MARK Counihan has emerged as a home-grown contender to succeed Seamus McEnaney as manager of the Monaghan senior footballers.
The Gael Truagh clubman guided the Monaghan minors to the 2019 Ulster Minor Championship title with a two-point victory over Tyrone and his Farney youngsters reached the Ulster decider again in 2020.
Armagh All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville (manager of Inniskeen) and former Down forward Mark Doran (coach at Ballybay) were mentioned as early frontrunners for the vacant role but ruled themselves out and Dublin duo Jason Sherlock and Kevin Nolan were linked with the position earlier this week.
Interviews are expected to take place early next week and Counihan has assembled an experienced backroom team if he is chosen as the man to replace the popular ‘Banty’ who stepped down after Monaghan lost to Mayo in the first round of the All-Ireland Qualifiers back in early June.
Counihan’s managerial ticket includes Paul McIver, Colm Nally and Colin Malone, all of whom have inter-county experience under their belts.
Nally was involved with Meath for four seasons and worked with Louth for two years before that.
Meanwhile, Ballybay native Malone was coach of the Monaghan U20s last year and is an experienced manager on the club scene in Monaghan. He was manager of Ballybay when they lost to Scotstown in the senior football championship final in 2018.
Paul McIver has previous county experience with Donegal, Derry and Fermanagh and has won club championships in Derry (with Ballinderry), Down (four with Kilcoo including a three in-a-row) and in Tyrone with Dromore.
Monaghan clung onto their Division One status this year with a dramatic final round win over Dublin that saw the Dubs relegated instead. Their sole Championship win was a walk-in-the-park victory over Down in Ulster but, after losing to a Derry side on their way to the provincial title and All-Ireland semi-final, the Farneymen’s season came to an end after defeat to Mayo.
The county remains an attractive top flight proposition for ambitious managers but with several players, including Conor McManus and the Hughes brothers Darren and Kieran nearing the end of their inter-county careers, the new bainisteoir will have rebuilding work to do.
