Football

Search begins for new Monaghan boss as McEnaney departs

MONAGHAN are on the look-out for a new manager after Seamus McEnaney called time on his second stint in charge of his native county.

As the Championship nears its conclusion, Antrim, Meath and Mayo are already searching for new managers – with the Division One Farneymen also expected to attract plenty of interest following McEnaney’s decision to step down yesterday.

The spotlight was on the Corduff man in the wake of Monaghan’s disappointing Championship campaign, which saw them lose to eventual champions Derry at the semi-final stage in Ulster before falling to Mayo in the first round of All-Ireland qualifiers.

It remains to be seen whether the county board will favour appointing an ‘outside manager’, as they did when bringing Malachy O’Rourke onboard in 2012. The Fermanagh man ended a 25-year wait for the Anglo-Celt in 2013 before repeating the feat two years later.

But, although the process of identifying a replacement is only getting under way, several names have already been mentioned in dispatches.

Among them is former Armagh forward and respected TV pundit Oisin McConville, who currently manages Inniskeen. McConville previously managed his native Crossmaglen alongside former team-mate John McEntee – with McEntee since helping Clontibret break Scotstown’s stranglehold on the county title when they landed the 2019 crown.

McEntee’s twin Tony was in the frame for the Farney job when O’Rourke stepped down three years ago, but is currently over Tailteann Cup semi-finalists Sligo.

Former Fermanagh boss Dominic Corrigan - who last year indicated he could consider a return to the inter-county scene in the future - is another who has experience of Monaghan football, having brought the Mick Duffy Cup to Clontibret in 2014.

Conor Laverty, part of McEnaney’s backroom team during his first year back at the helm, is seen as potential county management material in years to come, and has been strongly linked with his native Down after guiding the county U20s to Ulster success last summer.

However, as his playing days with All-Ireland club champions Kilcoo extend into another year, it appears unlikely he would consider any such role at this point.

Should the Monaghan County Board intend to appoint from within, some strong contenders have already been mentioned – including former minor boss Mark Counihan.

The Truagh clubman succeeded McEnaney in that role when he stepped up to the seniors, and has a firm grasp of the talent coming through in the Farney County after leading Monaghan to the 2019 Ulster crown and the 2020 provincial decider.

Current Scotstown boss Colin McAree - who guided An Bhoth to a seventh county title in nine years last year - is also expected to be under consideration, having previously served as Monaghan minor boss too.

Typically, Jim McGuinness has been mooted as a possible successor to James Horan, after the Ballintubber man stepped down following a second stint in charge of Mayo after Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry.

McGuinness, who led Donegal to the Sam Maguire 10 years ago, hasn’t been involved at inter-county level since leaving the Tir Chonaill in 2014. However, despite pursuing a career in soccer coaching, the Sky Sports pundit continues to be linked with a return to the GAA – with Down keen to secure his services last year on a ticket that also included Laverty and Marty Clarke.

Former Mayo boss Stephen Rochford, currently part of Declan Bonner’s Donegal backroom team, has also been linked with a possible return out west.