Declan Darcy is reportedly being considered for a return to the Dublin senior football management, potentially in the leading role.
Darcy previously served as selector and defensive coach under Jim Gavin, contributing to Dublin’s six All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) titles between 2013 and 2019.
Darcy’s involvement with the Dublin team concluded when Gavin resigned at the end of 2019, leading to Dessie Farrell’s appointment. Since 2022, Darcy has been providing advisory services to Leinster Rugby.
Ger Brennan’s name has also surfaced in connection with the Dublin manager position following Farrell’s departure after June’s All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Tyrone.
Brennan, a St Vincent’s club member, recently guided Louth to their first Leinster SFC title in 68 years this season. He resigned from the role early last month after two years, with Gavin Devlin succeeding him.
Former Dublin player Paul Flynn has publicly endorsed Darcy as Farrell’s successor.
“My number one choice is Declan Darcy,” he stated on in June.
“That’s what I think the county board should do. I think it would be a tough job to get him to come back and do it, but he was Jim’s number two, a phenomenal operator.”
Meanwhile, Tony McEntee and Andy Moran are considered the frontrunners to replace Kevin McStay as the Mayo senior football manager.
McEntee recently resigned from his position as Sligo manager after a five-season tenure. The 2002 All-Ireland SFC winner with Armagh previously served as a coach and selector in Mayo under Stephen Rochford.
If appointed, McEntee, from Crossmaglen Rangers, would be the first external manager for Mayo since Mickey Moran in 2006, who was assisted by the late John Morrison as coach.
Moran, the 2017 Footballer of the Year, served as Monaghan’s assistant manager this season, following three years as Leitrim’s manager. Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan has acknowledged Moran’s significant contribution to the county’s successful season.
In other news, retiring Roscommon footballer Donie Smith has urged the Roscommon County Board to appoint Davy Burke’s successor from within the county.
Roscommon has not had a solely native manager since Des Newton 13 years ago – Fergie O’Donnell co-managed with McStay. Potential candidates mentioned include Frankie Dolan and Nigel Dineen.
“I think it is time we trust fellas from Roscommon, who live in Roscommon and are mad about Roscommon,” Smith told the
“I think we have plenty of good fellas about the place and I think it is time we went internal and put everything behind him.”
