By Niall Gartland

NEW Monaghan boss Gabriel Bannigan says that assembling an impressive backroom team was pivotal to his decision to put his name forward for the position of manager.

An enticing opportunity opened up when Vinny Corey stepped down after two years in charge, and Bannigan, who had been part of Corey’s backroom team, was able to persuade a number of well-known coaches to join him on a new challenge at the helm of Monaghan’s senior footballers.

He’ll be joined on the line by former Mayo star Andy Moran, Tyrone native John McElholm and Damien Freeman, who captained the Farney County to Division Two honours in 2005.

The biggest curveball of the bunch is Andy Moran, who spent three years in charge of Leitrim before stepping down earlier in the season.

Bannigan commented: “Vinny made his decision and you have to respect it. My mind turned to giving it a go, and I thought it depended on the calibre of person I could bring with me, and I’m extremely happy with the men I have on board.

On Moran’s involvement, he said: “He’s a student of the game and in my book one of the best players ever to have played the game. He’s added a few years of coaching experience to his CV at this stage and he’s excited about working with an Ulster team. He recognises the competitiveness of Ulster football and it’s only going to be more competitive when you look at the changing landscape. I think he’ll be a great addition.”

Damien Freeman played for Monaghan for 15 seasons between 1997 and 2011 and played a crucial role in his native Magheracloone’s run to their one and only Monaghan Senior Championship title back in 2004.

Bannigan said: “Damien’s one of Monaghan’s best ever warriors. He’s a former captain of the team and played for the county for well over a decade.

”He lifted a cup on the steps of Croke Park in 2005 and was heavily involved with Banty’s [Seamus McEnaney] minor team when they won the Ulster double in 2018. He’s also been heavily invested with his club Magheracloone in terms of their underage coaching.”

He has also recruited Tyrone native John McElholm, a man who has experience of coaching within the Farney County at club level. He was also involved for a year during Declan Bonner’s period in charge of Donegal, the Ulster title-winning season of 2018. His list of credentials doesn’t end there and in recent seasons he’s been involved with Pomeroy, who won the 2023 Tyrone Intermediate Championship.

“John did a great job with the likes of Pomeroy, Killyclogher, St Enda’s and Sleacht Néill. He’s won MacRory Cups with St Mary’s Magherafelt so he’s been very involved with the sport. He was with Donegal in 2018 when they won Ulster and has experience with Truagh Gaels, having been there for three years, including when they got to the county final in 2018, where they were just pipped by Scotstown,” said Bannigan.