By Cian O'Connell

Damian McErlain has been appointed as the new Derry football manager.

Killian Conlan, Gavin McGeehan and Barry Gillis will also be involved in the backroom team.

Derry GAA released a statement on Thursday evening confirming the news: "On behalf of myself and the management team, we are delighted and honoured to be entrusted with working with our county’s senior footballers for the next three years," McErlain, who has guided Derry to the Electric Ireland Minor Championship Final.

"We are massively looking forward to working with the county’s best players and the other stakeholders involved in creating the environment to fulfil the potential that’s within Derry football."

The future is bright in Derry according to McErlain. "We know the talent that exists within the county and we’ve developed three strong minor teams to further bolster that," McErlain says. 

"We now need to ensure that we have the right environment for the players to develop further.

"We’ve a big couple of weeks ahead with the All-Ireland minor final to look forward to, and we’ll get down to work with the senior job once that occasion has passed. Until then it’s all about Derry minors trying to win an All-Ireland title and nothing else."