FORMER Fermanagh boss Ryan McMenamin will be part of Mickey Graham’s Cavan management team for the 2022 campaign.
The Tyrone All-Ireland winner joins following the summer departure of Dermot McCabe, Graham’s former Breffni team-mate. McCabe had been there since Graham took the reins in 2018, and was the county’s head of performance as well as a selector with the senior side.
Although it remains unclear what will happen with the head of performance position, Cavan remain on the look-out for another addition to their backroom team, with ex-Down boss Paddy Tally – strongly linked with a position in Jack O’Connor’s new-look Kerry set-up – understood to be among those sounded out.
McMenamin’s move across the county border might come as a shock to some, with the Dromore man having only brought the curtain down on his two-year stint in the Erne County in August.
He had previously served as assistant to Rory Gallagher for two years, during which time Fermanagh reached the 2018 Ulster final, losing to Donegal.
After taking over the reins when Gallagher left, McMenamin’s spell in charge was impacted greatly by the Covid-19 pandemic, with knockout Championships allowing no room for recovery through the back door after opening day defeats to Down and Monaghan.
However, several promising young players were brought into the ranks and afforded their first taste of senior inter-county action.
Meanwhile, former Mayo star and 2017 Footballer of the Year Andy Moran has been named as the new manager of Leitrim, taking over from ex-Cavan boss Terry Hyland, who stepped down during the summer.
This is the 37-year-old's first foray into senior inter-county management and comes after weeks of speculation that he would take the reins at the Connacht side.
Moran – who retired from inter-county football at the end of 2019 – is currently in charge of his native Ballaghaderreen alongside Mike Solan.
Solan will be his assistant manager in Leitrim, with former players Barry McWeeney and James Glancy as selectors.
In Meath, Andy McEntee’s future as Royals boss is increasingly uncertain after the executive of the county board voted against him staying on for a sixth year in the role.
McEntee agreed a fresh three-year term with the board in 2019, subject to a review by the board after two years. However, members of the executive voted eight/seven against McEntee continuing - and the decision will now be put to clubs at the next full county board meeting.
