DONEGAL<\/p>\n
Manager: Jim McGuinness<\/p>\n
Year: Three<\/p>\n
Notes: A new captain required after Paddy McBrearty\u2019s retirement<\/a>, but Michael Murphy is back on board for another season.<\/p>\n An All-Ireland semi-final in 2024, an All-Ireland final in 2025 \u2013 no guessing what the squad\u2019s target is this season.<\/p>\n Some change in the backroom team as Luke Barrett – brother of Republic of Ireland striker Amber – has left the ticket to take up a role with neighbours Derry.<\/p>\n A number of names \u2013 including Neil Gallagher, Rory Kavanagh and Kieran Donnelly \u2013 were talked about as possible additions to the management team, but nothing confirmed as of yet.<\/p>\n DUBLIN<\/p>\n Manager: Ger Brennan<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Ger Brennan replaces Dessie Farrell on a three-year term and brings with him a host of names that terrorised teams alongside him during the Jim Gavin era.<\/p>\n The most notable of those is Stephen Cluxton and although his retirement hasn\u2019t officially been confirmed, Brennan said he “100%” won\u2019t play for the side in 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n Dean Rock and Denis Bastick are also on the coaching ticket with Niall Moyna there too having worked with Brennan in Louth. Cathal \u00d3 Torna is a selector.<\/p>\n The county\u2019s domination of Leinster came to an end last year so there will be plenty of eyes on their response.<\/p>\n Ger Brennan reveals over 130 players have been in contention for Dublin panel<\/a><\/p>\n Brennan told RT\u00c9 Sport that he has looked at over 130 players, so plenty are getting the chance to catch the eye.<\/p>\n GALWAY<\/p>\n Manager: P\u00e1draic Joyce<\/p>\n Year: Seven<\/p>\n Notes: P\u00e1draic Joyce is back for a seventh year in the Tribe County, and that comes with an extension to take him through to 2028.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the same at the top of the tree, but there is a notable change in the backroom with John Divilly moving on<\/a> after being there since Joyce first took on the senior gig.<\/p>\n The IRFU\u2019s former head of high performance coach development Daragh Sheridan has been added to the backroom team, and he will also work with the Galway hurlers in 2026.<\/p>\n Of possible new recruits, Shane McGrath of Dunmore MacHale\u2019s did his chances no harm in recent weeks.<\/p>\n KERRY<\/p>\n Manager: Jack O\u2019Connor<\/p>\n Year: Five<\/p>\n Notes: After hinting about stepping away after their All-Ireland triumph, and nearly winking as he did so, it was no shock that Jack O\u2019Connor is back to try and add to his reputation as one of the game\u2019s most successful managers.<\/p>\n The Kingdom boss has achieved most things on the sideline, but back-to-back Sam Maguires have eluded him, so rather simple to see where his motivation lies this season as he agreed to a new two-year extension last August.<\/p>\n In a neat completing of the circle, he has added Kieran Donaghy to his backroom team<\/a>, the player he gave a debut to in 2005 in what was a real underdog story. Or Underdogs, seeing as ‘Star\u2019 caught the eye on the TG4 show.<\/p>\n MAYO<\/p>\n Manager: Andy Moran<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Andy Moran spent last season with Monaghan, but the call of his home county was too strong<\/a> as he prepares for his second inter-county managerial gig having previously managed Leitrim.<\/p>\n His backroom team includes former Mayo team-mate Colm Boyle and former Down and Derry manager Paddy Tally, who has previous out west with Galway.<\/p>\n Moran\u2019s magic has already worked wonders with Cillian O’Connor, James Carr and Rob Hennelly all returning to the squad; an emerging star Kobe McDonald could be involved for a season before heading to AFL club St Kilda.<\/p>\n Speaking of the AFL, Geelong\u2019s Ois\u00edn Mullin joined the team for a recent five-day training camp in Portugal.<\/p>\n MONAGHAN<\/p>\n Manager: Gabriel Bannigan<\/p>\n Year: Two<\/p>\n Notes: Gabriel Bannigan moved quickly to replace the out-going Andy Moran, with Andy McEntee coming into his management team after his departure from Antrim.<\/p>\n The Oriel men are back in Division 1, but they must make do without a raft of experienced players after Darren Hughes<\/a>, Karl O\u2019Connell<\/a> and Kieran Duffy<\/a> announced their retirements. Karl Gallagher is back in the fold though after his time with the Adelaide Crows came to an end. Ciar\u00e1n McNulty is going the other way though as he is off to Australia on his travels.