Management returns: five who went back
April 13, 2012

Top from left Eamonn Coleman, John O'Mahony and Sean Boylan. Bottom from left Brian McEniff, Billy Morgan and Mick O'Dwyer.
Sean Boylan is set to return as Meath manager for a second time, seven years after his 23-year spell as county manager came to an end. The Dunboyne Maestro is answering an SOS from Meath football but he is not the first Gaelic football manager to retake his former hot seat.
They say you 'should never go back', so we look at the fate of five men who did just that.
Brian McEniff: The Donegal man didn't just go back once, but on six different occasions he was manager of the county team. As player/manager he led the county to their first Ulster senior title in 1972 and was 'just' a player when the reclaimed that title two years later. With his playing days over he was back in the hot seat when the 1983 Ulster title was won.
After another spell away he returned to the helm of the county and created history as Sam Maguire came to the North West in 1992. A couple of years later he was gone and back again, with a spell as county board chairman in between. In 2003 he brought the county to an All-Ireland semi-final and was convinced to stay on until 2005.
Was the return a success?: Yes, and you can say that in every spell he had in charge of the county, he improved their fortunes.
Mick O'Dwyer: After winning four All-Ireland medals on the pitch, the Kerry genius claimed eight more senior All-Irelands as manager during an fourteen year spell at the helm of the Kingdom, during a period now known as the Golden Years.
After standing down in 1989 he took two years out before taking over an underperforming Kildare side. Between 1991 and '94 he took the Lilywhites to a league final and two Leinster finals, the first being their only appearance in an eastern showpiece in nearly 20-years.
He returned for a second spell with Kildare between 1997 and 2002. After a three game saga with Meath in his first year back he ended the county's 42-year wait for a Leinster title in 1998. Kildare made it through to the All-Ireland final that year after dethroning Kerry in the semi-final, but a second half collapse saw them overpowered by Galway. Another Leinster title followed in 2000.
Was the return a success?: Without question, as Micko achieved in his second spell the Leinster title all of Kildare expected during his first term in the job.
Billy Morgan: An All-Ireland winning goalkeeper with Cork, Morgan took over the hot seat with the senior footballers in the Autumn of 1986, just months after Kerry won a three in a row of All-Ireland titles. His impact was immediate as Cork won the next four Munster titles and put the end to Kerry's Golden Generation.
Morgan's side lost All-Ireland finals to Meath in 1987 and '88 but were back to defeat Mayo in the '89 decider and satisfyingly lay the Meath bogey to rest in the 1990 All-Ireland decider. Kerry and Clare won the next two Munster titles but Morgan added three more Munster titles in a row and lost out in the 1993 All-Ireland final to Derry, before he stood down in 1996.
After leading his home club Nemo Rangers to All-Ireland club glory in 2003 Morgan was reappointed to the helm of the county's footballers that autumn.
During a four year spell Kerry proved his nemesis despite leading Cork to a Munster final victory over their old rivals in 2006. The Kingdom defeated Cork in the 2005 and '06 All-Ireland semi-finals and then continued that medicine with a 3-13 to 1-9 victory in the 2007 All-Ireland final, which was to be Morgan's last game in charge.
Was the return a success?: While undoubtedly improving the county's fortunes, Morgan's second spell was frustrating compared to his original term in charge. He just could not shake off a talented Kerry side, but at least he gave his all trying.
John O'Mahony:'Johnno' is currently a Fine Gael TD who had two spells in charge of his native Mayo. Between 1988 and 1991 he brought two Connacht titles to the county and brought the Mayo to the 1989 All-Ireland final against Cork. It was the Westerners first September showpiece appearance since their last success in 1951. The Rebels had lost the previous two finals and were shaking when substitute Anthony Finnerty fired home a second half goal to leave little between the sides. The same player spurned a glorious chance for a second goal shortly after and Mayo went home regretting the one that got away.
After stepping down at the end of 1991, O'Mahony led Leitrim to an historic second Connacht title victory in 1994, at the expense of his old charges and more impressively brought the Sam Maguire to Galway in 1998 and 2001.
The locals yearned for his return to work the same magic that he had with the Tribesmen and he duly obliged in a second spell between 2007 and '10. A Connacht title came in 2009 but there were frustrating displays in the qualifiers during a mixed term.
Was the return a success?: The results were not what Mayo fans wanted, but their hopes were unrealistic as they expected O'Mahony to wave the same magic wand which brought All-Ireland success to Galway. He couldn't do that but the side were in transition at the time.
Eamonn Coleman: The diminutive Derry man was a force to be reckoned with and after leading Derry to All-Ireland minor success in 1989, he took the reins of the county senior side in 1991. A league final appearance in 1992 was followed by Ulster and All-Ireland success in 1993, as Derry claimed their first and only Sam Maguire win. The Oakleafers lost out in the Battle of Celtic Park the following summer against Down, in one of the finest Ulster championship matches ever played. A dispute with the Derry county board saw Coleman amazingly removed from his position later that year, just 12-months after he won the All-Ireland.
In 1999 Coleman returned to Derry and led them to a league final replay win in 2000 over then reigning All-Ireland champions Meath. Ulster success eluded him but he did bring Derry to an All-Ireland semi-final in 2001, where they lost out to Galway. Coleman stood down the following year and later became Cavan manager before he stood down for health reasons. He passed away in 2007.
Was the return a success: The answer must be yes, as Derry were struggling and he brought them back to a level where they were considered All-Ireland contenders in 2000. The real question is, what would he have achieved if he had been left in charge of Derry for a few more years during his first spell in charge?
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