Ciaran Meenagh set to become the next Derry manager
Meenagh had previously taken charge of Derry in the 2023 season after then-manager Rory Gallagher had to 'step back' from managing the team after allegations of domestic abuse.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland investigated the allegations against Gallagher, and forwarded two files to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS), but no charges were brought. Gallagher continues to 'firmly and steadfastly' deny the allegations.
Under Meenagh, Derry beat Armagh in the 2023 Ulster final by way of a penalty shootout. They then went on to top their group stages by drawing with Monaghan before beating Donegal and Clare. They beat Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final before going down to Kerry on a 1-17 to 1-15 scoreline in a breathtaking semi-final.
Meenagh, a teacher in St Colm's in Draperstown, then left Derry and took up a role as Down selector in Conor Laverty's backroom team for the last two seasons.
However, following Paddy Tally's departure from the post, the Loughmacrory man is set to take on his first permanent role as manager. He will become Derry's third consecutive manager from Tyrone following Tally and Mickey Harte.
Advertisement
It is strongly suspected that former Ulster-winning captain and All-Star Chrissy McKaigue will come into his management team, along with former forward Benny Heron.
Meanwhile, Antrim are poised to appoint their former team selector, Paddy Bradley, as their replacement for Andy McEntee.
Paddy Bradley. John McVitty / INPHO John McVitty / INPHO / INPHO
McEntee had done three seasons with Antrim, who got to the 2009 Ulster final under the guidance of Paddy's father, Liam 'Baker' Bradley.
Paddy Bradley has taken a number of management roles around Ulster including a successful period in charge of Dunloy footballers and his own club, Glenullin.
He is believed to have assembled a backroom team of fellow Derry men Paul McFlynn (who has previously been with Antrim and was with Derry last year) and Barry Dillon, along with Paul Rouse of Tyrone, who has worked with Dillon at the University of Ulster GAA Academy.
Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Jack O'Connor says he ‘won't keep people hanging on' with decision on Kerry future after nearly quitting last year
Kerry manager Jack O'Connor admits he wasn't far off 'packing it up' last year having found himself in a 'lonely place to be' after the Kingdom's All-Ireland semi-final loss to Armagh. Speaking at the Clayton Hotel in the southside of Dublin city the morning after masterminding Kerry's 39th All-Ireland win and his fifth as manager, the 64-year-old says it took some cajoling from the players to convince him to 'hang in there' during a 'very tough' off-season though he admitted he's 'glad' he did.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Joe O'Connor: 'The positive was that I had a year to work on my physique and work on my sprinting'
There are few silver linings to cruciate injuries but in Joe O'Connor's case his 2022 setback gave him chances to build up his physique and improve his speed. O'Connor had been on the periphery of the Kerry team when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament for Austin Stacks in September of the year. The time away to build up his power was huge. 'The positive was that I had a year to work on my physique and work on my sprinting and stuff like that. I probably wouldn't be able to if I was just playing game after game. 'That's what I tried to do with the S&Cs and the physios. Try and get work on so I can come back in way better shape. I probably did come back in better shape.' So when the Kerry management asked him to take and give more hits in 2024, O'Connor was ready and able. For the second season in a row, he was an ever-present this year. 'They kind of asked me for that role to be physical and just to get tackles around the middle and then Cian O'Neill came in this year and kind of went after my attacking game and tried to really test me that way and try to make me a better player, which helped me a lot with my confidence and just take it game-by-game, really.' O'Connor was All-Ireland winning captain in 2022 but this latest victory feels more whole having played a substitute's role back then. 'It was a tricky enough year probably being captain and getting token minutes and getting probably five or six minutes off the bench and it was just a weird enough position for me, but I wasn't happy with that and I wanted to break in, and I just felt like I wouldn't stop until I would be a starter.' Then came the cruciate tear, which presented more of a mental hurdle. 'I was 23 or 24 when I did it, so I wasn't getting games at the time and a lot of doubts creeping in, will I ever get in and all that, so I had to deal with that and just keep ploughing on.' Despite a superb individual season, middle third players like O'Connor came in for heat following the final All-Ireland SFC group game loss to Meath. 