<\/p>\n The Scotstown contingent will get time to recover after their All-Ireland semi-final loss to St Brigid\u2019s on 4 January.<\/p>\n ROSCOMMON<\/p>\n Manager: Mark Dowd<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: One of three new managers in the top division, Mark Dowd replaces Davy Burke who has since linked up with Kildare.<\/p>\n A very notable name in the new backroom team is Dublin cult hero Jason Sherlock<\/a>, with John Rogers and Iain Daly also in there with all three acting as coaches and selectors. Leo Tierney will look after the goalkeeping duties.<\/p>\n A couple of big players won\u2019t be around next season with Ciar\u00e1in Murtagh, Donie Smith and Niall Daly calling time on their careers with the county. Eoin McCormack is back though.<\/p>\n Division 2<\/p>\n CAVAN<\/p>\n Manager: Dermot McCabe<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Having managed against his native Cavan last season as Westmeath boss, Dermot McCabe is back in the home dug-out <\/a>having replaced the outgoing Raymond Galligan.<\/p>\n McCabe won an Ulster title as minor manager, and was with Mickey Graham in the side\u2019s 2020 Ulster SFC triumph. He has been presented with a three-year term.<\/p>\n Fintan Reilly is in as selector with McCabe while Diarmuid Scullion will also be involved now that Scotstown\u2019s club season has come to an end.<\/p>\n Br\u00edain McDonald and Felim O\u2019Reilly will be in charge of stats and analysis with Emma Coyle as nutritionist.<\/p>\n CORK<\/p>\n Manager: John Cleary<\/p>\n Year: Four<\/p>\n Notes: John Cleary was handed a two-year extension<\/a> after season\u2019s end, and he will be well aware that Rebel fans will be expecting the team to pick up some positive momentum in 2026.<\/p>\n In terms of the backroom team, Cleary has looked to the hurling field with Kevin Murray, a Liam MacCarthy winner with the county in 1999, brought in as a coach\/selector. Shayne Murphy is also in as performance director having worked closely with the Scotland men\u2019s soccer team in recent years.<\/p>\n Galway\u2019s Kevin Walsh remains there as coach with M\u00edche\u00e1l \u00d3 Cr\u00f3in\u00edn, Jim O\u2019Donoghue and Barry Corkery continuing as selectors.<\/p>\n Steven Sherlock\u2019s return is a major boost.<\/p>\n Is this the Greatest Football Team of the 21st Century?<\/a><\/p>\n DERRY<\/p>\n Manager: Ciar\u00e1n Meenagh<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Ciar\u00e1n Meenagh\u2019s autumn focus was on his native Loughmacrory as they won a first-ever Tyrone title, but it\u2019s full steam ahead as he returns to Derry <\/a>having served as interim manager previously when Rory Gallagher stepped away following serious allegations regarding his private life.<\/p>\n Luke Barrett has been convinced to leave Donegal to join them while Chrissy McKaigue is in there too \u2013 although plenty in the Oakleaf County feel he could still be pulling on the boots.<\/p>\n Marty Boyle, Darren McShane and Thomas Mallon, who will be goalkeeping coach, are there too.<\/p>\n Ciaran McFaul is not expected to be about although Gareth McKinless is back fit and healthy.<\/p>\n LOUTH<\/p>\n Manager: Gavin Devlin<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Gavin Devlin has been closely associated with Louth in recent years, so it was no major surprise to see him replace the outgoing Ger Brennan on a three-year term.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Horse\u2019 was there under Mickey Harte before becoming the Wee County\u2019s underage football development co-ordinator.<\/p>\n The Tyrone man has turned to his home county for support with Ronan O\u2019Neill, who spent the last few years with Fermanagh, coming as coach.<\/p>\n Peter Dooley will operate as Devlin’s assistant manager.<\/p>\n A first Leinster title in 68 years, a run to the All-Ireland Under-20 final and development work has started on the county\u2019s new stadium \u2013 exciting times to be Louth fan.<\/p>\n KILDARE<\/p>\n Manager: Brian Flanagan<\/p>\n Year: Two<\/p>\n Notes: Brian Flanagan is back after a promising first season that ended in Tailteann Cup glory, and he has bolstered his backroom team with the notable addition of former Roscommon manager Davy Burke.