Kildare GAA giants Naas back out of Rory Gallagher move
The former Derry, Donegal and Fermanagh boss was set to be part of the Naas GAA senior football management team for 2025, but the club have now pulled out of the move.
Naas GAA club have backed out of a move to appoint Rory Gallagher as a coach.
The former Derry, Fermanagh and Donegal manager was set to join Joe Murphy’s backroom team at the four-in-a-row Kildare champions.
But after social media criticism surrounding the move, which was confirmed in a statement on Sunday, Naas have now pulled the plug on the addition of the Ulster Championship winning manager.
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Naas GAA have indicated that they won’t be commenting publicly, but the move is now understood to be dead in the water.
Gallagher stepped aside as Derry manager on the eve of the 2023 Ulster Final after allegations of domestic abuse from his estranged wife Nicola.
In September, 2023 the Ulster Council temporarily debarred Gallagher ‘without prejudice’ from coaching, but that move was overturned at a Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) hearing in February 2024.
The DRA agreed with Gallagher’s legal team, who contended that the Ulster Council ‘safeguarding committee’ did not have the authority to impose debarment on him.
This left the former Fermanagh and Cavan player free to return to the sidelines.
He worked with Monaghan club Corduff, and while a potential Derry return was mooted in never happened, despite Gallagher indicating his intention to return to inter-county management in a statement last September.
Instead, Derry turned to Paddy Tally as Mickey Harte’s replacement.
Gallagher was the subject of claims of domestic abuse by his estranged wife. At the time he said: “Allegations against me have been investigated and dealt with by the relevant authorities.”
Donegal All-Ireland winning coach Gallagher spent five years with Derry, taking them from Division 3 to Division 1 and landing back to back Ulster titles, bridging a 24 year gap.
He also led Fermanagh to an Ulster final appearance and was regarded as the best coach in the game by many.
Nass have dominated Kildare GAA in recent years, but have struggled against Dublin opposition in Leinster, losing out twice to Kilmacud Crokes and this season falling to Cuala.
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