After two years at the helm, Vinny Corey has decided to step down as manager of the Monaghan senior county football team.
Corey, who won two Ulster titles as a player before coming a Selector with Monaghan, took charge in 2023, and enjoyed a brilliant first season, reaching the All-Ireland semi-finals where they narrowly lost to eventual champions Dublin.
However, his second year in charge was not as enjoyable as the Ulster side were relegated from Division One, eliminated in the preliminary round of Ulster, and then had their season ended by Galway in the preliminary quarter-finals.
Despite the disappointing end to the campaign, a lot of their misfortune this season was due to a bad run of injuries as they struggled to get their best team onto the pitch for most of the year.
Most people suspected that Corey would have stayed on for a third year, but the demands of inter-county management are very taxing, and he obviously thought that leaving was in the county's best interest.
This means that the search for a replacement has officially began, and there are five front runners on everyone's lips.
5. Paddy Tally
The Tyrone native has a wealth of experience in inter-county management and coaching, having worked with his home county, Derry and Down in the past.
Currently with Jack O'Connor's Kerry team, Tally played a key role in helping The Kingdom win their last All-Ireland in 2022, and after three years down in Munster, he could be tempted make the move up north closer to home.
4. Andy Moran
The Mayo legend left his role as Leitrim manager after three seasons in charge, and has clearly learned a lot in his time with the Connacht side.
Promotion from Division Four was the main target since he took the role, something that they achieved earlier this year, and now that he is a free agent, he may wish to test himself in the most competitive province of Ulster and see if he can bring the Farney men back to the top.
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3. Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher left the Derry job just days before the 2023 Ulster final after domestic abuse allegations pertaining to his private life.
The Ulster Council temporarily barred Gallagher "without prejudice" from coaching as the accusations were being investigated by a safeguarding panel.
That barring order was lifted by the Disputes Resolution Authority in February, allowing Gallagher to coach again.
The Ex Derry boss was seen taking training sessions with Monaghan club Corduff, a team managed by former Fareny manager Seamus McEnaney.
With Gallagher's ban lifted, the Fermanagh native might be considered by the county to replace Vinny Corey.
2. Mickey Harte
Although Mickey Harte's time with Derry will be remembered for their disastrous finish to the season that saw them lose four out of six championship games, the Tyrone native still enjoyed some success in his one season with the Oakleafers.
A Division One title and McKenna Cup trophy were secured in the short time that Harte was in charge, and he made it clear on the BBC that he wasn't ready to retire just yet.
It was revealed that Harte did have talks with Kildare about potentially replacing Glenn Ryan, but Monaghan would be a much more realistic and appealing job for the Errigal Ciaran man considering that it is in Ulster, they are highly competitive at the top level, and he knows the county so well.
1. Malachy O'Rourke
Malachy O'Rourke is arguably the most sought after manager in the game right now after guiding Watty Graham's Glen to back to back All-Ireland finals, and winning the latest one.
Although linked heavily with the Derry job, O'Rourke had previously managed Monaghan already, winning two Ulster titles with the county in 2013 and 2015.
These provincial wins created the foundation that Monaghan have built on in recent years, and fans would be delighted to see him return to the helm, and such an appointment could even persuade the likes of Conor McManus to stay on for another season.