<\/a><\/p>\n Burke, like Flanagan, enjoyed a lot of success with the Lilywhites U20s and they\u2019ll hope to carry that success back into the Sam Maguire arena.<\/p>\n Armagh\u2019s Aidan O\u2019Rourke remains involved with the Orchard County continuing to have long tentacles in Leinster.<\/p>\n David Hyland, Daniel Flynn, Mick O\u2019Grady and Niall Kelly have all retired.<\/p>\n MEATH<\/p>\n Manager: Robbie Brennan<\/p>\n Year: Two<\/p>\n Notes: Robbie Brennan\u2019s first year in charge of Meath went exceedingly well as they made it to the All-Ireland semi-final, albeit where they were hockeyed by Donegal, but he has tried to build on that momentum by adding Armagh\u2019s Aaron Kernan to his backroom team<\/a> to work mostly on defensive duties.<\/p>\n Conor Gillespie and Shane Supple remain while Conor Scully is in to help with the side\u2019s transition play.<\/p>\n Veterans Donal Keogan and Bryan Menton have signed up for another season in green but Shane Walsh and Sean Ryan are away from last year\u2019s squad. Jack O\u2019Connor has returned after a year out.<\/p>\n OFFALY<\/p>\n Managers: Declan Kelly\/Mickey Harte<\/p>\n Years: Three (Kelly)\/two (Harte)<\/p>\n Notes: No changes to report in the Faithful backroom team as they attempt to build on a very promising 2025.<\/p>\n The Leinster side earned promotion to Division 2 last term and took home the silverware too with a thrilling final win over Kildare at Croke Park. They led eventual All-Ireland semi-finalists Meath by 10 points in Leinster before the wind-assisted Royals responded while Kildare got revenge \u2013 by a single point \u2013 in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final en-route to glory.<\/p>\n Blow in the off-season as promising youngster Cillian Bourke linked up with AFL outfit Essendon.<\/p>\n TYRONE<\/p>\n Manager: Malachy O\u2019Rourke<\/p>\n Year: Two<\/p>\n Notes: Not much in the way of backroom changes as Malachy O\u2019Rourke tries to summon the power of another raft of All-Ireland underage titles for the county.<\/p>\n The conveyor belt is there, but some noted names will not be. Conor Meyler has stepped away<\/a> while Peter Harte won\u2019t be about for 2026 \u2013 and may never return. Kieran McGeary and Mark Bradley are currently away travelling.<\/p>\n Darragh Canavan will miss the start of the season after undergoing ankle surgery.<\/p>\n More than 10 young players will get their shot in January \u2013 Loughmacrory’s Ruairi McCullagh is one of those that their fans have huge hopes for.<\/p>\n Division 3<\/p>\n CLARE<\/p>\n Manager: Paul Madden<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Peter Keane\u2019s decision to step down after just a year opened the door to Paul Madden <\/a>who has agreed a three-year deal.<\/p>\n Madden led \u00c9ire \u00d3g to three Clare senior football championship titles during his time in charge of the club.<\/p>\n Shane Daniels, who replaced Madden as \u00c9ire \u00d3g boss, comes in as selector, as does Ger Quinlan.<\/p>\n Galway\u2019s Kieran Murphy has committed as the side\u2019s coach having enjoyed another fruitful season with Maigh Cuillin, who reached the Connacht final.<\/p>\n DOWN<\/p>\n Manager: Conor Laverty<\/p>\n Year: Four<\/p>\n Notes: Conor Laverty\u2019s time in charge of Down is flying by at a rate of knots and he is now into his fourth year in charge of the Mourne County.<\/p>\n Coach Ciar\u00e1n Meenagh has exited to take over Derry, so Laverty has had to beef up his backroom and has brought in Tony McEntee<\/a>, who left Sligo last season.<\/p>\n In days gone by, Armagh men in Down\u2019s set-ups \u2013 and vice-versa \u2013 would have been unthinkable, but the O\u2019Rourkes – Paddy and Aidan \u2013 broke down the barrier and McEntee is the latest to cross the divide.<\/p>\n Former League of Ireland footballer Steve Williams has also joined the Mourne management as goalkeeping coach.<\/p>\n FERMANAGH<\/p>\n Manager: Declan Bonner<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Former Donegal manager Declan Bonner won back-to-back Fermanagh titles with Erne Gaels and it became clear from way out that he was likely to be Kieran Donnelly\u2019s successor \u2013 the process becoming a formality when Maurice McLaughlin, the only other candidate, withdrew.<\/a><\/p>\n Two-time Donegal Ulster winner Paul Brennan is in Bonner\u2019s coaching team, as is former Leitrim star forward Emlyn Mulligan. Another former Leitrim player \u2013 goalkeeper Nevin O\u2019Donnell – is also in.