DOWN club Kilcoo have denied reports that former Derry and Fermanagh boss Rory Gallagher will be their next manager.
Reports on social media suggested that Gallagher would take over from Karl Lacey as manager of the 2022 All-Ireland club champions.
After defending their county title last year, the ‘Magpies’ reached the Ulster final but lost a thriller against Tyrone’s Errigal Ciaran. Since then Donegal native Lacey – who has been linked with taking over from Mark Doran as manager of Derry’s Sleacht Neill - stepped down and Gallagher has been linked with stepping into the breach.
Kilcoo have confirmed that will not be the case.
After serving as assistant manager to Jim McGuinness with Donegal for the All-Ireland success of 2012, Gallagher took over as Donegal manager in 2014 before a spell as manager of his native Fermanagh between 2017 and 2019, when the Ernemen reached the Ulster final only to lose to Donegal.
Gallagher guided Derry to an Ulster title in 2022. Allegations of domestic abuse brought by his ex-wife - which he strenuously denies - led to Gallagher stepping down as manager of Derry in 2023 days before the Ulster final against Armagh.
Since then, the highly-rated coach has worked with Monaghan club Corduff and had been poised to take up a coaching role with Naas. However, GAA President Jarlath Burns sent the club an email urging them to reconsider and the Kildare outfit decided against making the appointment.
Speaking on the topic as a guest on RTE’s Late Late Show last month, Burns outlined his reasons for contacting Naas and cited the GAA’s Game Changer initiative, which was launched in November to challenge the “social and cultural norms that contribute to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence”.
He added that his input was purely of an advisory nature and there was no onus on the Naas club to accept or act on it. The Silverbridge native also stressed that there was “always a way back” for people in the GAA, which was not “interested in cancel culture”.
“We have told Rory that as well,” he said.
“Rory is aware of the way back for him.”
However, Gallagher’s “way back” will not begin with Kilcoo who are seeking the man who could potentially lead them to a record-breaking seventh Down title in a row this year. The Mourne outfit currently share the record of six with Burren.
Elsewhere, Ciaran McFaul is unlikely to return to the Derry starting line-up for Sunday’s clash with Galway at Celtic Park.
Versatile Glen clubman McFaul, an All-Ireland champion with the Watty Graham’s outfit last year and a National League winner with his county, was withdrawn in the second half of the Oak Leafers’ Division One opener against Tyrone with a hamstring injury and missed out in the round two trip to Kerry.
Derry are also without McFaul’s clubmate Eunan Mulholland who has withdrawn from the panel this year due to work commitments.
After back-to-back defeats, Paddy Tally’s men host the Tribesmen who are currently top of Division One after victories over All-Ireland champions Armagh and fierce rivals Mayo.
