FIRST things first - Gabriel Bannigan hadn’t intended to be in this position.
Now, there’s a couple of layers to that, because there was no prouder man in Ireland than him when he was officially announced as Monaghan’s new manager last Thursday.
“I’m thrilled and humbled in equal measure… Monaghan GAA means everything to me, I’m steeped in it. It’s an honour for me, my family, my home club Aughnamullen, and I’m just going to give it everything I have.”
But his appointment is a direct consequence of Vinny Corey’s shock decision to step aside last month after two years in the job.
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Despite the challenges of injury and absenteeism thrown the Farney’s way this year - contributing to the loss of top-flight League status for the first time in a decade, then an underwhelming Championship campaign - the Clontribret man was widely expected to stay in situ.
Corey had asked Bannigan into his backroom team after succeeding Seamus McEnaney, the pair in daily contact throughout the two years that followed as a rollercoaster ride unfolded.
This year’s lull hurt that bit more because of the heady heights reached during a first 12 months that brought dramatic final day Division One survival, and a run to the All-Ireland semi-final where Monaghan pushed eventual champions Dublin to the pin of their collars.
By the time word filtered out of Corey’s decision to call time, it was news that Bannigan was still trying to digest.
“I was surprised,” he says, “and I was even more disappointed, because I have incredible respect for Vinny and he had my 100 per cent loyalty in everything I was doing in supporting him.
“Vinny made his decision, it was a personal decision based on his gut and how he was feeling, and I completely respect that.
“I’ve spoken to Vinny a number of times over the last number of weeks, and a lot of times last week, and the man couldn’t have been more supportive and helpful to me.”
Big names like former Farney boss Malachy O’Rourke and Dublin All-Ireland winner Jason Sherlock were among those bandied about as the rumour mill cranked up.
Far from the noise, though, Bannigan was putting out feelers of his own to see what kind of a ticket he could gather up. And the Aughnamullen man has plenty of managerial pedigree of his own to call upon, both on and off the field.
A new job with the Bank of Ireland saw him relocate to Malahide in 2001 and, after a few years working in England, he took up the reins at St Sylvester’s, enjoying success with the U21s before leading the club to a first-ever Division One title in 2010, as well as a senior B championship.
However, following the passing of older brother Owen – father of Monaghan senior star Micheal - Bannigan’s next coaching role was a little closer to home.
“He had managed Miceal’s team the whole way up, so the boys with him over the team asked me would I come back up and help out, which I was delighted to do - for the team, and for myself because of Owen.
“We were incredibly close… we were very alike, football-mad. So that was important; that was a special thing to do.”
Aughnamullen U16s won a league and championship double that year – “a great tribute to Owen” – and it wasn’t long before the capital came calling again, Bannigan taking over Kilmacud Crokes in 2015.
“They had an aging squad at that time, were coming off a couple of poor years by their standards, so it was a real challenge to transition the team.
“But Kilmacud is a brilliant club to work in, great people involved and a great group of lads. I had the U21s as well and a big part of my focus as well was bringing new players into the senior set-up, developing them and moulding a new team.”
They won the All-Ireland sevens tournament in his first year, while back-to-back U21 championship successes would provide the backbone for the side that would go on to lift the Andy Merrigan Cup last year.
After that came a change of direction.
Bannigan left the bank to take up a new role with Klass Oil, becoming a director and shareholder in the business, and would soon return to Aughnamullen – “it was something I always wanted to do” - this time for an extended period.
The club had just been relegated to junior but, with a core of the young lads with whom he had worked years earlier, they achieved back-to-back promotions before solidifying their spot in senior football.
The couple of years that followed, however, were invaluable; on the inside of an inter-county set-up hell bent on maintaining the high standards set in previous decades, developing relationships with a group of players whose future is now intertwined with his.
“A number of things prepare you for it – first and foremost I’ve been lucky enough to be with Vinny the last two years, and I’ve learned a lot about the inter-county scene in that time, both in terms of our own squad and managing at that level, and all the different aspects to it.
