no speculation about his own future. After the 2024 All-Ireland victory the decision will be his. Jack O'Connor (Kerry) has cast doubt over his own future, but few would be surprised if he returned for a fifth season after landing two All-Ireland titles in four years and the Kingdom looking in rude health under the new rules. It's not as clear cut in Galway, where Padraic Joyce finished out a sixth year on a disappointing note. Galway did win a Connacht three-in-a-row, and showed serious fighting spirit to keep their season alive against Derry and Armagh in a nightmare group and then topple Down in Newry. But although that schedule of trips to Cavan, Newry and Croke Park in 15 days may have taken a toll, the All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Meath was still a shock and a bad way to end their year. Joyce, who has led Galway to two All-Ireland finals, should have enough money in the bank for another shot if he wants it. Fermanagh's Kieran Donnelly has a term that runs until the end of the 2027 season, which would see him serve six years as Erne boss if he finishes it out. Some of the same faces are turning up in different counties. Andy Moran is now with his third county having managed Leitrim and coached Monaghan. 2026 will be his fifth consecutive year involved at this level. Dermot McCabe has switched Westmeath for his native Cavan, while Ger Brennan has done the same with Louth and Dublin. Ciaran Meenagh has moved from Down back to Derry after coaching alongside Rory Gallagher, and briefly managing the Oak Leaf County to the 2023 Ulster title. Tyrone man Meenagh also coached under Damian McErlain in Derry so this will be his seventh consecutive year involved at this level. Another Red Hand son, Paddy Tally will move to his sixth county when he links up with Andy Moran's Mayo to make it nine consecutive years at inter-county level. Tally managed Derry this year, coached with Jack O'Connor in Kerry for three years (2022-24), managed Down for three years (2019-21) and coached Galway in 2018 under Kevin Walsh. He also coached Derry under Brian McIver (2013-15) and trained Down to the 2010 All-Ireland Final, starting out under Ross Carr in 2009 and continuing when James McCartan took over the following year. Tally also coached Mickey Harte's Tyrone to their 2003 All-Ireland breakthrough before leaving after the 2004 season. Staying with Tyrone, Gavin Devlin is back with Louth, who he works for in a coaching capacity, having served alongside Mickey Harte with the Wee County for three years. But Harte is the daddy of them all. This year was his 23rd season on the trot involved at senior inter-county level - Tyrone (18), Louth (3), Derry (1) and Offaly (1). Throw in his stints with Tyrone minors and under-20s and it's 36 consecutive years involved with inter-county teams. Andy McEntee ranks highly in the longevity stakes and it will be interesting to see if he ends up in one of the current vacancies. He has served nine consecutive seasons at inter-county level with Meath (6) and Antrim (3), having just vacated the Saffrons post. THE LONGEST SERVING INTER-COUNTY FOOTBALL MANAGERS, NEW BOSSES, THOSE WHO'VE LEFT THIS YEAR AND CURRENT VACANCIES *Some managers are still to be reappointed, or confirm their plans for 2026 11 YEARS Kieran McGeeney (Armagh) 6 YEARS Padraic Joyce (Galway) Michael Maher (London) 4 YEARS John Cleary (Cork) Jack O'Connor (Kerry) Kieran Donnelly (Fermanagh) 3 YEARS John Hegarty (Wexford), Conor Laverty (Down), Oisin McConville (Wicklow) 2 YEARS Jim McGuinness (Donegal), Jimmy Lee (Limerick), Justin McNulty (Laois) 1 YEAR (9) Robbie Brennan (Meath), Malachy O'Rourke (Tyrone), Gabriel Bannigan (Monaghan), Mike Solan (Longford), Declan Kelly/Mickey Harte (Offaly), Joe Murphy (Carlow), Brian Flanagan (Kildare), Steven Poacher (Leitrim), Philly Ryan (Tipperary) NEW MANAGERS (6) Ger Brennan (Dublin), Andy Moran (Mayo), Dermot McCabe (Cavan), Dessie Sloyan/Eamonn O'Hara (Sligo), Ciaran Meenagh (Derry), Gavin Devlin (Louth) VACANCIES (5) Clare, Westmeath, Roscommon, Antrim, Waterford GONE THIS YEAR (11) (seasons served as manager in brackets) Andy McEntee (9) - Antrim (3) and Meath (6) - Dessie Farrell, Dublin (6), Tony McEntee, Sligo (5), Davy Burke, Roscommon (3), Kevin McStay, Mayo (3), Paul Shankey, Waterford (2), Raymond Galligan, Cavan (2), Ger Brennan, Louth (2), Paddy Tally, Derry (1), Dermot McCabe, Westmeath (1), Peter Keane, Clare (1)
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Andy Moran's life from wife and children to day job as he's set to be named Mayo GAA manager
