By Niall Gartland

RAYMOND Galligan made a surprise exit as Cavan senior intercounty boss earlier in the week, and one of his right-hand men, legendary Tyrone footballer Stephen O’Neill, says that he’s left the county in a good place.

O’Neill was forwards’ coach during Galligan’s two-year tenure, a stint where they suffered some bruising championship defeats but always had some good days out and more than held their own in Division Two.

Commenting on the surprise news, O’Neill said: “I really enjoyed my time with Cavan, they’re a really good bunch of lads to work with.

“Like every football team, they’re trying their best to improve and take it up the ladder a wee bit. Raymond put together a really good management team and the whole backroom team really gelled well together and worked hard and got on well, which was good.

“I suppose he was looking forward to the third year, but he’s had the birth of a new child.

“He’s got work commitments and travelling as well, Raymond is based in Dublin and he just felt that he couldn’t give it the full attention that it would need. It’s a good bunch of players there, with a really good attitude. There’s lots of young players that Raymond bled in in this last year or two.

“The county is left in a good stead and it’ll be a good job for everybody coming through because there’s a good batch of older players and then obviously younger players like Evan Crowe, Barry Donnelly, Darragh Lovett are coming through and that will hopefully help get Cavan further up the ladder. “

O’Neill has accrued a considerable amount of coaching experience, including at his native Tyrone, but he says he hasn’t given managing an intercounty team much consideration.

“Ah, I don’t know. I haven’t really thought much about it. I enjoy coaching, I’ve done a wee bit now, obviously with Tyrone, Antrim and Cavan, and I suppose then with my own work, family… listen, people phone you and ask you about certain things, clubs, jobs and things like that.

“You just have to take it what way it comes and what might interest you. I haven’t really given it much thought to tell you the truth.”