Mike Solan has wasted little time before returning to county management, taking over the Offaly senior footballers for a three-year term. The Mayo native stepped down as Longford senior football boss three weeks ago, and he has been snapped up by the Faithful to succeed joint managers Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte. Solan led Longford to promotion from Division 4 of the league earlier this year, and he will face his former charges next year with Offaly also operating from Division 3 in 2027. And Gabriel Bannigan has stepped down as Monaghan football manager after two years in charge. In a statement Banning said: ‘‘Over the last number of weeks, I worked hard on my plans for 2027 to build on the excellent foundations now in place. During this period, I have come to realize that the goalposts have moved, and the conditions are not right for me to continue and therefore I believe a new management team and fresh voices are now required to take Monaghan football forward.’’
CURRAN EXITS
CORK SQUAD
Ronan Curran will not be part of the Cork senior hurling backroom team for 2027, but the former Rebel defender insists that there has been no fallout with manager Ben O’Connor. Sports psychologist Gerry Hussey also departed the Cork set-up in recent weeks, but Curran’s exit comes as a surprise as he has been O’Connor's right-hand man on the sideline with the Cork under 20 team and the seniors.
Curran said: ‘‘I met up with Ben in his house a few weeks after the end of the inter-county season and I informed him I wouldn't be going forward next year. I thanked him for a great few years at under 20 level and last year’s opportunity also. I’m grateful towards Ben for giving me the opportunity to try and get Cork to where everyone in the county wants us to be. Despite all the rumours, me and Ben are great friends, and nothing will change that. We both have the same dream at heart, the same dream as every Cork person and that's to see Cork walk up the steps of the Hogan Stand.” In an interview with Cork Evening Echo Curran hinted at some differences of opinion among the management team, but the two-time All-Ireland winner is confident that the current crop will eventually end the county’s Liam MacCarthy famine. ‘‘I want the best for Cork, so I thought it was in the best interest of Cork if I stepped away from the set-up.” Cian O’Neill, who was Jack O’Connor’s assistant in Kerry this year, will be coach to the Cork hurlers next year.
