By Niall Gartland

MONAGHAN’S search to appoint a successor to Vinny Corey has picked up pace – but there remains a considerable degree of uncertainty hanging over the vacant position of Derry Senior manager.

In Monaghan, the date for applications has now expired and it’s been left to a management committee to determine who will take the reins of the senior intercounty footballers.

A number of names have been linked with the position, including former Monaghan captain Owen Lennon who led Kingscourt Stars to last year’s Cavan SFC title, Gabriel Bannigan, who was part of Vinny Corey’s backroom team during his two years at the helm, and former Armagh footballer John McEntee, still in charge of Inniskeen whom he steered to last year’s Monaghan SFC final.

The Farney County slipped out of Division One football this year, and whoever takes on the mantle may have to operate without the services of Conor McManus, who is now 37.

Regarded as Monaghan’s finest ever footballer, McManus hinted that he’s set to retire when they bowed out of this year’s All-Ireland, but he is yet to formally confirm his plans for the year ahead.

Another Monaghan veteran, Darren Hughes, returned to action for Scotstown after a long injury-lay off Scotstown’s championship win over Corduff a week ago.

The totemic midfielder had been out of action for five months having been stretchered off with a serious leg injury during Monaghan’s Ulster preliminary round defeat to neighbours Cavan and his return is a major boost to Scotstown’s hopes of retaining their title.

His brother Kieran, who retired from intercounty football last year, made his first club championship appearance of the campaign with Scotstown’s win over Cremartin at the weekend.

Meanwhile, there is no sign of white smoke from Derry in their search to find a replacement for Mickey Harte, who resigned after one season in charge back in July.

Their former manager Rory Gallagher emerged as the frontrunner for the position but it is understood that it is highly unlikely that the Belleek native, who stepped back after domestic abuse allegations on the eve of the 2023 Ulster final, will return for a second stint in charge.

Former Mayo manager James Horan has been linked with the position in recent weeks but confirmed on the Irish Examiner’s Gaelic Football Show podcast that he won’t be involved.

Barry Dillon, manager of the Ulster University Sigerson Cup winning team, was another name in the frame.

Dillon was part of the management under John Brennan when Derry reached the 2011 Ulster final but Gaelic Life understands there hasn’t been an official approach.

Double All-Ireland minor winning manager and former senior boss Damian McErlain has also been linked to the post but he has been tipped for the Oakleaf County’s u-20 manager position.

There are now no clear front-runners for the position, more than two months on from Harte’s departure, leaving a vacuum at a county team that has won two of the last three Ulster titles and this year’s Division One crown.