Gavin's former number two Darcy linked with Dublin job 

RETURN? Declan Darcy. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Declan Darcy is being linked with a return to the Dublin senior football management set-up in the lead role.

Darcy was selector and defensive coach with Jim Gavin for all of the county’s six All-Ireland SFC successes between 2013 and ’19.

The St Brigid’s man's association with the set-up ended when Gavin stepped down at the end of 2019 and was replaced by Dessie Farrell. He has been working in an advisory capacity with Leinster Rugby since 2022.

Ger Brennan has also been associated with the position Farrell vacated in the immediate wake of June’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tyrone. 

This season, St Vincent’s clubman Brennan brought Louth to their first Leinster SFC title in 68 years and he left the role early last month after two years to be replaced by Gavin Devlin.

Former Dublin player Paul Flynn has backed Darcy to succeed Farrell. 

“My number one choice is Declan Darcy,” he said on The Sunday Game in June. 

“That's what I think the county board should do. I think it would be a tough job to get him to come back and do it, but he was Jim's number two, a phenomenal operator.” 

Meanwhile, Tony McEntee and Andy Moran are believed to be the leading candidates to succeed Kevin McStay as Mayo senior football manager.

McEntee recently stepped down as Sligo manager after five seasons in charge. The Armagh 2002 All-Ireland SFC winner was previously a coach and selector in Mayo during Stephen Rochford’s time in charge.

If successful, the Crossmaglen Rangers man will be the first outside manager in Mayo since Mickey Moran in 2006, when he was aided by the late John Morrison as coach.

Footballer of the year in 2017, Moran was Monaghan’s assistant manager this season, having served for three years as Leitrim boss. Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan had credited the Ballaghaderreen man with playing an integral role in the county’s strong season.

Elsewhere, retiring Roscommon footballer Donie Smith has called for the board to appoint Davy Burke’s successor from within the county.

Roscommon have not had a sole native manager since Des Newton 13 years ago – Fergie O’Donnell co-managed with McStay – and the likes of Frankie Dolan and Nigel Dineen have been mentioned as possible candidates.

“I think it is time we trust fellas from Roscommon, who live in Roscommon and are mad about Roscommon,” Smith told the Roscommon Herald. 

“I think we have plenty of good fellas about the place and I think it is time we went internal and put everything behind him.”