Fallout continues from Colm O'Rourke resignation as Meath look for new boss
A frontrunner has emerged for the role with one other leading candidate ruled out as Meath clubs have their say on O'Rourke's contentious departure.
Meath GAA clubs have been given a week to nominate Colm O’Rourke’s replacement as the fallout from his resignation continues.
A range of concerns over the handling of the affair were raised by clubs during a lengthy debate at a County Board meeting last night.
Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland winning manager Robbie Brennan has emerged as the early favourite for the post.
Read More: Fanatacism, passion, conservatism and trophies: Who will Tyrone GAA turn to next?
Leinster Under-20 Championship winning boss Cathal Ó Bric is out of the running after being reappointed to the role for the coming year.
Chief among the concerns raised at last night’s meeting was that the Meath GAA Management Committee won’t get to see the review carried out into O’Rourke’s tenure.
The review was conducted by County Chairperson Jason Plunkett and respected solicitor Liam Keane - and is now unlikely to ever see the light of day.
One of the more intriguing revelations at the meeting was that part of the review involved speaking to members of management teams in other counties that were deemed successful.
The Meath players were also surveyed, while meetings with the player leadership group, O’Rourke himself, and with his management team members, also took place.
O’Rourke resigned on Sunday evening after two years in charge, stating that he couldn’t reveal the names of two new coaches he had lined up as they were currently involved with club teams.
He said one came from within Meath and one from outside the county.
It is believed O’Rourke was given a deadline of last Monday to have a new management team put in place with the club championships already well under way.
At the meeting, experienced GAA official Keane told club delegates that the Review Committee felt the double All-Ireland winning player and former RTE pundit had been given enough time to come up with new backroom team members.
Meath Vice Chairman Paddy Kelly took issue with the Managment Committee - the most powerful in Meath GAA - not having an input in the process.
He outlined his view that the Management Committee should have decided if O’Rourke was afforded more time to put his new backroom team in place with Stephen Bray and Barry Callaghan leaving the ticket.
Robbie Brennan, who has led Kilmacud Crokes to a hat-trick of Leinster titles and the 2023 All-Ireland, lives in Dunboyne. He played for and managed the club.
Royal legend Bernard Flynn was part of Brennan’s backroom team with Kilmacud and as a former Meath under-20 manager, could come into the equation.
Lar Wall, who led Gaeil Colmcille agonisingly close to the 2020 County title, before a last gasp extra-time goal from Ratoath denied them, is also being linked to the position.
Laois man Wall led Westmeath club, the Downs to the 2022 Westmeath Senior Championship and Leinster final, where they lost to Brennan’s Kilmacud side.
Candidates for the Meath post will be interviewed by Plunkett, Keane and members of the Meath Football Development Committee, with Keane telling County Board delegates they hoped to conclude the process quickly.
In a statement issued to the Meath Chronicle, O’Rourke said: “After our Championship finished, we as a management team had decided that we needed some extra coaching expertise.
“As a result I have consulted with a large number of county team managers and coaches to get advice on who best to fill the gaps.
"In the last month I have had discussions with two coaches who were highly recommended, one from inside the county and one outside, who would be happy to get involved with Meath but who are unwilling to commit publicly until their duties with their present clubs are finished.
“I admire their loyalty and as county training does not resume until late November I was prepared to wait.
"However as I cannot fulfil the requirements as set out by the review committee, whose brief I considered was the manager only, I am withdrawing with regret from the process.
"I would like to thank my management team for their commitment, hard work and complete integrity and also the whole backroom team who were totally professional in their duties.
"I am also very grateful for the constant support of sponsors Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud who were always willing to give very generously to ensure that the team lacked for nothing.
"I would also like to wish the players well and it should be stressed that at no stage of this process did they ever make any demands.
“This is a young team with considerable potential and I wish them and the new management the very best of luck in their endeavours.”
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
