Football

Tony McEntee a no for Cavan but Declan Bonner a maybe

Tony McEntee won't be the next Cavan manager and says he hasn't discussed plans for next season with Mayo bainisteoir Stephen Rochford
Tony McEntee won't be the next Cavan manager and says he hasn't discussed plans for next season with Mayo bainisteoir Stephen Rochford Tony McEntee won't be the next Cavan manager and says he hasn't discussed plans for next season with Mayo bainisteoir Stephen Rochford

TONY McEntee has ruled himself out of becoming the next manager of Cavan, but Donegal U21 boss Declan Bonner has emerged as a front-runner.

The Armagh man ended speculation that he was poised to succeed Terry Hyland in the Breffni dug-out in definitive fashion on Tuesday: “I won’t be next Cavan manager, take that as gospel,” McEntee told The Irish News.

McEntee, a Sam Maguire winner with the Orchard county in 2002, and an All-Ireland club winner as player and manager with his native Crossmaglen, spent last season as part of Stephen Rochford’s Mayo management team, training the Dublin-based players and travelling to Castlebar regularly for squad sessions.

The Westerners will need time to regroup after the disappointment of last Saturday’s one-point loss to Dublin in the All-Ireland final replay. McEntee says he hasn’t discussed with Rochford or his family the prospect of further involvement next season.

Bonner, particularly with McEntee no longer in the picture, appears to be a leading contender for the position Hyland vacated after Cavan’s loss to Derry in July. Bonner was an All-Ireland winner with Donegal in 1992 and has made a name for himself with the county’s underage teams after a successful management career at club level. He is currently the manager of the Donegal U21 team.

“It’s speculation more than anything else at this stage,” said Bonner, who guided the Tír Conaill minors to the Ulster title and a first-ever All-Ireland final appearance in 2014.

“I was aware of it [the speculation]but nothing has been done about it. At the minute I’m trying to get the U21s organised for next season so we’ll see what comes around.”

When asked if the position interested him, Bonner replied: “It’s very difficult, it’s hard to know.

“Number one priority is Donegal at the minute. We’ve taken a group of lads from 16 years of age right through to U21 and next season is their last year at U21 level so that’s probably the priority.”

However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of a move to the Breffni County, saying: “No-one knows what can happen and what’s around the corner.”

Others to be linked with the Cavan post include former Galway hurling manager Anthony Cunningham who enjoyed successful spells in club football management with Roscommon’s St Brigid’s and Westmeath outfit Garrycastle. He guided the Midlanders to an All-Ireland club final in 2012, which they lost to McEntee’s Crossmaglen after a replay.

Terry Hyland led the Breffni Blues to Division One football earlier this year  
Terry Hyland led the Breffni Blues to Division One football earlier this year   Terry Hyland led the Breffni Blues to Division One football earlier this year  

Also in the frame is highly-rated club manager Mattie McGleenan. The Tyrone native celebrated winning his third Monaghan title with Scotstown last Sunday after An Bhoth saw off bitter rivals Clontibret in the final. The Eglish native also won the title in 2013 and last year.

Whoever succeeds Hyland in the post faces an exciting - and daunting - challenge. In his fourth and final season at the helm, Hyland’s Cavan recovered from losing their first two games in Division Two to win promotion to the top flight. 

His success means the new incumbent will almost certainly face a baptism of fire in the Breffni dug-out. The first game in Division One is against All-Ireland champions Dublin. Kerry and Donegal also visit Cavan town, while the Breffnimen travel to Tyrone, Mayo, Monaghan and Roscommon.