Club managers come and go in every sport, including Gaelic football. One of the most recent Gaelic football teams that parted ways with its manager is Cavan GAA.
Raymond Galligan, the senior football manager at Cavan, decided to step down from his role after two seasons in charge. This came as a surprise to many as he had one more year on his contract. But, Galligan had a reasonable reason why he decided to part ways with Cavan GAA at this moment.
Why Did Raymond Galligan Step Down as Cavan’s Manager? – The Decision That Surprised Fans, Bettors, and Bookmakers
Raymond Galligan took over the managerial job from Mickey Graham in September 2023. Now, almost two years later, he decided to step down due to work commitments. In his statement, he pointed out that he manages a very busy day centre for adults with intellectual disabilities in Rathfarnham.
Galligan reached a point where he couldn’t commit and focus on both roles. The constant travelling and family responsibilities with his wife and two small children also made things more complicated.
The manager didn’t forget to thank the backroom staff, the players, and the county board. He also wished them the best of luck in their future endeavours.
Cavan GAA released a separate statement, showing their appreciation and gratitude for Galligan’s commitment and effort. They wished him, his wife Niamh, and their two kids all the best in the future from all staff and players at Cavan GAA.
We must note that Galligan’s stepping down has come as a surprise in the Gaelic football community. Even bookmakers and Gaelic football betting experts didn’t expect such a decision. The managerial change may even affect punters’ future Cavan GAA wagering decisions at sportsbooks like NetBet.
Raymond Galligan’s Time at Cavan GAA
During his playing career, Galligan represented Lacken at all club levels as a goalkeeper, debuting in 2002. He won the Cavan Intermediate Football Championship two times, one of which was as a captain. This player even captained the club to their first-ever Division One league title.
Galligan also represented Cavan at minor, U21, and senior levels. He became captain of the senior team in 2019. That season, the club lost the Ulster Final to Donegal. But, Cavan and Galligan managed to bounce back and win the 2020 Ulster Final. Galligan even entered the All-Star team as a goalkeeper.
He played his last match on June 17, 2023, in a Tailteann Cup quarter-final against Down, which Cavan lost. During his Cavan career, he had a scoring record of 1-122 in 144 appearances, despite playing as a goalkeeper.
Galligan’s managerial career at Cavan began three months after his last match for the club. During his two years in charge, Galligan kept the team in Division Two.
The manager also helped Cavan reach the preliminary quarter-finals of the 2025 championship. The team suffered a heavy defeat to Kerry, which was Galligan’s last match in charge.
Potential Candidates to Replace Raymond Galligan
Galligan’s resignation gave Cavan GAA a new important task, which is finding a good new manager. The club joins the likes of Roscommon and Dublin in search of a new head coach.
There are a couple of contenders for the managerial job at Cavan GAA and the club is currently evaluating all options. One of the candidates is Larry Reilly, who led the club’s U20 team to an Ulster semi-final. He’s a former international Rules star and an Ulster SFC medalist.
Reilly also has a legend status in the county for delivering the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time in 28 years. His recent managerial experience and good understanding of the club make him a strong candidate.
Next up, we have Andy Moran, a Mayo legend who had an impressive start to a management career. He rapidly increased his coaching ranks since his retirement as a professional player. This season, he managed Monaghan, a team that had one of the most consistent forms in the league.
Ed O’Hanlon is another top candidate as he led Cavan’s minors to the Ulster final and the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Last year, he signed a three-year deal as a minor manager. But, the club can cut this deal short if it appoints him as the senior head coach.
Galligan’s assistant and Cavan’s selector, James Burke, is also on the list of candidates. He has a great knowledge of the club’s senior team and he would be a safe promotion from within.
Lastly, we have Vinny Corey, an outside manager with an incredible senior coaching history. As a player, he led Monaghan to two Ulster SFC medals. Then, in 2022, he became the team manager.
But, he stepped down from his role at the end of 2024 and since then he has worked with Cavan club Gowna. We should mention that Corey’s appointment will be a hard task due to the neighbour’s rivalry with Monaghan.