Conor Laverty

IT goes without saying that the Kilcoo man’s name will pop up having led Down to the Ulster U-20 title, but Gaelic Life understands that his interest in the position is fairly cool. It seems inevitable that Laverty will manage the Mourne county at some stage, but maybe it will be in the next cycle when some of those u-20 players will be in a better place to make their mark on the senior team. Laverty is also still playing with his club, and he is determined to give that plenty of his time too, so he is unlikely to be in any mad rush.

MALACHY O’ROURKE

DOWN are very open to a high-profile name coming in, especially after seeing the coup pulled off by their neighbours to the south as Louth appointed Mickey Harte from leftfield last year. Malachy O’Rourke is the obvious name that springs to mind, and there are suggestions that he may have already have been sounded out. It’s very unlikely that O’Rourke will be taking charge of a third Ulster side though after Fermanagh and Monaghan. He remains with Derry club Glen and things seems to be going very well as they hit a huge 1-21 against Coleraine at the weekend.

STEVEN POACHER

STEVEN Poacher has built up a fair bit of intercounty experience at this stage having been a coach at both Carlow and Roscommon. He has also coached the Mourne county at underage level and does hold an ambition to be involved with their senior set-up. The Newry native put his hand up for the job the last time the position was on offer as part of a joint ticket with Shane Mulholland, but they lost out to Paddy Tally. It’s quite clear that his interest doesn’t seem as strong this time around, and he is still involved with the ‘Rossies’, but he can’t be counted out either. His record with young teams at school levels would work in his favour given Down’s age profile.

GAVIN DEVLIN

ONE man quietly linked with the job is Mickey Harte’s number two in Louth, Gavin Devlin. Whether or not Devlin has any real interest in the role remains to be seen, and the fact that he is back for a second season with Derry outfit ​Sleacht Néill will maybe make up his mind for him. It wouldn’t make it impossible though as the split-season model has opened new doors and Cavan’s Mickey Graham is working with Longford club Mullinalaghta while a number of other intercounty coaches in Ulster are working with club teams.

CONOR DEEGAN

CONOR Deegan is usually linked with the Down job, and this time is no different. The former Mourne star has never hid his desire to manage his county, although he hasn’t publically declared his position either way yet on this occasion. Deegan’s CV contains the sort of experience that would put him in the frame as he has worked with a number of clubs in both Down and Dublin. He has also worked with a number of the current Mourne players when he was the county’s u-20 manager, so he may feel that now is the time when all the parts come together.

PADDY TALLY

A RETURN for Paddy Tally? Stranger things have happened. It is understood that a number of Down players were unhappy to see him go, and a potential return was explored. Tally had asked for a one-year extension but he didn’t feel that he had garnered enough support to stay in the role and stepped away. It still remains a highly unlikely scenario, but the selection committee do have the power to approach candidates so he wouldn’t have to get a club to nominate him again. It would still be a major shock it he was back on the sideline in 2022.

27 June 2021; Down manager Paddy Tally speaks with his players after the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Preliminary Round match between Down and Donegal at Páirc Esler in Newry, Down. Photo by Philip FitzpatrickSportsfile