Former MacCumhaills player Nathan Gavigan links up with Paul Galvin at Ratoath GAA

Former Donegal footballer Nathan Gavigan is continuing his coaching role with Meath club Ratoath as they welcome Kerry legend Paul Galvin as their new manager.

Galvin, a four-time All-Ireland winner and former Footballer of the Year, takes over from Lar Norton at the helm of the three-time Meath SFC champions.

Gavigan, a former MacCumhaills man who has also lined out for Donegal minors and U-21s in the past, has been a key figure in the club’s coaching setup since last season when he joined Norton at Ratoath, as part of his backroom team, and now remains an integral part of the team as they aim to build on their recent successes.

Gavigan - son of 1992 All-Ireland winner Martin ‘Rambo’ Gavigan - was part of the DCU freshers management team that won their fifth freshers All-Ireland title in nine years early last year.

Galvin’s last coaching assignment saw him team up with Meath manager Robbie Brennan at Kilmacud Crokes, guiding the Dublin giants to the county final, where they were narrowly defeated by Cuala at Parnell Park. Before that, the Finuge native was a member of Glenn Ryan’s Kildare backroom team and briefly served as Wexford’s senior football manager in 2020.

Ratoath, who claimed their first-ever Meath SFC title in 2019, went on to add further championships in 2020 and 2022. The club is now looking to rebound from their 2024 quarter-final exit, with Galvin and Gavigan leading the charge for the upcoming campaign.