<\/p>\n Tyrone\u2019s Aidan McCarron is also part of Bonner\u2019s set-up, as is Leon Carters.<\/p>\n LAOIS<\/p>\n Manager: Justin McNulty<\/p>\n Year: Three<\/p>\n Notes: It\u2019s a third year in charge for Armagh\u2019s Justin McNulty, who will have former Orchard team-mates Ois\u00edn McConville, Aidan O\u2019Rourke, Paul Harty and Aaron Kernan for company in the eastern province.<\/p>\n Ross Munnelly and Diarmuid Carroll remain in place for McNulty with Oscar O\u2019Dwyer in charge of strength and conditioning. Michelle Caulfield will look after mental performance with Damien O\u2019Sullivan in charge of performance nutrition. Dr Sean Montague has also been added to their medical team.<\/p>\n LIMERICK<\/p>\n Manager: Jimmy Lee<\/p>\n Year: Three<\/p>\n Notes: Jimmy Lee is hoping to sharpen his attack in 2026 and to help with that, he has brought in former Treaty man Ian Ryan as forwards coach. No better man maybe given he once scored 3-07 in a qualifier win over Meath and he also helped coach Cork outfit Buttevant to the Munster JFC final in 2025.<\/p>\n Micheal Cahill, Evan Talty, Pa Ranahan, Eoin O’Hagan and Dylan Kenny remain as the team try to build on last year\u2019s Division 4 title and run to the Tailteann Cup final.<\/p>\n Stalwart Iain Corbett has stepped away while goalkeeper Josh Ryan and Darragh O\u2019Hagan – both starters in that Croke Park decider against the Lilywhites \u2013 are long-term injury victims.<\/p>\n SLIGO<\/p>\n Managers: Eamonn O’Hara\/Dessie Sloyan<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Tony McEntee stepped away from the Yeats County and the baton has been handed over to Eamonn O\u2019Hara and Dessie Sloyan.<\/p>\n The pair have been handed a three-year term<\/a> as they try and build on the decent body of work put in by McEntee.<\/p>\n Sloyan and O’Hara’s backroom team will include Con O’Meara, who was joint-manager of the Coolera-Strandhill side that won a maiden Connacht club title in 2024, and Donegal All-Ireland winner Eamon McGee. Paul Higgins, who worked with Sloyan at U20 level, has also been added as a coach more recently.<\/p>\n Alan Dunne will be physio, strength and conditioning will be down to Se\u00e1n Boyle and Se\u00e1n Taylor with Stephen Gilmartin continuing as doctor. Aidan Carty (kit), Thomas Kerins (logistics), Fintan Kennedy and Jim Kiernan (both performance analysis) are also involved while Sean McGovern is goalkeeping coach.<\/p>\n WESTMEATH<\/p>\n Manager: Mark McHugh<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: With Dermot McCabe returning to his native Cavan, Mark McHugh moved from a supporting role to the main character<\/a> as he takes charge of an inter-county team for the first time.<\/p>\n Former Offaly boss Emmet McDonnell is assistant manager\/selector having been with the Lake County under Tom McCribbin previously.<\/p>\n Jamie Gonoud has moved from player to selector with Tyrone\u2019s Ryan Daly (head coach\/selector) and Stephen \u2018Archie\u2019 Beattie (coach) helping too.<\/p>\n Armagh native Tom Gribben is head of performance as well as looking at strength and conditioning.<\/p>\n WEXFORD<\/p>\n Manager: John Hegarty<\/p>\n Year: Four<\/p>\n Notes: It\u2019s clear that John Hegarty wobbled over continuing as Model boss following their Tailteann Cup exit to Limerick, saying he\u2019d need time to think about his position, but ultimately he\u2019s back on board for a fourth run.<\/p>\n The backroom is much the same, the only change seeing Alan Malone coming in as the lead strength and conditioning coach. The Laois man has been involved in a number of the teams in the Leinster region previously.<\/p>\n The playing personnel have been hit by a number of retirements though with Kevin O\u2019Grady, Mick Furlong and Conor Carthy all calling it a day.<\/p>\n Division 4<\/p>\n ANTRIM<\/p>\n Manager: Mark Doran<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Down native Mark Doran has been involved in a number of backroom teams, such as Clare and Wicklow, but he\u2019s taken his first step into the number one job <\/a>with the Saffrons.<\/p>\n Mick McCann is in as a coach, and that\u2019s surely played a part in his brother T\u00f3mas\u2019s decision to come out of retirement, with Paul Bradley there too.