Dramatic Twist As Frontrunner For Cavan Job Drops Out Of Race

Dermot McCabe has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the Cavan manager's job after a late twist in the race this week.

Raymond Galligan exited as Cavan manager after two seasons in charge at the end of the 2025 championship season, citing work commitments.

A month later, and it now appears that Cavan have their man, after Finbar O'Reilly dramatically withdrew from the race just days before the interview stage.

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The Anglo-Celt were the first on Saturday morning to report Finbar O'Reilly's withdrawal from the race to become the new Cavan manager.

Arva manager O'Reilly had emerged as one of the two contenders to take over from Raymond Galligan, along with Westmeath manager Dermot McCabe.

Interviews were scheduled to take place on Saturday for the role, with O'Reilly withdrawing shortly beforehand.

The Cavan board had publicly stated their preference to appoint either O'Reilly or McCabe, and it seems as though the path is now clear for McCabe to assume the role.

McCabe is also Cavan's head of games, a role he took over in 2013 and combined with his role as Westmeath manager last season. He took over as Westmeath manager after the departure of Dessie Dolan in October 2024.

His first season in charge of them this year saw Westmeath saw them relegated from Division Two and reach the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup.

A Cavan native, McCabe led Gowna to back-to-back Cavan SFC titles in 2022 and 2023 as joint-manager. He was also involved as a selector during Cavan's historic Ulster championship-winning campaign in 2020.

Recent reports in Westmeath suggest that the county's GAA figures are preparing for McCabe's departure.

"The feeling on the ground in Westmeath is that it is no longer feasible for McCabe to continue as manager on the basis that he accepted the nomination for the Cavan position," wrote Damien Maher in the Westmeath Telegraph.

It would appear to be a matter of time before Dermot McCabe's departure from Westmeath is confirmed and he secures the Cavan job.

Another hat-tip must go to the Anglo-Celt for breaking this story.