McCabe set to be appointed Cavan manager
Breaking
In a major twist to the ongoing Westmeath senior football managerial saga, the Anglo-Celt newspaper is reporting that Dermot McCabe is now the only candidate in the frame for the vacancy in Cavan. McCabe was appointed on a two-year term in Westmeath and officers belived he would honour that agreement.
However, the Anglo Celt is reporting that one of the two candidates for the Cavan position, Finbar O’Reilly, has withdrawn from the process on the eve of the interviews.
O’Reilly was one of two candidates nominated, the other being current Westmeath manager McCabe, who is Games Development Manager in Cavan. The interviews were due to take place today (Saturday) for the role.
At the time of writing, O’Reilly has not yet publicly stated the reasons for his decision.
The way now seems clear for McCabe to take on the role. With the board having already publicly stated that their preference was to appoint one of the two nominated candidates, it would seem extremely unlikely they would overlook the Gowna clubman at this point.
McCabe has remained Westmeath senior team manager during the entire process in Cavan, which has raised the ire of Westmeath football supporters. It now appears he is a certainty to be confirmed as Cavan manager.
This week Westmeath GAA Chairman Frank Mescall was asked about the situation and he confirmed that McCabe was still in place as Lake County senior football boss.
Westmeath GAA supporter Gerry Buckley, a well-known Gaelic games correspondent, said he feels the county has been strung along for some time now and decisive action should have been taken.
"Westmeath deserved better. It is outrageous that we have been strung along," he remarked.
Westmeath is now left facing a process to find a new senior football manager having carried out interviews only this week for the senior hurling manager's position.
McCabe has been employed as Games Development Manager (later retitled as Head of Games) since 2013, combining the role with his position in Westmeath last season.
McCabe, one of Cavan's best players of recent decades, was joint-manager of Gowna when they won the Cavan Senior Championship in 2022 and 2023 and selector with Cavan seniors when they won the Ulster Championship in 2020.