Football

Former Cavan boss Mickey Graham leaves Leitrim job after less than two months

The Cavan Gaels clubman was boss of the Breifne County when they won the Ulster SFC in 2020

Mickey Graham has stepped down as manager Picture: Seamus Loughran.
Mickey Graham has stepped down as manager Picture: Seamus Loughran. Mickey Graham has stepped down as Leitrim football manager Picture: Seamus Loughran.

MICKEY Graham has lasted just under two months in his post as Leitrim senior football manager.

The former Cavan boss took over from new Monaghan selector and former Footballer of the Year Andy Moran of Mayo.

Last year, Leitrim lost the Division Four league final to Justin McNulty’s Laois but were still promoted to Division Three.

Graham was set to lead the ridge county for the next three seasons before he decided to step down after 64 days.

Mickey Graham stepped down as Cavan manager on Monday after five years in charge
Mickey Graham stepped down as Cavan manager on Monday after five years in charge

In a statement, the Leitrim board said: “Mickey was fully committed and looking forward to his role ahead but circumstances beyond his control have led to him making this decision and regrettably, for all concerned, he will not be continuing in his appointed position.”

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Graham came into the job having spent five seasons as Cavan manager in which time he won the first Ulster SFC for the Breifne since 1997 in 2020 before leaving in 2023, when he joined Moran’s backroom team.

Before his time managing Cavan, he had achieved the extraordinary feat of leading tiny Longford club Mullinalaghta to a stunning Leinster SFC title success in 2018.

Graham, a player for Cavan between 1995 and 2003, struggled with league form in his time at Kingspan Breffini, leading to the side dropping to the fourth tier for the first time in their history.

Leitrim will now begin the process of appointing a new manager for the 2025 season.