What’s keeping Derry? Manager search creeps on

SEARCH CONTINUES: Derry are still without a senior football manager. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Day 115 in the Big Brother house. Derry are still without a senior football manager.

The first Sam Maguire Cup team to lose one in 2024 and the last in the country to find one unless they snaffle like they did Mickey Harte from Louth last year, the saga has outlasted the duration of the county’s senior football championship by 44 days.

Reigning Division 1 champions and the champs of Ulster the two seasons prior to this year, they should be one of the hottest attractions in inter-county future. But things are complicated, obviously.

Although they have officially ruled him out, Rory Gallagher continues to hold strong support in quarters of the county executive. 

The fear at both local and national GAA level of a public backlash to such a decision has stopped Derry from agreeing to him resuming the role he left prior to last year’s Ulster final following allegations of domestic abuse made against him by his estranged wife Nicole.

Last month, Gallagher’s legal representatives told The Irish News that he fully intended on returning to inter-county management. It was reported they had written to the Derry County Board explaining that there was no legal impediment to him taking up such a position.

In February, the Irish Examiner broke the news that Gallagher in front of the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) had successfully contested a temporary barring order imposed on him by the Ulster Council.

Gallagher was issued with the indefinite suspension last September following a safeguarding review, a punishment which prevented Derry from reinstating Gallagher. No charges have been brought against Gallagher.

“Our client successfully challenged the decision to disbar him from the GAA, before the disputes resolution authority,” read part of the statement. “The DRA found, amongst other things, that Ulster GAA were incorrect in their decision to disbar Mr Gallagher.” 

It's not as if Derry have been waiting for the heat to go out of that story. They played their part in cooling it by stating Gallagher was not being considered even though he had been during the late summer. 

According to Malachy O’Rourke who plumped for Tyrone in the end, Derry had approached the outgoing Glen manager about succeeding Harte.

Since then, Slaughtneil manager Mark Doran has been considered a strong contender for the role but the Down man has since been confirmed as Roscommon’s new head coach. 

Former Donegal star and current Kilcoo boss Karl Lacey has also been linked but recently distanced himself from the speculation.

Another name familiar to Kilcoo, Mickey Moran, already a three-time Derry manager, is the latest name to surface. 

The idea of Conleith Gilligan returning to Derry to link up with Moran once more after they brought the Down club to All-Ireland glory in 2022 is a tantalising one, but Gilligan has already committed to another season with All-Ireland champions Armagh.

As Moran bent down to his hands and knees in front of the Hill 16 posts after his side defeated Kilmacud Crokes that February, it felt like the Maghera man was saying goodbye to Croke Park. 

When Kilcoo announced his departure the following month, their understanding was he was retiring from football management.

Perhaps the 72-year-old could be convinced that the fourth time’s a charm but there would be conditions. For one, he doesn’t do media anymore. 

If Gilligan isn’t going to return home to be his No2, a prominent coach who doesn’t mind being the figurehead will have to be recruited.

After toppling O’Rourke’s Glen on Sunday, Newbridge’s Antrim and Tyrone pair of Kevin Brady and Gary Hetherington may be an option. Lavey under Donegal man Brendan Maguire came close to beating Glen and Maguire previously made impressions as a coach with Corduff in Monaghan.

It's not expected that Ciarán Meenagh, who filled in for Gallagher having been his right-hand man, will go back. The Tyrone man is set to be part of Conor Laverty’s management team for a second season in 2025.

Derry had been keen to land an established name in keeping with Gallagher and Harte. Their approach to O’Rourke as well as sniffing out interest from James Horan indicated that.

The wait could go into November but a championship has already been and gone. Another week or two won’t hurt even if the right man at this stage may have passed them by.