There looks to be only one name in the hat to become the next Tyrone senior football manager with Malachy O’Rourke expected to be rubberstamped as Red Hand boss within the next week.
O’Rourke was nominated for the post by his adopted club Errigal Ciarán last week and it is understood that there are no other candidates in the mix to replace Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan, who stepped down last week after four seasons as joint-bosses.
He has lived in Ballygawley since the 1990s and won Tyrone SFC titles with Errigal Ciarán as both a player and manager and he is expected to return to inter-county management for the first time since 2019.
O’Rourke stepped away from his role as Monaghan boss at the end of that season having overseen one of the best spells in Farney history as they became a consistent force at Division 1 level in the League, as well as winning Ulster SFC titles in 2013 and 2015.
The 57-year-old, who also guided Fermanagh to an Ulster final appearance in 2008, has been keeping busy on the club scene in recent years as Glen boss, with the Watty Graham’s club bagging three Derry SFC titles, two Ulster crowns and All-Ireland glory earlier this year.
O’Rourke is in the middle of a four-in-a-row bid with Glen at present but he could be announced as Tyrone boss as early as next Tuesday’s county board meeting, ending all speculation that he could be Mickey Harte’s replacement for the vacant Derry hot seat.