Football

Five in the frame to succeed Rory Gallagher in Donegal hotseat

Seamus McEnaney walked away from Wexford last week after a year in charge, but is in the running for the Donegal job. Photo by Sportsfile
Seamus McEnaney walked away from Wexford last week after a year in charge, but is in the running for the Donegal job. Photo by Sportsfile Seamus McEnaney walked away from Wexford last week after a year in charge, but is in the running for the Donegal job. Photo by Sportsfile

THERE are five names in the frame for the vacant Donegal job – with former Monaghan boss Seamus McEnaney still in the running.

Declan Bonner remains the strong favourite to succeed Rory Gallagher, although he faces competition from Tyrone native Cathal Corey, Glenswilly boss Gary McDaid, McEnaney and minor boss Sean Paul Barrett.

Saturday evening was the closing date for nominations and applications, and a five-man selection committee – comprising county chairman Sean Dunnion, treasurer Cieran Kelly, central council delegate Seamus Ó Domhnaill and two as yet unconfirmed ex-county players - will be formed on Thursday.

Interviews are expected to be held next week.

Bonner, McDaid and Corey all received nominations from clubs while McEnaney, believed to have some high profile backers within the county, is understood to have applied for the post of his own accord.

However, it is understood that McDaid could form part of McEnaney’s backroom team should the Corduff man get the job.

1992 All-Ireland winner Bonner, who previously held the senior job from 1997-2000, confirmed last week that he had allowed his name to go forward after being nominated by several clubs.

Bonner is viewed as the frontrunner because he has worked with several members of the current senior side at underage level, and is viewed as the natural successor to Gallagher.

The Na Rossa clubman led the Donegal minors to an Ulster minor title in 2014, when they went on to lose to Kerry in the All-Ireland final.

He then took over the reins of the U21s in 2016 before leading them to the 2017 Ulster title back in April when goals from Lorcan Connor, Ethan O'Donnell and Michael Carroll saw them past neighbours Derry.

Bonner has a backroom team in place and was the first man to confirm his candidacy.

McEnaney, meanwhile, brought an end to his one-year term in charge of Wexford last week – citing the “500 kilometre round trip” - but is clearly keen to stay involved in inter-county management.

He led the Yellowbellies to promotion from Division Four but a disappointing Championship campaign saw them ousted by Carlow in Leinster before his native Monaghan finished them off in the Qualifiers.

It is his time in charge of the Farneymen for which ‘Banty’ is best known, having brought them to two Ulster finals during a six-year stint from 2004-2010.

After leaving the Monaghan job, McEnaney took charge of Meath in 2011 but that came to an end after two troubled years.

Corey, meanwhile, was nominated by the Naomh Conaill club and has allowed his name to go forward.

Currently in charge of Truagh Gaels in Monaghan, Corey worked alongside Jim McGuinness with Glenties in 2009.

That season, as joint managers, they led Naomh Conaill to the Donegal championship final but were defeated by St Eunan’s.

However the following year, after McGuinness had left to take over the Donegal U21s, Corey stayed on as boss and guided the Glenties club to a first county title in five years, defeating Killybegs in the final.

Naomh Conaill went all the way to the Ulster Club final but fell short when they came up against Crossmaglen.

In recent years, Corey has also been involved with Ulster University Jordanstown, Slaughtneil and Banagher.

He was previously nominated and interviewed for the Donegal job in 2014 when Gallagher got the nod.

McDaid – a selector under Gallagher in 2015 – was joint manager of Glenswilly when they won their first Donegal SFC title in 2011, and led them to the Dr Maguire Cup again two years later.

He was also part of Michael Canning’s backroom team last year as Glenswilly landed their third county title in six years.

Milford clubman Barrett, meanwhile, guided Donegal minors to Ulster Championship success in 2016.