Wexford GAA have confirmed that Shane Roche will be stepping down as Wexford Senior Football manager…
Roche stepped in as an interim manager in the wake of Paul Galvin’s abrupt managerial exit with Wexford during the middle of the season back in September 2020.
After that and until now, Roche continued with the role following his ratification as the new manager in January, but he has now confirmed that he will no longer be continuing with the managerial duties.
“His two-year term is now effectively over, and he has chosen not to seek an extension into 2023 and beyond,” Wexford GAA confirmed in a statement.
That leaves a managerial position now open – and Wexford GAA are on the hunt to find their next football manager. Here, we look at five potential candidates for the vacant Wexford football manager position.
Ciarán Deely
A former footballer with Wexford, Ciaran Deely has become a name widely thrown into the hat when discussions about a new potential manager arises. Deely has been involved in coaching for years, enjoying a career at the English professional football side QPR, where he is currently based. Along with being involved with QPR, he also enjoyed a four-year managerial spell with London GAA.
The Wexford man runs his own business, Deely Sports Science, and is highly respected within the coaching world. Interestingly, Deely currently sits on a high-performance committee with Wexford GAA which aims to “deliver a structure to ensure that we consistently challenge for top Honours in the coming decade.”
A love of Wexford GAA quite clearly still runs through his veins and he would be the number one candidate in many people’s eyes.
Update: Ciarán Deely is part of the Wexford GAA committee to find the next Wexford Senior Football manager, and thus, he will not be running for the position.
Jason Ryan
Jason Ryan was the Wexford Senior Football manager during Wexford’s peak footballing years of the modern era from 2007-2012. He famously guided Wexford to an All-Ireland football semi-final, losing narrowly to Tyrone. However, the outlook of Wexford football has changed dramatically since those glory years.
Although it has been more than a decade since then, Jason Ryan has not gone away from the Wexford managerial world. He is currently the coach of the Glynn-Barntown Senior hurlers, and he has coached various other Wexford GAA clubs over the last number of years. Last year, when Davy Fitzgerald left his position as Wexford Senior Hurling manager, the Wexford People had reported that Jason Ryan was in pole position for the role.
John Godkin
Although he is more commonly regarded in the Wexford soccer world, one from the left-field that may be considered for the Wexford Senior Football position is Wexford town native, John Godkin.
Godkin has been involved in a managerial role with Wexford soccer club, North End FC, during the most successful era of the Wexford club’s history, which saw them lift the national title, the FAI Junior Cup, back in 2018. Given that he is one of the most successful managers in the local sphere, Godkin should not be overlooked for this role.
Godkin’s involvement in GAA management would not be out of the ordinary either. In 2021, he managed his local GAA club, St Mary’s Maudlintown in Intermediate Football after a 20-year lay-off from Gaelic football management.
Conor Counihan
Another candidate somewhat out of the left-field is Conor Counihan. Back in 2017, when Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney left his position as Wexford Senior football manager, Counihan was tipped as his likely successor. At the time, it was reported in The Irish Mirror that he had emerged as a surprise contender for the role.
As per the Irish Mirror, Counihan spent five years in the Cork hot-seat from 2008-13 and guided them to their first All-Ireland in 20 years in 2010 as well as three National League Division One crowns and three Munster titles.
Although Wexford football is at a low right now, it still may be an attractive proposition. Ultimately, moving forward, Wexford have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The likely aim of development throughout the Allianz league campaign and with an eye on silverware in the Tailteann Cup in 2023 would be another welcomed challenge to managers like Counihan, who already have experienced success in the game. Five years down the line, perhaps he may still be a contender for the vacancy.
John Hegarty
Another candidate from inside the county is Wexford’s, John Hegarty. Like Deely, Hegarty enjoyed a lengthy playing career with the Yellowbellies.
It’s worth noting that when discussions like this arise, the current Wexford club title-winning manager should always be in the discussion.
Although he works as a vice-principal and is undoubtedly busy, he still made time to guide the Shelmaliers GAA Club to success last year in the Wexford Senior Football Championship.
After that, he guided the Shelmaliers to a fine run in the Leinster Club championship, only being defeated by Naas after extra time in the semi-final of last year’s competition. Many believe that Hegarty is a prime candidate for this position.
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The Wexford GAA County Board are currently on the search for a new Wexford Senior Football manager. Whether or not any of these potential candidates are sought after remains to be seen, but they all would bring their own personalities and something different to the Wexford side.
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