Former All-Ireland winner John McEntee has been appointed Monaghan manager, replacing Gabriel Bannigan.

McEntee, who helped Armagh win the Sam Maguire in 2002, takes his first inter-county job after spending the past four seasons in charge of Monaghan club Inniskeen.

The 49-year-old’s appointment was ratified at a county board meeting on Monday night when it was also confirmed that Tony Austin would take over as senior hurling boss.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to it. Really privileged and honoured to be asked to take on this role and I’m going to give it my best shot,” McEntee told Northern Sound.

“There’s been conversations about the Monaghan post for a number of weeks since it became vacant and there were opportunities for clubs to put names forward.

“I didn’t entertain that at the time because I was focused on Inniskeen but I knew this was naturally going to be the end of my tenure with Inniskeen and I had alternative options but this was the one that excited me the most.”

He replaces Bannigan, who said “the goalposts have moved” when announcing his departure after two years at the helm in August.

After succeeding former Armagh team-mate Oisin McConville, McEntee led Inniskeen to Monaghan finals in 2023 and 2025, losing both to Scotstown.

He also oversaw Clontibret’s 2019 Monaghan SFC triumph while he guided his club Crossmaglen Rangers to the Ulster title alongside McConville in 2015.

McEntee’s twin brother Tony – with whom he won the All-Ireland title – spent the 2026 season in the Down backroom team following a spell as Sligo boss.

Under Bannigan, Monaghan won the Division Two title in 2025 and reached successive All-Ireland quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by Donegal and Louth.

The Farney men were relegated from Division One this year after a tough league campaign in which they failed to pick up a point.

They bounced back well in the Ulster SFC with wins over Cavan and Derry but suffered an extra-time defeat against Armagh in the decider.

In the Sam Maguire series, Monaghan lost to eventual champions Mayo in round one but secured round 2B and three victories over Roscommon and Westmeath.

However, after losing influential goalkeeper Rory Beggan to injury, they fell to 0-27 to 2-18 loss to Louth in the quarter-final at Croke Park.



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