MONAGHAN’S search for a new manager has hit the rocks, with Jason Sherlock among the three candidates interviewed for the job last week all now out of the running.
The Irish News understands that former Dublin coach Sherlock, current Ballymun Kickham’s and ex-Westmeath manager Brendan Hackett, and outgoing Monaghan minor boss Mark Counihan were all interviewed in the early part of last week.
But having gone through the process, The Irish News understands that Sherlock and Hackett both withdrew their names over the weekend while Counihan was informed that he had not been given the job.
It leaves the county’s next move unclear, with the possibility that they will have to restart the process in the hope of finding someone else to take over.
Sherlock had appeared to be the front-runner from early in the process to replace Seamus McEnaney, who stepped down in late June, three weeks after their championship exit at the hands of Mayo.
An appointment had been expected last month but the Dubliner’s troubles putting together a backroom team led to the link cooling and Monaghan officials exploring other options.
However, his name remained there in the background and Sherlock then took part in an interview last week, reigniting hopes that he would take over.
The Irish Times had reported that he had “firmed up a possible backroom team” with another former Dublin All-Ireland winner, Kevin Nolan, who has lived in Monaghan for several years and former Monaghan player Dermot McArdle.
Having served as part of Jim Gavin’s backroom team, ‘Jayo’ was widely credited with Dublin’s implementation of tactical advances from basketball.
He had played the sport at international level for Ireland, as well as League of Ireland soccer for UCD, and was regarded as a key figure in the way Dublin transformed their attacking play during Gavin’s reign.
Speaking in 2019, Alan Brogan said: “Jason obviously has a basketball background and he’s a thinking man’s footballer. He thinks very deeply about the game and about how forwards move.
“He puts a lot of time into it and they have put a lot of time into how to create that space in the forward line and with a lot of men back there he’s obviously heavily involved in that he’s orchestrated all that from behind the scenes and on the pitch, there’s no doubt that his fingerprints are on the Dublin forward line.”
Sherlock’s hesitancy in taking the post appeared to have opened the door for Mark Counihan, who stepped down from Monaghan minors in the summer after four years in charge.
He had guided the 2019 crop to an Ulster title and the following year’s team to a provincial final in which they were beaten by Derry.
Counihan’s ticket included Paul McIver, Colm Nally and Colin Malone.
McIver has been previously involved with Derry, Donegal and Fermanagh and had successes on the club scene with both Kilcoo and Dromore, while Nally served as coach in Meath under new Antrim boss Andy McEntee for the last four seasons.
Malone coached Monaghan U20s last year and previously managed his native club Ballybay to a county final in 2018.
The Irish News understands that rather than withdrawing their candidacy, they were informed that they had been unsuccessful in their application for the post.
Brendan Hackett also pulled out of the running after his interview had taken place.
The current Ballymun Kickham’s boss whose involvement in inter-county management dates back to taking over as Longford manager in 1987, at the age of just 26.
He went on to manage Offaly and Westmeath, as well as training Ireland’s International Rules team for the 1990 series and working with a number of inter-county teams as a psychologist.
His professional career led him to become CEO of Athletics Ireland and he guided Ballymun to their most recent Dublin championship in 2020.
With Sherlock and Hackett both withdrawing from the process and the slim-to-zero likelihood of Counihan now being offered the job, or accepting it, it leaves Monaghan well behind schedule in late-August and wondering what their next move will be.