Five Intriguing Candidates To Replace Raymond Galligan As Cavan Manager

Raymond Galligan has stepped down as Cavan senior football manager after two seasons, citing work commitments.

Galligan took over as bainisteoir in September 2023, transitioning straight from his playing career to a major coaching role.

Galligan was an Ulster-winning captain with Cavan as a player in 2020, and delivered a superb moment this season as manager, with a first championship win over Mayo in over 70 years.

Cavan now join the likes of Dublin and Roscommon in searching for a new manager, and there are a few intriguing contenders.

READ HERE: Tyrone Boss Gushes About Unlikely Hero Who Led Team To All-Ireland Minor Triumph

READ HERE: Pat Spillane Did Not Hold Back With Criticism Of Mayo After Kevin McStay Treatment

The manager of the Cavan U20s last year, Larry Reilly led the Breffni men to an Ulster semi-final, where they were beaten by Donegal.

A former International Rules star, Reilly has an Ulster SFC medal from his playing career, starting alongside brother Paddy in the 1997 triumph over Derry and scoring two points from corner forward.

That '97 Ulster win ranks among the most famous in the history of Cavan GAA, and Reilly attained full-on folk hero status in the county for his integral role in delivering the Anglo-Celt Cup to the county for the first time in 28 years.

With pedigree in Cavan football and recent managerial experience with their U20 team, Reilly will surely be a strong contender to step up to the senior role after Galligan's departure.

Andy Moran is surely set to be linked with every managerial vacancy in Ireland this summer.

The Mayo legend has been rapidly rising in the GAA coaching ranks since his retirement as a player, first working with his own county's underage teams before moving to take charge of the Leitrim seniors.

He departed his role with Leitrim after the 2024 season and spent this season as a coach with Monaghan. The Farney Army were among the most consistent performers throughout the season, before eventually being eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

It has been an impressive start to coaching life for the Mayo man and Cavan's history of appointing outside managers would keep him in contention.

The vacancy in his native county may interest him, but Moran is sure to be on the radar of Cavan as they look for Raymond Galligan's

Cavan's minors enjoyed a strong 2025 championship under the stewardship of Ed O'Hanlon, reaching the Ulster final and, as a result, the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Though both the Ulster decider and the quarter-final against Kerry ended in disappointment, Cavan received deserved plaudits for their impressive wins over Down and Donegal earlier in the championship.

When he was announced as minor manager late last year, O'Hanlon was appointed on a three-year deal. However, that could be cut short if he comes into play as a contender for the senior job.

James Burke is well established in the senior inter-county setup in Cavan, having spent the last three seasons as a selector and assistant to both Galligan and his predecessor Mickey Graham.

Burke previously worked under James Horan as his closest assistant during his second spell in charge at Mayo, a spell which brought back-to-back All-Ireland final appearances in 2020 and 2021.

O'Hanlon and Reilly would both be safe promotions from within, but should he be up to the task, there are few candidates with a better knowledge of this Cavan senior team than James Burke.

Another outside manager option, and the name on this list with the most impressive managerial history at senior level.

Vinny Corey took over as Monaghan manager in 2022, after a stellar 18-year playing career that saw him win two Ulster SFC medals.

In his first season in charge, Corey not only led Monaghan to the All-Ireland semi-finals but nearly masterminded a dramatic victory over Dublin.

Since stepping aside as Monaghan manager at the end of the 2024 season, Corey has been working with Cavan club Gowna, giving him a deep insight into the inner workings of the county's football setup.

It would be a huge coup were Cavan to pull off the appointment of Corey, but it may be a divisive one within the county, given their rivalry with neighbours Monaghan.