Who's the boss at every GAA county and what are his prospects?
COUTY BY COUNTY: Who's the boss at every GAA county and what are his prospects?
Paul Shankey’s imminent appointment as Waterford manager means the runners and riders for the 2024 inter-county football season are all but confirmed.
So too the 11 managers leading counties in the Liam MacCarthy Cup and six competing in the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Football: Mark Fitzgerald (1st season).
The Kerins O’Rahillys man has to contend with a brain-drain but the Munster draw has been kind and Division 3 will give him a chance to experiment a little.
Hurling: Brian Lohan (5th season).
Top of the table in the last two Munster SHCs, if senior players are seeing 2024 as an all-or-nothing season then the management might be too.
John Cleary (2nd season).
Precipitated by the rugby game in Páirc Ui Chaoimh in February, Cork have a tricky start to Division 2 and been done no favours by the provincial draw.
Pat Ryan (2nd season).
Ryan’s term runs until the end of 2025 but he knows he can’t rely on the sympathy that was afforded his team after a close-run thing this past season.
Jack O’Connor (3rd season).
Or his 10th if you include his previous terms. O’Connor will be looking for a strong league run to provide a platform as it has done his three All-Irelands.
Stephen Molumphy (3rd season).
The Waterford man won’t need to be told how disappointing the 2023 season was as Kerry were overtaken even if there were some mitigating reasons.
Jimmy Lee (1st season).
A canny operator like his brother and former Limerick manager Billy, Lee will have run the rule over plenty of players while in charge of Newcastle West.
John Kiely (8th season).
Just the one-year extension, which is a break from previous announcements. Does it suggest he sees nothing beyond trying to achieve the five-in-a-row?
Paul Kelly (1st season).
The penultimate football appointment, Kelly has put together a solid management team as they go about rebuilding the team in 2024.
Liam Cahill (2nd season).
Cahill hasn’t been afraid to look outside the county again, this time to David Herity, for counsel. The abject displays against Waterford and Galway can’t be repeated.
Paul Shankey (1st season).
Recommended to succeed Ephie Fitzgerald, former Meath player Shankey has a massive task on his hands to make Waterford competitive.
Davy Fitzgerald (2nd season).
His sixth at the helm in total, Fitzgerald’s biggest task is to make Waterford believe in themselves. An expanded Walsh Park surface should be an advantage.
Pádraic Joyce (5th season).
Were Galway weighed down by expectations last year? Shane Walsh’s story would suggest they did. Having Liam Silke back will be a boon for Joyce.
Henry Shefflin (3rd season).
For a manager who everyone felt had to win silverware last year, Shefflin was handed an extension without it. With Eamon O’Shea by his side, he’ll be better.
Andy Moran (3rd season).
After falling short of promotion from Division 4, Leitrim’s 2023 season went from bad to worse losing to New York and all three Tailteann Cup games. Must do better.
Michael Maher (5th season).
Under Maher, London have been a difficult nut to crack in a few Division 4 games. Galway in the first round of Connacht SFC is a tall order.
Kevin McStay (2nd season).
It’s probably safe to say Mayo won’t be making a big deal of the league. Does McStay’s right-hand man Stephen Rochford break his Connacht duck?
Davy Burke (2nd season).
Given he was appointed relatively late, Roscommon’s early promise under Burke was impressive. By season’s end, it felt like things caught up with them.
Tony McEntee (4th season).
Promotion, a Division 4 title, a Connacht final appearance and a Sam Maguire group marked a progressive 2023. Must keep heads above water in Division 3.
Niall Carew (4th season).
The continuity provided by Carew in the wake of Turlough O’Brien’s departure was needed in Carlow. Should be gunning for promotion from Division 4 next season.
Tom Mullally (4th season).
A major improvement in standards under Mullally last season as they captured the Joe McDonagh Cup. All about staying in the Leinster SHC now.
Dessie Farrell (5th season).
If this past season was the last dance, what is this? The encore? Farrell staying put means several older players have chosen to do so too. Remain to team to beat.
Micheál Donoghue (2nd season).
But for injuries, Dublin would have made a better fist of it against Clare in their All-Ireland quarter-final. A Leinster final appearance may still be beyond them.
Glenn Ryan (3rd season).
It seemed disagreements with venues and referees dominated Kildare’s 2023 season despite some good flourishes. Finishing in the top four in Division 2 is the first goal.
