{{Short description|Irish Gaelic football player and coach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox GAA player |image= |name =Gavin Devlin |irish =Gábháin Ó Doibhilin |nickname=Horse<ref name=Horse/> |feet=6|inches=0 |occupation=Building contractor<ref name=program>{{ citation | publisher = DBA Publishing | date = 2005-09-25 | journal = 2005 All-Ireland Final Match Programme | title= Player Profiles - Tyrone }}</ref> |sport=Gaelic football |code=Football |county=Tyrone |province=Ulster |clposition=Half back |club=Ardboe |clyears=? -present |clapps(points)= |clcounty=1 |clprovince= |clubs=Ardboe |counties= Tyrone |icposition=Half back |icyears= |icapps(points)= |icprovince=3 |icallireland=2 |allstars= |icupdate= |clupdate= |birth_place=County Tyrone, Northern Ireland }} '''Gavin Devlin''' is a Gaelic football coach, selector, manager and former player. He has been manager of the Louth county team since 2025. Devlin played for the Ardboe club and the Tyrone county team, winning two All-Ireland SFC titles with Tyrone. He then worked as Mickey Harte's assistant and selector at both Tyrone and Louth.
==Playing career== Devlin won one All-Ireland Minor Championship (1998) and two All-Ireland Under 21 Championship titles in 2000 and 2001.
He won two All-Ireland SFC medals; in 2003, playing a pivotal role in Tyrone's blanket defence system, and as a panel member in 2005.
==Coaching career== Devlin has coached Kildress Wolfe Tones Seniors in Tyrone.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
He assisted Mickey Harte during the end of his tenure as Tyrone senior manager, then moved with him to Louth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/mickey-harte-louth-5276705-Nov2020/|title=Mickey Harte takes on role as Louth manager|date=24 November 2020|work=The 42|accessdate=24 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2020/1124/1180096-fitzpatrick-insists-harte-can-pump-life-into-wee-county/|title=Peter Fitzpatrick insists Mickey Harte can pump life into Wee County |publisher=RTÉ|date=24 November 2020}}</ref> When working together during their single season with Derry, Harte said of coach/selector/assistant Devlin: "He is as good as another son to me".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41376571.html|title=Loyal wingman Devlin like another son to Mickey Harte|work=Irish Examiner|first=Paul|last=Keane|date=18 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/he-is-as-good-as-another-son-to-me-derry-boss-mickey-harte-on-his-long-standing-lieutenant-gavin-devlin/a1388758593.html|title='He is as good as another son to me' — Derry boss Mickey Harte on his long-standing lieutenant Gavin Devlin: Duo have known each other for 27 years and he is a constant from Tyrone to Louth and now Derry|work=Irish Independent|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|date=18 April 2024}}</ref><ref name=Horse>{{cite news|url=https://extra.ie/2023/09/23/sport/gaa/gavin-devlin-derry-switch|title=Was Mickey Harte’s assistant Gavin Devlin the real key to shock Derry switch?|first=Micheal|last=Clifford|date=29 September 2023}}</ref>
Ten months after leaving Louth, Devlin returned there as "underage football development coordinator, with a remit of steering the county's academy squads, post-primary and rising stars programme", according to Louth GAA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://new.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/332792|title=Devlin returning to Louth after Derry exit|work=Hogan Stand|date=16 July 2024}}</ref>
He was thus not in a position to link up with Harte when Harte joined Offaly.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/gaelic-football/gaelic-football-news/offaly-make-first-appointment-managerial-33521519|title=Offaly make first appointment to managerial team since shock Mickey Harte arrival|first=Pat|last=Nolan|date=22 August 2024|quote=Gavin Devlin, who worked alongside Harte in his latter years in Tyrone and then Louth and Derry, would ordinarily have been a shoo-in to join him in Offaly, but he has recently taken up a role as head of Louth’s underage set up, which would appear to preclude him from being involved with another county.}}</ref> Devlin was appointed manager of the Louth senior footballers in 2025, following Ger Brennan's departure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/0722/1524833-devlin-returns-to-louth-senior-set-up-as-manager/|title=Gavin Devlin returns to Louth set-up as manager|publisher=RTÉ|date=22 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929110452/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/09/27/story634737216.asp Interview]
{{s-start|header={{s-sports}}}} {{succession box | title = Louth Senior Football Manager | years = 2025– | before = Ger Brennan | after = Incumbent }} {{s-end}}
{{Navboxes |title=Tyrone panels |bg=white |fg=#E00000 |list1= {{Tyrone Football Team 2003}} {{Tyrone Football Team 2005}} {{Tyrone Football Team 2018}} }} {{Louth county football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devlin, Gavin}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Derry county football team non-playing personnel Category:Gaelic football coaches Category:Gaelic football managers Category:Gaelic football selectors Category:Louth county football team non-playing personnel Category:Tyrone county football team non-playing personnel Category:Tyrone inter-county Gaelic footballers Category:Winners of one All-Ireland medal (Gaelic football)
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