County Roscommon club confirms high-profile managerial appointment

County Roscommon’s most successful underage manager of recent vintage has been appointed manager of the Roscommon Gaels senior football panel.

Shane Moran, who led the Roscommon minor footballers to the last two Connacht titles, will take over from Decie Hoare, the club has confirmed.

In a statement, Roscommon Gaels said that Moran “brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role”. It went on to wish him and his management team “the best of luck as we embark on an exciting new chapter in the purple and gold”.

The club also expressed its appreciation 2026 manager Decie Hoare and his management team of Mark Healy, Paul Gleeson and Anthony McCormack for their work throughout the season, which saw the Gaels beaten at the quarter-final stages of the championship for the second year in succession by St. Brigid’s.

It is widely believed that there was no shortage of offers on Moran’s table after his successful stint with the county minor footballers where he stepped down as manager a few months ago and has since been replaced by Tomás Gilleran.

Moran led Roscommon Gaels to last year’s U-20 football title and will take charge of the team trying to defend their Division One crown later this year.

But his elevation to manager of the club’s flagship football team will be seen as a statement of intent by the Gaels as they look to bridge the gap to the club’s last senior football championship success in 2004.