MICKEY NEILS DOWN

BY PADDY TIERNEY FORMER Tyrone manager and current Louth boss Mickey Harte is set to take over as Slaughtneil’s football manager.

Harte, who led Tyrone to three All-ireland senior titles, will succeed Paul Bradley, who stepped down in the wake of last month’s Derry SFC loss to Glen at Celtic Park. Harte left his role as Tyrone manager at the end of the 2020 season with the Red Hands winning their fourth All-ireland crown under the new management of Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher in 2021.

The Errigal Ciaran man (left) was keen to remain in charge of Tyrone at the time of his departure and remained in county management into 2021 when he surprisingly was named as Louth’s new senior manager.

He was joined at the Wee County by former Tyrone assistant Gavin Devlin, although it is unlikely that the All-ireland winning defender will be involved with Harte at

Slaughtneil, despite being part of Bradley’s management team in the past.

Devlin has succeeded new Down coach Mickey Donnelly as manager of his native Ardboe.

Harte and Devlin achieved back-to-back promotions with Louth earlier in the year and were rewarded with a new deal which will see them in charge until 2025.

Harte will become the second manager at Slaughtneil who is in charge of a county team as hurling boss Mickey Mcshane is also manager of the Tyrone hurlers.