SUCCESSFUL GAA MANAGERS get an awful lot of credit these days but unlike rugby, their assistants generally work in the shadows. There are probably only a handful of selectors whom GAA fans would know and even then it is probably because they were a well-known player.
But there are some sharp tactical minds in supporting roles around the country, and here are 5 selectors who might make good inter-county managers if given the chance.
Tony McEntee
Presseye / Andrew Paton/INPHO
Presseye / Andrew Paton/INPHO / Andrew Paton/INPHO
The McEntee brothers of Armagh have long been known as astute sideline generals but Tony probably edges his brother John at the moment. McEntee won All-Ireland club titles as co-manager of Crossmaglen in 2011 and 2012 and has been linked with a variety of inter-county roles since.
He was reported to have taken up the Down job for 2014 before changing his mind, saying he had ‘fallen out of love’ with the sport at inter-county level. However, a phonecall from new Mayo manager Stephen Rochford persuaded McEntee to join their coaching staff as a selector for 2016.
Mayo now have two of the brightest assistants in GAA in McEntee and Donie Buckley, and should the westerners end their All-Ireland famine this year there is a strong chance that one or both men will move onto even bigger things.
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James McGarry
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
The former Kilkenny goalkeeper is another man on this list to have experienced club All-Ireland glory in a joint managerial role with McGarry helping steer Ballyhale Shamrocks to the hurling club title back in 2010. Since Brian Cody wields such a strong impact with Kilkenny it is hard to know how much of an impact his assistants make, but since McGarry and former team-mate Derek Lyng joined the management team at the end of 2013, all the county has done is win All-Ireland hurling titles.
The Cats are in pursuit of a three in-a-row in 2016 and should they pull it off, McGarry could be in demand as an inter-count manager in his own right.
Liam McHale
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
The former Mayo midfielder has hitched his coaching wagon to Kevin McStay’s in recent times and it doesn’t appear to have done either man any harm. McHale was McStay’s assistant when St Brigid’s of Roscommon sensationally upset heavy favourites Ballymun Kickham’s in the 2013 All-Ireland club football final and the duo applied for the Mayo job after James Horan’s departure in 2014.
McHale has since said that their proposal was deemed too ‘radical’ by the county board but he will now be a selector under joint-managers McStay and Fergal O’Donnell with Roscommon this year. The county will play in Division One of the league in the spring so it will be interesting to see how the McStay/McHale coaching structure develops at inter-county level.
Dan Shanahan
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Shanahan is a relative rookie in coaching terms but you cannot fault the enthusiasm he brings to his role as Waterford selector under Derek McGrath. Shanahan’s sideline demeanor is reminiscent of Rory Gallagher’s during his time with Donegal – constantly racing onto the field to deliver instructions and motivational speeches during every break in play.
A lot of players respond to that sort of passion but it remains to be seen if a county board would be willing to entrust their team to Shanahan.
The former Kerry shot-stopper has worked with two of the game’s greatest managers – Jack O’Connor and Eamonn Fitzmaurice – during his five seasons as a selector so he couldn’t have learned from better strategists.
Kerry have won one All-Ireland and reached two other finals during that time and Murphy has been one of the mainstays. You saw during his sideline argument with Fitzmaurice during this year’s All-Ireland final that Murphy isn’t afraid to get his point across so perhaps it is a question of when he will be given a more leading role in inter-county football rather than if.
Which selectors do you think would make good inter-county managers?
5 GAA selectors who could make top inter-county managers
SUCCESSFUL GAA MANAGERS get an awful lot of credit these days but unlike rugby, their assistants generally work in the shadows. There are probably only a handful of selectors whom GAA fans would know and even then it is probably because they were a well-known player.
But there are some sharp tactical minds in supporting roles around the country, and here are 5 selectors who might make good inter-county managers if given the chance.
Tony McEntee
The McEntee brothers of Armagh have long been known as astute sideline generals but Tony probably edges his brother John at the moment. McEntee won All-Ireland club titles as co-manager of Crossmaglen in 2011 and 2012 and has been linked with a variety of inter-county roles since.
He was reported to have taken up the Down job for 2014 before changing his mind, saying he had ‘fallen out of love’ with the sport at inter-county level. However, a phonecall from new Mayo manager Stephen Rochford persuaded McEntee to join their coaching staff as a selector for 2016.
Mayo now have two of the brightest assistants in GAA in McEntee and Donie Buckley, and should the westerners end their All-Ireland famine this year there is a strong chance that one or both men will move onto even bigger things.
James McGarry
The former Kilkenny goalkeeper is another man on this list to have experienced club All-Ireland glory in a joint managerial role with McGarry helping steer Ballyhale Shamrocks to the hurling club title back in 2010. Since Brian Cody wields such a strong impact with Kilkenny it is hard to know how much of an impact his assistants make, but since McGarry and former team-mate Derek Lyng joined the management team at the end of 2013, all the county has done is win All-Ireland hurling titles.
The Cats are in pursuit of a three in-a-row in 2016 and should they pull it off, McGarry could be in demand as an inter-count manager in his own right.
Liam McHale
The former Mayo midfielder has hitched his coaching wagon to Kevin McStay’s in recent times and it doesn’t appear to have done either man any harm. McHale was McStay’s assistant when St Brigid’s of Roscommon sensationally upset heavy favourites Ballymun Kickham’s in the 2013 All-Ireland club football final and the duo applied for the Mayo job after James Horan’s departure in 2014.
McHale has since said that their proposal was deemed too ‘radical’ by the county board but he will now be a selector under joint-managers McStay and Fergal O’Donnell with Roscommon this year. The county will play in Division One of the league in the spring so it will be interesting to see how the McStay/McHale coaching structure develops at inter-county level.
Dan Shanahan
Shanahan is a relative rookie in coaching terms but you cannot fault the enthusiasm he brings to his role as Waterford selector under Derek McGrath. Shanahan’s sideline demeanor is reminiscent of Rory Gallagher’s during his time with Donegal – constantly racing onto the field to deliver instructions and motivational speeches during every break in play.
A lot of players respond to that sort of passion but it remains to be seen if a county board would be willing to entrust their team to Shanahan.
Diarmuid Murphy
The former Kerry shot-stopper has worked with two of the game’s greatest managers – Jack O’Connor and Eamonn Fitzmaurice – during his five seasons as a selector so he couldn’t have learned from better strategists.
Kerry have won one All-Ireland and reached two other finals during that time and Murphy has been one of the mainstays. You saw during his sideline argument with Fitzmaurice during this year’s All-Ireland final that Murphy isn’t afraid to get his point across so perhaps it is a question of when he will be given a more leading role in inter-county football rather than if.
Which selectors do you think would make good inter-county managers?
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Dan Shanahan Diarmuid Murphy James McGarry Liam McHale Next in Line? Tony McEntee