Colm O'Rourke's Meath future set to become clearer in the coming days
The legendary player has served two years as Meath boss and is anxious to continue but it is likely to hinge on his backroom team.
Colm O’Rourke’s Meath future will become a lot clearer early next week.
The veteran boss has served two years at the Royal helm and is keen to stay on for the final year of a three year term.
A review after two years was built into the arrangement and this has now been completed.
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The Meath GAA County Committee are set to meet next Monday night where a recommendation is likely to be decided on and put before the clubs of the county the following night.
It is believed that the players, who contributed to the review, have called for a shake-up in the coaching set-up.
This could pave the way for O’Rourke to stay on if he can persuade a high calibre coach to come on board with former Meath stars Stephen Bray and Barry Callaghan understood to have left the set-up.
Legendary four-time All-Ireland winning manager, Sean Boylan has been involved this year, while another Royal icon, Trevor Giles, was added to the management team last year.
Paul Garrigan and Eugene Eivers - two of the Meath ladies All-Ireland winning set-up - left O’Rourke’s ticket at the end of his first season in charge (2023).
Meath have a history of complications when it comes to managerial reappointments so it is not a given that the clubs of the county will accept the recommendation of the committee.
Back in 2021 Meath club delegates blocked a move to bring an end to Andy McEntee’s tenure as manager, while they did the same with Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney in 2012.
O’Rourke’s future could hinge on attracting a high level coach with proven ability on the inter-county scene, but candidates are thin on the ground.
Of the top layer of coaches, Stephen Rochford is tied up with Mayo, Kevin Walsh was with Cork this year and Cork-based Cian O’Neill was with Galway.
O’Rourke could opt to go down the Dublin route, but no obvious candidates with significant experience stand out.
Louth snapped up Dublin All-Ireland winner Ger Brennan last year to replace Mickey Harte, who is now with Offaly as joint manager alongside Declan Kelly.
It is unclear if Harte’s long-time right hand man, Gavin Devlin, now in a full time underage coaching role in Louth, will join Harte.
Dublin All-Ireland winning coach, Jason Sherlock has just finished up a spell with Dessie Dolan in Westmeath.
The highly rated Declan Darcy - a key player in the Jim Gavin era in Dublin - has a full time role with Leinster rugby as ‘Performance Coach.’
Andy Moran, who has just left the Leitrim job, has been linked with a coaching role in the Mayo set-up with a shake-up to Kevin McStay’s backroom team also likely.
And Brian Flanagan, who guided Kildare under-20s to last year’s All-Ireland title and helped Summerhill to the Meath Championship, has take over as lily whites senior boss.
Meath landed last year’s Tailteann Cup but struggled for scores in this year’s Division 2 and All-Ireland campaigns.
They suffered heavy league defeats to Armagh and Donegal, while Dublin, Louth and Kerry all put them to the sword in the Championship.
O’Rourke’s charges managed just three wins and two draws in 12 league and championship games.
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