'It probably was a bit over-the-top the criticism but we had to use that as fuel as well. It probably gave us a kick in the right direction. We've obviously been called plenty of things like a soft team and a one-man team. Players hear that as well. We try to use that as fuel to prove people wrong.' The new rules have meant more longer kick-outs and O'Connor thrives on those aerial duels. 'Last year you might get one or two a game where it's pumped out or it's just getting clipped out to the corner and it was hard enough to get into the game, whereas now two or three minutes in, there's one coming right on top of you, so it just makes it way easier for the middle eight to get into the game where you're just attacking the ball and, just trying to get hands on ball and loads of opportunities to contest, so it's much better for us.' The move to wing-forward was to become a longer kick-out option for Shane Ryan, says O'Connor. 'Probably just needed a few big long kick-out options like with the rules so, that's what the management want and they just said they'd push me out to the wing, towards the end of the league and see how it worked out just to try it and I thought it worked well.' O'Connor's 70th minute goal was the cherry and his first since SFC matchday one, the Munster semi-final against Cork. 'I actually was getting a good few goal chances and I had to work on it because in the Tyrone game I was ballooning them over the bar and stuff, so actually worked in it for the last few weeks and chatting a good bit to the 'keepers and stuff. 'But rush of blood really, I just had a pop, but no it was class feeling like into the Hill and just the way the game was probably over at that stage as well, it was very special like and the crowd was lifting.'
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork's strong bench will play a key role in All-Ireland Camogie final
Their bench. An unrivalled bench. It's always about the Cork bench. A late injury to Clodagh Finn meant the named corner-forward played no part in Cork's All-Ireland camogie semi-final. Promoted to the first team this year off the back of a crucial All-Ireland final cameo last August, Finn went into the Waterford game sitting second in their scorers chart with a 4-7 total. The vastly experienced and returning-from-injury Katrina Mackey slotted in and Finn's absence was not felt. Mackey returned with four from play. Management has a call to make. Persist with eight-time All-Star Mackey or hand Finn her first senior final start. It could well prove that both get the nod, with another starting forward from last Saturday dropping out. Whoever loses out in the final selection, Galway won't be overjoyed at seeing them sprint into action at some point in the second half of the decider. All-Ireland winning corner-back Meabh Murphy was another returning from injury at UPMC Nowlan Park and saw the last few minutes of action. The likelihood is the Ballinora defender will be held on Sunday week, meaning Cork have an exceptionally strong defensive option ready to go should the need arise. Options. They have so many options. Finn, Sorcha McCartan, and Meabh Cahalane were massive when introduced in last year's final against Galway. The former pair were responsible for Cork's final three points. Three was the winning margin. In the All-Ireland semi-final the year previously, again against great rivals Galway, Cliona Healy, Laura Hayes, Orla Cronin, Ashling Thompson, and Orlaith Cahalane were rolled off the bench and had a direct hand in each of Cork's nine second-half points. Orlaith Mullins struck 1-2 off the bench to wrap up victory on Saturday and yet that haul offers no guarantee of promotion for their latest dance with the Tribeswomen. Cliona Healy, similarly, is a more than useful card to be able to play at the opportune moment. 'It is not an easy panel to break into, there are girls breathing down your neck for positions,' Mullins said on Saturday. Captain Meabh Cahalane emphasised the total lack of fuss when one of the first-team regulars is unable to fulfil their usual role. 'Meabh Murphy is back from injury, she wasn't starting today, but she came in and played her part, Orlaith Mullins too. Clodagh Finn, unfortunately, had an injury, but others stepped up. 'Injuries and people missing, it is just next person up. That is the ethos of the group, it doesn't matter who is on the pitch at any stage. We back anyone. That is the strength of our squad at the moment, and it is great to see,' said Cahalane. Question marks surround the strength of Galway's bench. No sub among the scorers on Saturday gone or last year's final. No question marks surround Cork's potential for further bench impact on the biggest day.
