I can’t believe this piece is having to be produced as it will unfold. Current feelings are perfectly encapsulated in the headline above. Though it could scarcely be deemed a shock either. Given that, as has unfortunately been pointed out ad nauseum in this space over the past few weeks, we’ve been here before. With Sean Boylan, three times, 1985, 1995 and 2005, and with Eamonn O’Brien in 2010. Weeks after guiding the county to what still stands as our last Leinster SFC triumph.
By grace of God – whomever that may be – thankfully our clubs had the good sense to rebuff the nonsense on the first two occasions. And even though the latter of the occasions involving Sean was handled appallingly at Co Board level, thankfully the man himself was smart enough to spare himself the ignominy of the knockers and begrudgers having their day in the sun.
There will be those, you can be sure, howling that Colm O’Rourke has done the same by opting to step down after two years in charge of our senior footballers. Whatever helps you sleep at night. Empty vessels make the most noise. I have as much interest in or intention of voting for the ghastly green party as Colm had of walking away. Saying somebody fell doesn’t disguise the fact that you hid in the bushes while pushing them.
You might also be told that players wanted him gone. There will always be players who don’t get on with a given manager. Didn’t Judas leak team tactics to the detriment of Our Lord? But, having spoken to at least a half dozen players (from outside of my own club) over the past couple of weeks, that certainly wasn’t the vibe given.
Were there things he could/should have done differently? I’d say if not immediately, in time, the man himself may admit as much. Optics are important. What you are seen to do and not do. Defenestrating the services of Eugene Eivers and, in particular, Paul Garrigan, was not a good look. Particularly in light of the impact the duo had had with the team and their defencive structure in particular. Having previously done likewise with the county’s lady footballers before, ironically, Colm head hunted them to join his entourage. Incidentally, should Ladies manager Shane McCormack have brought them back on board when they became available? A topic for another column perhaps.
Other than that, personally, I would have felt he absolutely could and should have drafted in some of the U-20 panel who gave everyone in the county such a lift with their annexing of a first provincial title at the grade in 23 years. Certainly, John O’Regan, Jack Kinlough and Brian O’Halloran (though the latter was for a time laid up with injury) could have been made more use of, while others such as Sean O’Hare and Jamie Murphy – at the very least – were worth calling up. While there’s no doubting Eamonn Armstrong’s immense talent, management of same will be of the utmost importance going forward. It’ll be time enough for the gifted Duleek/Bellewstown lad to be entering such conversations in 12 months, if even then.
***
And so we arrive at the first bump in the road in this ensemble. It’s hard to know what way, in percentages, my emotions are currently simmering. Somewhere between shock, upset, anger, worry and frustration. Or, most likely, a big stew pot full of the whole lot. To paraphrase Baz Luhrmann, I will explain these feelings, now:
SHOCK
Vying for top spot in terms of what’s rolling around in the old toolbox up to. Firstly because there was absolutely no indication from the hitherto incumbent that he had any intention of vacating his post. In fact, inclination was that he was in fairly advanced negotiations with two highly reputable coaches who were seemingly agreeable to coming aboard the Good Ship Royal once their commitments with club teams had subsided.
In this week’s Talk A Good Game podcast, my colleague Fergal Lynch revealed that Colm had been “In advanced discussions with two highly regarded coaches, one inside and one outside the county”. The former was thought to be ex Donegal player and player and coach Karl Lacey, while my sources have, for quite a while now, been indicating that the coach from within the county was to be former Munster and Ireland rugby forward and current St Colmcille’s manager, Niall Ronan.
Whether any or all of the above was true I suppose we’ll never know now.
ANGER/UPSET
These two may as well be taken together. For they have consumed most of my mental space since the feared rumour was proven to be true late on Sunday night. The upset is a very deep and personal one. Having had the privilege of being close to Colm and many branches of his family for more than 30 years.
Not to mention that the two fingered salute to him from whomever the faceless agitators for change were was of course the same to my namesake and neighbour who has been an integral part of his management team. Who said lightening doesn’t strike twice?
Indeed, it is that very fact which sends upset hurtling towards smouldering anger. What an insult to two men who have each dedicated half a century of their lives to the betterment of not just Meath GAA but the Association at large. The greatest player ever to pull on a Meath jersey and one of the greatest managers GAA or any sport was graced by, cast aside like chaff out of a combine.
The “He stepped down of his own volition” brigade can spare me. If he was stepping down of his own doing, it would’ve most likely been done in the wake of the defeat by Monaghan or at some other time of Colm’s chosing.
It most certainly have been bulldozed into a two-and-bit-week period to meet a trumped up deadline, created with the sole purpose of derailing best laid plans. There was absolutely no need for a backroom team to be in place until the end of October at the earliest.
Then again, it’ll tell you the utter stupidity of those stirring the sh** and ultimately forcing Colm’s hand. If they were in such a rush to know the composition of his backroom team, with at least some of the power brokers unlikely to be overly upset that the great man has been forced into a disgusting, unfair decision, will the Brains Trust be as quick to rocket in his replacement and insist on their backroom team be in situ immediately? Aye, and you might see pigs booking airline tickets!
WORRY/FRUSTATION
Again, these two are undoubtedly best taken together because to split them could leave readers with a tome as large as Prof Gary Murphy’s official biography of Charlie Haughey. Let’s deal with the two topics in reverse. Initially anyway. Frustration has been generated to the greatest degree by the unnecessary, abrupt and highly insulting manner in which Colm O’Rourke – and others working with him – have been treated over the past few weeks. And for what? The infuriating irony being that, some if not all of those touted as his possible replacements are…wait for it…currently involved with clubs and thus presumably unable to assume their roles until, well, the end of October at the earliest. I know, make it make sense.
The worry end of things, if it was any other county in the country, wouldn’t even be an issue. But unfortunately, in certain places, there is a history of people not having form in dealing with matters of the utmost importance in the most efficient manner possible.
Hence the worry of the possibility or, Heaven forbid, probability, that those in the corridors of power don’t have a Plan B on ice somewhere. Though there is at least a deadline in place (Sept. 4th) by which nominations have to be submitted.
I’ll go through the possible contenders and what’s liable to happen in due course, but the anger and upset caused by there being a vacancy there to be filled at all will take some time to subside.
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