Rory Gallagher has been ratified as the new Derry senior football manager.
The former Fermanagh and Donegal boss was waved through by delegates at Owenbeg tonight despite fears that he would be rejected amid disquiet at the process that saw him emerge as the favoured choice of the county board.
Johnny McBride, who had another former county star in Paddy Bradley on his ticket, was one of the leading local contenders along with under-20 manager Mickey Donnelly, while Peter Doherty and Sean McGoldrick had launched a joint bid to succeed Damian McErlain.
Gallagher’s reputation preceded him amid concerns about the negative style of play that he had employed while in charge of his native Fermanagh in the past two seasons.
Club delegates met ahead of the full board meeting but ultimately decided against derailing his appointment on a three-year term.
Part of his management team will be former Derry star Enda Muldoon and Ciaran Meenagh, who is retained from McErlain’s regime and was popular among the players.
Meanwhile, Jack O’Connor’s appointment as the new Kildare senior football manager for a three-year term was ratified by the county board.
The three-time All-Ireland winning former Kerry boss will have Moorefield’s Ross Glavin and ex-Laois, Offaly and Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin as his selectors. Cribbin fulfilled a similar role under O’Connor’s predecessor Cian O’Neill.
Colm Collins has also been confirmed as Clare senior football manager for what will be a seventh season in 2020, leaving him behind only Mickey Harte and Jim Gavin in terms of longevity.
In Offaly, Michael Fennelly’s appointment as the new senior hurling manager was also confirmed while John Maughan will continue as senior football boss in 2020.
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