In a surprise development, Austin O'Malley is set to be named as the new Slaughtneil senior football manager.

Multiple reports have linked the Mayo native with the Derry giants, just 12 months after he guided Dublin's Cuala to an historic All-Ireland club SFC success at Errigal Ciarán's expense. O'Malley later stepped away from the role after three years in charge.

As a player, O'Malley represented both Mayo and Wicklow at inter-county level before returning to his native Louisburg and winning Mayo and Connacht junior club honours.

Slaughtneil won five Derry SFC titles between 2014 and 2020 before losing finals to Glen in 2021 and 2022. They were beaten by Newbridge at the semi-final stage last year in controversial circumstances. The controversy related to a Shane McGuigan injury-time point which the Robert Emmets argued should have been awarded as a two-pointer.

They subsequently appealed the result, but it proved unsuccessful.

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