Stalwarts deserve time to mull over future says Bannigan

By Niall Gartland

NEW Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan is hoping that some of the county’s living legends will decide to stay on board for 2025, but understands that it’s their own decision to make.

Conor McManus, Darren Hughes and Karl O’Connell are all in the twilight of their playing careers and have yet to confirm whether they’ll remain involved or are taking the lofty decision to retire.

McManus said in the wake of their championship exit at the hands of Galway earlier in the season that he was coming close to the end (“It’s no big secret that the clock’s running out on my innings. But it is what it is.”). Darren Hughes, meanwhile, has recovered from a serious leg injury and is back playing with Scotstown, while Karl O’Connell recently turned 37 and also faces a retirement dilemma.

The new Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan, who was part of Vinny Corey’s backroom team in the last two years, says the trio will make up their minds individually once the club championships are done and dusted.

“Don’t be surprised if Conor ends up finding a new hip and goes again. Look it, I want the best players that I can gather at my disposal in each cohort. You’ve Darren Hughes, Conor McManus, Karl O’Connnell, 37 years of age, but those boys have all kept themselves in great condition.

“To be fair to them and I’ve spoken to them all over the weekend, and I knew this anyway, they were never going to be able to tell until they finish up with their clubs and see how the body is feeling, and then make a decision as to whether they can go again.”