Ulster coaches making mark in other three provinces

Cork

FORMER Antrim star James Loughrey has been part of Cork’s management team for a few seasons now under John Cleary and although the 2026 team has to be signed off on, the sounds from the Rebel County is that there will be no significant changes for the new campaign. Loughrey had a few brilliant years in Saffron – helping them to the 2009 Ulster final – before making the move to Munster in 2013.

Galway

PADRÁIC Joyce’s future was a source of a small bit of debate after their surprise All-Ireland semi-final loss to Meath, but no rumblings since then ensures he’s back for another go with Cavan’s Mickey Graham in there too. Graham’s move to Galway raised eyebrows, stepping down from the Leitrim manager’s job to take it, and it’s Joyce that’s benefitting from his expertise.

Kildare

AIDAN O’Rourke is back in his second year as coach with Kildare and they will be hoping to build on the successful 2025 season that saw them earn promotion to Division Two and follow it up with a Tailteann Cup success. Brian Flanagan’s side clearly have a lot of ground to make up, but they have some really promising young players coming through and the Dromintee man will hope to mould them. For now, O’Rourke’s focus is on his club’s minor side having guided them to a rare championship final appearance at that level.

Leitrim

DOWN’S Steven Poacher has a number of Ulster men in his backroom as he prepares for year two over in Connacht, including Donegal’s Anthony McGrath, but the star name in the team is former Fermanagh powerhouse Ryan Jones. He, along with brothers Garvan and Conall, joined Leitrim Gaels at the start of the year. It was a rocky start to life in Leitrim for the team as they faced criticism for not fulfilling a league fixture against the Erne County, but they picked it up in the Tailteann Cup.

London

WHILE we await confirmation on the London management team, it looks likely that Michael Maher will be back for a seventh season in charge of the Exiles and that means Donegal’s Michael Boyle will likely be back too. The former Donegal goalkeeper has been based in England for a number of years now.

Louth

RONAN O’Neill had long been linked with a move to Gavin Devlin’s Louth management team, and it’s now officially confirmed that the Omagh man has moved to the Wee County. O’Neill had been in Fermanagh under Kieran Donnelly in recent seasons but has been snapped up by the Leinster champions after their time in the Erne County came to an end recently.

Mayo

PADDY Tally’s exit from Derry appeared a bit harsh after a much-improved championship, but he’s quickly back on the horse as part of Andy Moran’s backroom team in Mayo. If Tony McEntee had won out Aaron Kernan may have filled in here – he has since snapped up – but it’s Tyrone’s Tally who will be trying to bring Mayo to the top.

Meath

ROBBIE Brennan had Ulster men in his backroom in season one in the form of Martin Corey and Joe McMahon, although they dramatically left mid-season before the Royals recovered to reach the last four of the All-Ireland. Brennan has dipped back to the northern province with Crossmaglen’s Aaron Kernan coming in after his stint with Sligo.