Tally ratified for three-year term as new Derry football boss

READY TO ROLL: Former Kerry coach Paddy Tally has been handed a three-year term in the Oak Leaf county. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Paddy Tally has been ratified as the new Derry senior football manager on a three-year term.

The Tyrone native will be assisted by former Kilcoo manager and Fermanagh coach Paul McIver, ex-Derry captain Kevin McGuckin (both Ballinderry) and Paul McFlynn (Loup). Former Derry defender McFlynn was part of Mickey Harte’s management set-up this past season.

Ex-senior manager Damian McErlain has been appointed the U20 manager having guided the county to two All-Ireland minor triumphs. Kieran Glackin takes over as minor football boss.

There is no change for Derry’s hurling management teams as Johnny McGarvey retains the senior post having guided the county to a Christy Ring Cup final in 2024. Ryan O’Neill remains at the helm of the U20s while Danny McGrellis stays with the minors.

Meanwhile, next year’s Munster senior football final will take place on the weekend of May 4.

Identical to this past season, the provincial council have confirmed the weekends for their football and hurling championships and the football competition will commence on April 5/6, the weekend after the Allianz divisional finals.

As previously revealed by the Irish Examiner, the hurling championship commences on Easter weekend (April 19/20) and runs through to the final on Saturday, June 7.

A final involving either Clare and/or Waterford will be staged in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as per the venue rotation agreed by the Munster Council last year.

As per their home/away agreement, a Limerick-Cork final would be played in TUS Gaelic Grounds as their previous final in 2014 was in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The next Cork-Tipperary decider is due to be staged in Cork (the last taking place in Semple Stadium in 2006) whereas a Tipperary-Limerick final would be arranged for Thurles.

The Munster SFC quarter-finals – Tipperary v Waterford and Cork v Limerick – are down for decision on April 5/6. The semi-finals take place two weeks later with Kerry having to travel to either Cork or Limerick for their last-four game.

The football final is schedule for May 3/4, the same weekend as Waterford host Limerick in the province’s senior hurling championship.

2025 Munster SFC weekend dates —  Quarter-finals (April 5/6): Tipperary v Waterford, Tipperary venue; Cork v Limerick, Cork venue. Semi-finals (April 19/20): Clare v Tipperary/Waterford, Clare venue; Cork/Limerick v Kerry, Cork/Limerick venue). Final: May 4/5.

2025 Munster SHC weekend dates — Round 1 (April 19/20): Tipperary v Limerick, FBD Semple Stadium; Clare v Cork, Cusack Park. Round 2 (April 26/27): Cork v Tipperary, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Waterford v Clare, Walsh Park. Round 3 (May 3/4): Waterford v Limerick, Walsh Park. Round 4 (May 17/18): Limerick v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds; Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium. Round 5 (May 24/25): Limerick v Clare, TUS Gaelic Grounds; Cork v Waterford, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.