Inside Track: Louth and Dublin to take time in naming new managers

At first glance it looks as though Ger Brennan quitting as manager is another kick in the teeth for Louth. The first one was Brennan’s immediate predecessor, Mickey Harte, taking off to Derry just over a couple of years ago.

Harte had agreed to remain after taking Louth to a first Leinster senior final in 13 years, and before that, league promotion two seasons running.

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However, when Derry came looking, the multiple All-Ireland winner with Tyrone had his head turned and off he went, taking his trusty sidekick, Gavin Devlin, with him.

Harte has since moved on to Offaly, while Devlin is back in the Louth fold, playing a part in the promotion of underage and colleges football.

He was on the line this year, helping to guide the county minors to a Leinster final, and after that a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

In both games, the under-17s missed out narrowly, their last game, against Roscommon, going to extra-time and ending with just a point between the sides.

Another part of the narrative is that Brennan left because he was being teed up for the Dublin job, left vacant by Dessie Farrell’s decision to retire.

Farrell had been in charge for six years, during which Dublin won two All-Irelands, the first of them, a record-enhancing sixth-in-a-row played in 2020.

That was the first of the Covid 19 years, and the final, with Mayo, was played with the sound of the ball being kicked heard all over an empty Croke Park.

Dublin County Board have never named a non-native as manager, nor do they believe in approaching someone who’s in place with another county.

While favourite with the bookies, slightly ahead of former Leitrim and Dublin footballer, Declan Darcy, in the betting, Brennan hasn’t, according to our source, been promised the job.

Others are listed – at least by the bookies. A Dublin County Board spokesman has said there’s not going to be a rush to make a decision.

That, plus the fact that Brennan is said to have made up his mind to quit the Louth job a number of weeks back – and may have conveyed his intentions to the County Board before Dessie Farrell stood down – wouldn’t put his departure in the same category as Harte’s.

Twice an All-Ireland winner in his playing days and associated with the same Dublin club, St Vincent’s, as another former Louth manager, Mickey Whelan, Brennan leaves the county seniors in a better place than he found them. It was the same with Harte.

He oversaw a first Leinster win in 68 years, that success at provincial level, coming after Division Two league status had been retained.

Each of the two campaigns included a win over Meath, who have since made it to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Donegal.

The defeat of the Royals at Inniskeen was arguably the best of his team’s seven winning displays this season, while the championship win had no luck attached and was fully deserved.

Brennan and the County Board have, in statements, been lavish in their praise for each other. And that’s only to be expected. But If there’s something behind the parting of ways it may be disclosed, but probably won’t.