Roscommon appoint Burke with former Donegal star part of backroom team

The lengthy search for a successor to Anthony Cunningham has ended with Davy Burke appointed as the new Roscommon senior football manager.

Burke was ratified as manager for a three-year term at a meeting of the Roscommon GAA County Board held last night (Wednesday).

The Kildare man has previously held the role of Wicklow senior football manager. Burke led his native county of Kildare to the inaugural All-Ireland U-20 football championship in 2018. In 2019, he managed Sarsfields of Newbridge when they won the Kildare senior football title.

Burke is also currently the manager of the Maynooth University Sigerson Cup football team.

Roscommon GAA chairperson Brian Carroll said: “Roscommon GAA are absolutely delighted with the appointment. Davy Burke is a young enthusiastic manager who has gained much experience in his managerial career through club, college and county.”

Joining Burke as a coach will be former Donegal All-Ireland winning player and All-Star Mark McHugh, a winner of three Ulster senior football titles.

The remainder of the backroom team will be announced in the coming days.

Roscommon will compete in Division 1 of the 2023 Allianz Football League, having gained promotion earlier this year.

Burke’s first championship game in charge of the Rossies will be a Connacht quarter-final against Mayo, who are now managed by former Roscommon boss Kevin McStay.

It’s believed that former Westmeath managers Brendan Hackett and Pat Flanagan were interviewed for the Roscommon job. Flanagan was nominated for the post by Padraig Pearses, whom he guided to two Roscommon senior titles and the Connacht club crown.

It’s understood that former Meath and Mullingar Shamrocks star Bernard Flynn was also interviewed, while several potential candidates were linked to the vacancy.

Roscommon GAA has thanked the selection committee for their diligence over the last twelve weeks.