He's already secured two big name assistants MOR MAYO Inside Andy Moran's life from wife and children to day job as he's set to be named Mayo GAA manager ANDY Moran is on the cusp of being appointed manager of Mayo's senior men's footballers after being proposed by the county board. Monday's noteworthy update virtually guarantees it will be the 41-year-old who succeeds Kevin McStay after seeing off competition from Tony McEntee. 7 He's been married to other half Jennifer Drake since 2012 Credit: @andypmoran 7 They have a son named Ollie as well as a daughter called Charlotte Credit: @andypmoran 7 Charlotte memorably starred in this award-winning photo after the 2016 All-Ireland final 7 This won't be his first role as a senior inter-county boss While arguably a bit early for him to rise to his dream job, the 2017 Footballer of the Year has carved out a coaching CV worthy of being given his chance to lead the county. He managed Leitrim for three seasons from 2021. That stint didn't all go according to plan as they suffered a stunning loss to New York in the 2023 Connacht Championship. However, he did showcase the ability to bounce back from adversity in 2024 when he got them promoted from Division 4 of the National Football League. Moran opted to leave the post at the end of that campaign and ended up doing a year as part of Gabriel Bannigan's backroom team. His first coaching inroads had come with the Mayo Under-20s before he took joint-charge of his club Ballaghaderreen with Mike Solan prior to their 2021 campaign. WHAT IS ANDY MORAN'S JOB? He's owned a gym since 2015. There's now two locations in Claremorris as well as Castlebar. You can check out The Movement Gyms' Instagram page here. His college background comprises an undergrad in Business and Recreation from Sligo IT between 2003-2007 followed by an Msc in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Ulster University which he completed in 2008. IS HE MARRIED? The former sharpshooter has been married to long-term partner Jennifer since 2012. They tied the knot in their hometown of Ballaghaderreen which is actually in county Roscommon despite Andy being a legend of the Green and Red. TJ Reid and wife Niamh de Brun's gorgeous pregnancy reveal In excess of 300 guests watched on as their nuptials were held at Kilronan Castle. PLAYING HONOURS The full-forward called time on his inter-county playing career in 2019. Among the honours he earned along the way were eight Connacht championship medals, two NFL Division 1 titles and two All-Stars to go with his Footballer of the Year gong. 7 This season saw him work under Farney chief Gabriel Bannigan 7 He released his autobiography in 2021 Credit: @andypmoran 7 Moran holds the unfortunate record of most All-Ireland finals played (six) without having won one In his Sligo IT days he won three Sigerson Cups while he has two county championships with Ballaghaderreen. COUNTY BACKING Upon Monday's news that he is to be put forward for ratification at the next meeting of the Mayo county board a spokesperson gave him a glowing endorsement. They said: 'Andy Moran and his backroom team bring a wealth of experience. 'Their combined knowledge, leadership and proven track records will be invaluable in driving the continued development and success of Mayo football.' He will be aided by two high-profile backroom members in Colm Boyle and Paddy Tally - who was Derry's manager up until last month.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Inside Andy Moran's family life including wife and children ahead of Mayo job
One of Mayo's most beloved players, Andy Moran, will take charge of his county for the 2026 after being proposed as manager. Moran was undoubtedly the most popular Mayo player of the 2000s and 2010s, and his career saw him win a Footballer of the Year Award. Since retiring, Moran took over the Leitrim footballers before joining the Monaghan coaching ticket for the 2025 season. Below, we have a quick look at Moran's family life and GAA career. Where is he from, and what age is he? Born in 1983, Andy Moran is from Ballaghaderreen in Roscommon; however, the GAA club competes in Mayo. Playing Career Moran undoubtedly goes down as one of Mayo's all-time greats having made his debut for the county in 2004 and retired in 2019. In that time, Moran won two All-Star Awards and was named Footballer of the Year in 2017 after finishing the Championship as top scorer from play. He won his other All-Star in 2011. By the time he hung up the boots in 2019, Moran won eight Connacht titles as well as two League titles. He played in six All-Ireland finals during his time with Mayo. He will be hoping to be the first man to bring Sam Maguire back to Mayo since 1951/ Coaching Career Moran was straight into coaching after retirement and went in with the Mayo Under-20 teams in Covid before taking over Ballaghaderreen the following year. He would get his first big chance when he coached Leitrim Footballers between 2022 and 2024. The county narrowly missed out on promotion from Division Three in 2023 before promotion the following year. He was part of the Monaghan coaching ticket for 2025 with the Farney progressing to the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals. Family Life Moran tied the knot with long-term partner Heniffer in 2012, and the couple has two children together, Ollie and Charlotte.
