'Disappointed' Bannigan steps down as Farney boss

August 28, 2026

Gabriel Bannigan ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Monaghan are on the lookout for a new senior football manager after Gabriel Bannigan announced last night that he is stepping down from his post.

Bannigan first joined the Monaghan set-up as part of Vinny Corey's backroom team in 2022 before succeeding the Clontibret man as manager in 2024.

The Farney men captured the Allianz League Division 2 title in 2025 and reached two consecutive All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals where they lost to Donegal and Louth, respectively.

This past season’s league campaign saw Monaghan relegated from Division 1 before reaching the Ulster final, losing to Armagh after extra time, and then the last eight of the Sam Maguire Cup race, running eventual winners Mayo close in Clones and defeating Roscommon and Leinster champions Westmeath along the way before Louth ended their campaign.

Speaking on his decision to depart after two seasons in charge, Bannigan said that “the conditions are not right for me to continue”.

"I'm very disappointed to announce that I am stepping down as manager of the Monaghan senior football team," the Aughnamullen clubman said in a statement.

"When I was appointed two years ago, I accepted the challenge of leading the Monaghan team through an inevitable period of transition and it has been an absolute privilege to do so.

"I have always been 100% honest with the Monaghan people since I was given the honour of managing our senior footballers, I did not want to walk away from this project that I have put so much into.

"Over the last number of weeks, I worked hard on my plans for 2027 to build on the excellent foundations now in place. During this period, I have come to realise that the goalposts have moved, and the conditions are not right for me to continue and therefore I believe a new management team and fresh voices are now required to take Monaghan football forward."


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