Derek Lyng (2nd season).
If Brian Cody was ever to speak about his successor’s work in 2023, he would surely articulate his approval. Kilkenny are a work in progress but still too good for most.
Justin McNulty (1st season).
Like Fitzgerald in Clare, McNulty in this second coming of his will have to deal with player unavailability plus his SDLP party are putting pressure on him.
Willie Maher (2nd season).
Relegation from Division 1 and falling short of a McDonagh Cup final was below what was required in 2023. Maher will want to hit the ground running in January.
Paddy Christie (2nd season).
A very ordinary debut year for the ex-Dublin full-back but he can start putting things together with a promotion run in Division 4.
Ger Brennan (1st season).
Carew’s former coach takes over from Mickey Harte backed by a good management team. However, Division 2 will be a viper’s nest in 2024.
Colm O’Rourke (2nd season).
O’Rourke has luxury of knowing Meath’s Sam Maguire place is secure because of their Tailteann Cup deeds. All the same, he will want to avoid dropping to Division 3.
Seoirse Bulfin (2nd season)
Instant success for the Bruff native in both the league and the Christy Ring Cup in 2023. It’s all about consolidation in Division 2A and the McDonagh Cup now.
Declan Kelly (1st season).
Knowing so many of the players having guided them as U20 manager, there are few men more capable of tapping Offaly’s potential than Kelly.
Johnny Kelly (2nd season).
Bringing Offaly back to Division 1, the Galway man will savour the exposure that gives his players yet it’s a McDonagh Cup title that will be yearned most.
Dessie Dolan (2nd season).
The 2022 Tailteann Cup winners gave a fine account of themselves in the Sam Maguire Cup and were unlucky. Getting back there will be difficult.
Joe Fortune (3rd season).
In the end, beating Wexford, as good as it must have felt, counted for nothing as they were demoted to the McDonagh Cup. Fortune will embrace that challenge.
John Hegarty (2nd season).
If they’re not in the shake-up to go up to Division 3, they will be disappointed. Nobody could say this past season wasn’t an advance on what had went before.
Keith Rossiter (1st season).
Aided by Frank Flannery and David Franks, Rossiter has an excellent backroom team assembled but the concern is this is an aging Wexford squad.
Oisin McConville (2nd season).
There was fatigue in the group come the Tailteann Cup, their best work having been done to put together a string of results to get to Division 3. Staying there is the plan.
Andy McEntee (2nd season).
As McEntee got his feet under the table, Antrim were slow starting earlier this year but won five in a row in the Tailteann Cup. Can give Division 3 a good stab.
Darren Gleeson (5th season).
Three home games in both the league and championship should help Antrim retain their positions in the top flight and Leinster. They’re more of a threat on the road too.
Kieran McGeeney (10th season).
The Ulster draw has been kind to a county that at this stage must feel starved of silverware. Going up from Division 2 would be ideal going into the province.
Raymond Galligan (1st season).
Another young man who has shown foresight to surround him with an experienced management team. Cavan don’t want to be in the Tailteann Cup again.
Mickey Harte (1st season)
As if they weren’t enough eyes on Derry already, along comes Harte. The second round Division 1 game against his Tyrone will be a must-see game.
Donegal.
Jim McGuinness (1st season)
It's his fifth if you include his terrific four-year stint at the start of the 2010s. Not the dark horses people make them out to be when McGuinness is in charge.
Conor Laverty (2nd season).
Favourites to earn promotion from Division 3, anything but that will be a blow for the Kilcoo man. Ciarán Meenagh’s insight will be valued as they try and go about it.
Ronan Sheehan (6th season).
Just about avoided demotion from Division 2A and the McDonagh Cup but Down showed in 2022 that they are capable of challenging for honours.
Kieran Donnelly (3rd season).
Not expected to do much in Division 2 and yet they will make life difficult for most teams coming to Brewster Park. If they go down, they’ll do so fighting.
Vinny Corey (2nd season).
As it was for the managers he served under, Monaghan have to pick their battles under Corey. Stay up in spring but go hammers and tongs for the championship.
Brian Dooher and Fergal Logan (4th season).
Considering their hectic work lives, it was a slight surprise that they chose to stay on. If there is business to finish, they will have to come out of Ulster unscathed.
