MICKEY Moran is the surprise new manager of former Down kingpins Kilcoo.The former three-time Derry manager, who also coached their 1993 All-Ireland winning team, was appointed as Paul McIver’s replacement last night.He will bring with him Oak Leaf forward Conleith Gilligan, who retired from club duty with Ballinderry last month.The 38-year-old will go in as coach having previously worked with Coalisland for two-and-a-half seasons. Another Derry man, Paul Devlin, is also part of the new backroom team.Moran, who had also been linked with taking over in Killyclogher, got the better of Kilcoo twice while in charge of Slaughtneil.The Derry men came out on top in the 2016 provincial decider and the 2017 preliminary round on their way to retaining the Ulster title.Ex-Mayo, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim boss Moran stepped down from the Emmet’s following their subsequent All-Ireland semi-final loss to Nemo Rangers, and has since been involved with Derry underage development squads and Donegal club Urris, whom he helped reach a junior final. He replaces Gilligan’s clubmate McIver, who guided them to the final four Down titles of their six-in-a-row run that was ended by Burren this autumn, after which he stepped down.
