THERE was mounting speculation in Donegal last night that former Fermanagh and Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke was emerging as the leading candidate for the vacant Donegal manager’s position.
The post has been vacant after previous boss Declan Bonner called time on a tenure that lasted from 2017 to 2022.
Donegal have not had an 'outside' manager since Brian McIver. Rory Gallagher is a Fermanagh native, but he was working and living in the county when he managed the side from 2014 to 2017 after being coach from 2011 to 2013.
But there seems to be a mood for change in the county and the feeling is that a man with O’Rourke’s track record would be the ideal candidate.
O’Rourke, who is currently manager of Watty Graham’s, Glen whom he guided to a first-ever Derry senior title last year.
The Fermanagh native managed Monaghan to two Ulster title victories over Donegal in 2013 and 2015 and took the Farneymen to an All-Ireland semi-final in 2018.
The Derrylin man took Loup to a Derry and Ulster title in 2003 and as won county titles with Errigal Ciaran and Cavan Gaels in Tyrone and Cavan in 2006 and 2007.
A year later he brought his own Fermanagh to an Ulster final where they lost out to Armagh in a replay.
O’Rourke stood down from the Monaghan job in 2019 after six years in charge.
Dual Donegal Allstar Martin McHugh from Kilcar has also been linked with the post.
The All-Ireland 1992 medal winner took Cavan to an emotional Ulster title in 1997 and he took Kilcar to a Donegal county final appearance in 2016.
McHugh is also a well-known GAA pundit and knows the GAA scene in the county inside out
Also linked with the post has been Shaun Paul Barrett from Milford, who has previously managed Donegal U17 and U20 teams.
He has been heavily involved in management locally over the past few years and, like McHugh has an extensive knowledge of the GAA in Tir Chonaill.
Donegal County Board have thrown a veil of secrecy over the entire process of the appointment.
Last weekend they were due to select a three-person committee to interviews the prospective candidates.
Not only are the board not confirming who is in for the job, but they are not confirming the identities of the three-person committee.
The silence has also fuelled considerable speculation as to who is on the “interviewing panel” as well.