“You also get an intimate knowledge of the strengths of different counties, so the last two years has been a big learning curve, one that I’ve really enjoyed.
“It was an honour to be asked to come in and work with Vinny. I’m very grateful to him for giving me that opportunity.”
Now, though, it is he who will have the last word.
But Bannigan searched far and wide to find the best people to bring in alongside him, with Mayo legend Andy Moran – recently in charge of Leitrim – joined by John McElholm and former Farney stalwart Damien Freeman.
“The biggest learning I took from all the managing jobs I’ve done, whether in business or football, is that it’s about the people; it’s about getting the best out of the people, and getting the best people possible on your team.
“In terms of preparing for this job, I’m delighted to get men of the calibre of Andy Moran, John McElholm and Damien Freeman onto the ticket, fully aligned and motivated to make a difference and to take Monaghan football forward.
“I wouldn’t have gone forward in pursuing the job if I hadn’t been able to get people of that calibre to come with me. Leveraging the strengths of the people around you makes you a more effective leader – that’s something that’s hugely important to me.
“I spent hours with these boys, going through everything around our approach, so we’ve got to know each other very quickly.”
Moran, in particular, was highly sought after, having been linked with a host of vacant roles, including the Westmeath job.
Once he and Bannigan sat down, though, they were on the same page straightaway.
“I didn’t know him but we have a mutual friend and, after the first phone call I had with Andy, we were sitting down within 48 hours, talked for two-and-half hours together, and there was no ifs, buts or maybes – it was ‘100 per cent, I’d love to take on the Monaghan challenge’.
“Andy is one the best footballers ever to play the game, a very smart footballer, he has spent a few years building up his coaching experience, learnt a lot, and he’s delighted to be moving to an Ulster county because he sees how competitive Ulster football is, and he has a lot of respect for Monaghan football and what’s in our DNA.
“John has a lot of experience coaching teams in Derry and Tyrone, is a PE teacher in Magherafelt where he has been very successful. In 2018 he was with Declan Bonner when Donegal won Ulster, and he has experience of Monaghan football too – he was three years with Truagh Gaels, took them to a county final when they were narrowly beaten by Scotstown.
“And then Damien is one of our best-ever warriors, he wore his heart on his sleeve every day he went out as a player, and he’s mad up for the challenge.”
This year was a tough one, casting a shadow still.
There was the uncertainty of the Rory Beggan saga, the loss of Karl Gallagher to the AFL, the retirement of Kieran Hughes, the continued absence of Niall Kearns and the experienced Conor Boyle stepping away. Injuries, too, proved relentless and inescapable.
Looking ahead to what the future holds, Bannigan insists the door is open to all as he bids to “mould the best squad possible for 2025″.
Getting used to life in Division Two, with the likelihood of new rules to contend with from the get-go, entering one of the most ultra-competitive Ulster Championships in years, while men like Conor McManus, Darren Hughes and Karl O’Connell consider their county futures, this feels like a crossroads moment for Monaghan.
Bannigan has heard the talk, that the Farney are a faded force, but his full focus rests on improving his county’s fortunes in years to come.
“I’m very well aware that’s the narrative. Do I buy into that? Absolutely not. I wouldn’t be taking the job if I bought into that.
“But I’m under no illusions, and it’s something I’ll go through with the lads when I get them together, there’s only one way of changing that narrative, and that is by going out and proving people wrong.
“Perversely, because of the amount of setbacks we had this year, and the amount of injuries, we ended up blooding and giving a lot more game-time to plenty of younger lads, and they’re going to benefit from that experience going into 2025.
“It’s only a year since we were level with Dublin with more than an hour gone in an All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park.
“I’ve been at a lot of club games, I’ll be at a lot more – so will the men who are with me – in the next few weeks, and we will be looking at all aspects of the panel to try and make sure that we have the strongest squad, and strong mix, possible.”
