Meenagh-McKaigue double act in the frame for Derry position

A combination of Ciarán Meenagh and Chrissy McKaigue are in the frame to lead the Derry senior footballers in 2026.

The Derry County Board are keen to act quickly after the prolonged process to replace Mickey Harte with Paddy Tally this past season.

Tyrone native Meenagh, who was part of the Down senior management the past two seasons, was assistant manager to Rory Gallagher in Derry and took over the county on an interim basis in 2023, overseeing the Ulster final win over Armagh and guiding the county to an All-Ireland semi-final.

That had been Loughmacrory man Meenagh’s fifth consecutive season with Derry, having come on board with Damien McErlain in 2019. He has distanced himself from taking on position on a permanent basis two years ago and Harte came on board having left his role in Louth.

Slaughtneil’s McKaigue retired from inter-county football at the end of last season, having claimed two Ulster SFC medals as well as an All Star in 2022. The widely-respected dual player has been touted as a future manager by the likes of Oisín McConville.

Both Harte and Tally lasted just one season following Gallagher’s departure, and the hope in Derry is that the next management team won’t be as short-lived.

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