<\/p>\n Derry\u2019s Barry Gillis is goalkeeper coach with Eamon McCann and Brendan Murphy looking after the strength and conditioning. Kelly Fay is performance coach with Kevin McGuigan, who has worked closely with Swim Ireland in recent times, looking after the performance analysis.<\/p>\n CARLOW<\/p>\n Manager: Joe Murphy<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: While this is Joe Murphy\u2019s first official year in charge of Carlow, he has half a season as interim boss under his belt after replacing the outgoing Shane Curran \u2013 who left citing “player-related issues” – midway through the 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n His selector\/coaches team for 2026 are Barry Hayes, Christy Bolger, Mick Kehoe and James Clarke.<\/p>\n One major boost for the new season is the continuation of Darragh Foley\u2019s retirement U-turn. The player had stepped away prior to the start of last season, but returned when Murphy came on board. The county\u2019s all-time top scorer has been booked in for 2026 too.<\/p>\n LEITRIM<\/p>\n Manager: Steven Poacher<\/p>\n Year: Two<\/p>\n Notes: No changes in the main backroom team as Down\u2019s Steven Poacher tries to build on a positive second half to the season following a very difficult first portion.<\/p>\n The county took a lot of slack for forfeiting their league match<\/a> against Fermanagh as they lost all seven Division 3 games.<\/p>\n Things improved significantly for the championship with a spirited Connacht display against Mayo before a Tailteann Cup campaign that included a win over Tipperary and a narrow loss to Sligo.<\/p>\n Daniel St Ledger remains as coach, as does Anthony McGrath with Paddy Morrison continuing as goalkeeping coach.<\/p>\n Five football talking points ahead of 2026 campaign<\/a><\/p>\n LONDON<\/p>\n Manager: Michael Maher<\/p>\n Year: Seven<\/p>\n Notes: Only Kieran McGeeney has been in situ longer than Michael Maher with Galway boss P\u00e1draic Joyce also entering his seventh season on the line.<\/p>\n Wins were hard to come by last year – just two in all, both in the league \u2013 as the Exiles dealt with the usual revolving squad.<\/p>\n Maher has freshened up his management for the season with Stephen Lynch, a former manager of London\u2019s junior team, coming in as selector. Donegal man Stevie Collins will act as assistant manager.<\/p>\n LONGFORD<\/p>\n Manager: Mike Solan<\/p>\n Year: Two<\/p>\n Notes: An unusual start to 2026 for Mike Solan as Longford\u2019s O\u2019Byrne Cup defence \u2013 well they were the last team to win the competition \u2013 came to a sudden halt, but the defeat against Westmeath came via a coin toss rather than on the pitch.<\/a><\/p>\n Nobody\u2019s likely to lose too much sleep with the league rattling into view and the management and players keen to make up for a pretty uninspiring 2025.<\/p>\n Enda McGahern remains alongside him on the sideline.<\/p>\n TIPPERARY<\/p>\n Manager: Niall Fitzgerald<\/p>\n Year: One<\/p>\n Notes: Niall Fitzgerald is Tipperary manager<\/a> \u2013 but in the most tragic of circumstances.<\/p>\n The Moyle Rovers clubman took over as Premier manager following Philly Ryan’s sudden death at age of 56 in October.<\/p>\n “It’s just a dreadful situation. We mention Philly. We talk about Philly. Philly is a huge part of that group of players,” Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/002092d3-614.jpg\"\/)
\nKieran Donaghy has swapped Armagh for his native Kerry<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0023b2ae-614.jpg\"\/)
\nJason Sherlock is with Dublin this year<\/p>\n![\"19](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0022eb73-614.jpg\"\/)
\nGavin Devlin is hoping to add to Louth’s recent surge<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/00230393-614.jpg\"\/)
\nPaul Madden is Clare boss after Peter Keane’s surprise departure after just a year<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0023b2b1-614.jpg\"\/)
\nJustin McNulty (Laois), Paul Hearty (Louth), Ois\u00edn McConville (Wicklow), Aidan O’Rourke (Kildare), Kieran McGeeney (Armagh), Ciaran McKinney (Armagh) and Tony McEntee (Down) are in management teams this year from the Orchard County’s All-Ireland winning squad of 2002. (Picture from 2003)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0022289b-614.jpg\"\/)
\nJohn Hegarty is preparing for a fourth season as Wexford boss<\/p>\n
![\"30](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0023137e-614.jpg\"\/)