The former Tyrone defender took over as Louth manager when Ger Brennan left after landing the Leinster title in his second year in charge
Gavin Devlin reckons “something is brewing in Louth” – but he says the county can’t afford to “live for that one moment.”
That one moment the Wee County boss – nicknamed ‘Horse’ – is referring to, is last May’s emotional breakthrough Leinster Final victory over Meath, as they landed a first provincial title since 1957.
Devlin, who says he served “the longest apprenticeship in modern history,” before taking over as Louth boss, says the county can’t get complacent but he also believes “the sky’s the limit.”
“From when I arrived five years ago, just on the back ofCovid, playing Antrim over in Geraldines with a very small crowd to where we were over in Croke Park on May 11 and seeing that stadium full of red and smoke going up in the air, it was so emotional,” he said.
“Let’s not live for that one moment. Let’s build. There’s the new stadium at DKIT (Dundalk).
“Honestly, the sky’s the limit. Let’s not get too complacent, or too adventurous. Day by day, but I feel there is something brewing here. I felt that for a long time.
“We want to ask the supporters to get behind us 100percent and we’ll do everything we can to give them something to support.”
Devlin has been coaching teams since for over a decade and a half after landing All-Ireland titles as a player with Tyrone at minor, under-21 and senior level – all under Mickey Harte.
The Ardboe man started out on the Derry club scene before joining Harte in Tyrone and following him to Louth and then Derry.
With Harte moving to Offaly as joint manager alongside Declan Kelly, Devlin took a full-time coaching role in Louth underage GAA.
A few weeks ago he assumed the Louth senior reins when Brennan left after landing the Leinster title in his second year in charge
“In 2011 Mickey rang me,” said Devlin. “I was coaching clubs in Derry. I had a great relationship with him as a player.
“I was walking my dog and he asked me if he could meet me that night. I said I had a club championship game that night.
“He said, ‘I better ask you over the phone then – would you like to come in and join me in the management team in Tyrone?’
“That was 15 years ago and I stayed with him for 14 years. There was always a small management team.
“It was me and Mickey most of the time. Just the two of us. We had a very close working relationship. We were involved in every facet between the coach and manager.
“I am very familiar with the ongoings as a coach and a manager, but being here is a bit surreal – driving up the road and facing the cameras and knowing that Mickey wasn’t going to be beside me.
“He normally is fantastic in these environments. He would take control of those moments and I’d be a lot more comfortable on the pitch than I would be in front of a camera.
“Look, I probably done the longest apprenticeship in modern history so if I’m not ready at this stage I’ll probably never be ready.
“It’s obviously a different feeling when Mickey is not around. I had a great relationship with him.”
Devlin, who has added former Tyrone player Ronan O’Neill to a coaching ticket that includes assistant manager Peter Dooley, says the “giddy feeling” of taking over as boss is long gone now and the hard work has begun.
“It was probably a bolt out of the blue when Ger stepped away on the back of two fantastic years,” he said.
“We all know what happened this year on the eleventh of May (first Leinster title win since 1957).
“But even last year, coming in off the back of Mickey, that was no mean feat. That was a difficult seat of shoes to step into. I think he (Brennan) did it with great aplomb.
“He was humble and a brilliant speaker, speaking on behalf of the team. The way he navigated that at the beginning I thought was exceptional – whatever about winning the Leinster Championship.
“Ger was a great ambassador for Louth. Ger is only a young man with a long future in front of him.
“But wherever he goes or whatever he does at the end of his career he’ll look back at what he did in Louth. It will be very hard to emulate. It was magical.”
Devlin says the pressure he feels is delivering for the Louth fan base who follow the team around the country.
“For me that’s everything,” he said. “I don’t think we have a product without our supporters.
“We are so conscious of life today and the cost of living and one thing and another, and the amount of games now compared to back even whenever I was playing in the early 2000s.
“The week after week (games). Traveling around the country. The price of fuel. Maybe stopping for a meal in a restaurant on the way home.
“That’s where I feel the pressure. Now we have got to give them a product on the field that they are proud to support when they are spending their hard earned money on a Saturday evening or a Sunday, after working all week.
“We got to show that on any given Sunday.”
Devlin says he feels “very fortunate” in his journey as a player and coach.
He continued: “As a player in 1997 when I was 17 years of age I came on the cusp of one of the greatest teams that Tyrone ever had.
“I was a minor the same year as Cormac McAnallen, Stephen O’Neill, Owen Mulligan and Philip Jordan.
“That’s unique and for that team to win a minor, two 20s and three seniors, you couldn’t write it.
“Then to branch out of that and go on my journey as a coach, and then for someone like Mickey Harte to ring you and give you 14 years. Like, who gets that opportunity?
“I feel blessed. As an apprentice, experience is only good if you know how to use it. With that comes a wee bit of pressure.
“I do feel I have been very, very fortunate in my journey so far.”
**** Gavin Devlin was speaking at a Louth GAA sponsorship launch in Blackstone Motors, Dundalk.
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