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Meath Senior Management Review

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O'Rourke gone, CB need to hit the ground running now and get someone in soon so they can watch remaining championship games, new appointment has to be outside the county, not a high enough standard in Meath for inter county demands

LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 45 - 26/08/2024 08:40:22    2566820

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That took a lot longer than it should have but the right outcome has eventually been reached. From what I'm hearing it's between O'Bric and Robbie Brennan now. Both are very interested. Would gladly take either. Slight preference for O'Bric.

Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 26/08/2024 08:43:13    2566821

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Back up squad? Well perhaps you need to know there are many clubs in Meath, over 50 in fact who all have good players. Many of these clubs have up to four adult teams so I guess across the whole county I'm sure there are many decent players not involved in current county set up while the players involved last year should know that certainly last year's performances have not given many the right to own a shirt. I think you are giving existing panel a little too much credit. Armstrong is playing adult football for first even time. I think he is still 18. He is a super prospect. If anything O'Rourke should have drafted in a few mid year. Way too young? Tyrone didn't think so, they took in five. Jim Mcguinness had a few in from start also."
Could you please name the many clubs that have 4 adult teams please ???

O rourke has seeped down

Go get Robbie Brennan immediately

Awaywin (Meath) - Posts: 116 - 26/08/2024 08:52:15    2566822

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "I disagree lad"
I think Colm O Rourke is due thanks for giving it his best shot at a time when Meath football was at a very low level. It will be the ideal time now for the top table to take real stock and look at standards in everything starting with coaching standards.We have not really been competitive in over 20 years. Sticking plasters just could not do the job any longer. If we focus on WHAT has to be done to improve standards rather than WHO it is then that would be a good starting point. Modernise is the word that comes to mind......
( is that a word? well it is now in Meath)

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 26/08/2024 09:09:36    2566829

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Replying To Square_B:  "Make that 3 now. An odd decision if what's in the media is true. Surely a man of Colm's standing should be afforded whatever time needed to get a management team in place so it's hard to know what the truth is but I'd be surprised if wasn't true."
He was given plenty of time to get a management team in place. Including an extra 10 days that he wasn't supposed to get. He couldn't do it. How long do you want to give him ? What if these "coaches" he's on about went on the win their club championships ? And then their provincial championships ? All of a sudden it's December/January and we still don't know who his new coaches are. He was informed what he was required to do and he was given the time frame in which to do it. He couldn't get it done so the right call was made to part ways and move on.

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1012 - 26/08/2024 09:28:15    2566840

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Replying To Awaywin:  "Could you please name the many clubs that have 4 adult teams please ???

O rourke has seeped down

Go get Robbie Brennan immediately"
St Colmcilles and D Ashbourne definitely registered four adult league teams this year. And depending on the year, NOM, Dunboyne, Ratoath do more often than not. Nearly every Senior team has up to three teams apart from Ballinabrackey, Curraha and Rathkenny but St Pat's and Duleek Bellewstown would have three also. I'm not including Dads and Lads and technical this is also an adult team too!

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 26/08/2024 09:31:16    2566842

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Anyone who thinks O'Rourke was harshly treated or that he needed more time need to take their heads out of the clouds and get in touch with reality, and maybe ask the players what they thought of the set up. This set up was done after the league game against Dublin in March 2023. The Tailteann Cup gave it more time.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 998 - 26/08/2024 09:33:35    2566843

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Replying To nobull456:  "I think Colm O Rourke is due thanks for giving it his best shot at a time when Meath football was at a very low level. It will be the ideal time now for the top table to take real stock and look at standards in everything starting with coaching standards.We have not really been competitive in over 20 years. Sticking plasters just could not do the job any longer. If we focus on WHAT has to be done to improve standards rather than WHO it is then that would be a good starting point. Modernise is the word that comes to mind......
( is that a word? well it is now in Meath)"
I'm not one to go slamming managers for the sake of it and I don't doubt anyone's commitment or desire to do well for Meath football, but CoR having been a journalist & experienced club manager should have had the perspective to look at his 2yrs after numerous changes in the backroom team and appalling performances and realise that this role was not for him. Instead its dragged out for 3 months and we're 2 rounds into the championship with no manager in place. The CB have a lot of responsibility on that too but for CoR to come out and say he wanted 5 more years in charge then put all the onus on the players & CB to decide his future after a very bad campaign, that was wrong.

LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 45 - 26/08/2024 09:40:10    2566847

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Replying To BigJoe14:  "What a waste of 10 weeks that was. Another fine mess the county board have made for themselves. O'Rourke still not taking any responsibility right to the very end. Sitting potential new selectors club commitments as a reason for not being able to declare his new backroom team is a lame excuse in my opinion. He's had 10 weeks to get a team together, more than enough time. Offaly got a top class manager and coach in the space of 5 days."
Agree 100%. Its a smoke screen. If coaches were agreeable the cb could just say we know his team and we will release that info in due course due to current committements, but we are happy with it.

He has had 2 years to get a team together...

Ed2010 (Meath) - Posts: 109 - 26/08/2024 09:50:50    2566850

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Replying To Ed2010:  "Agree 100%. Its a smoke screen. If coaches were agreeable the cb could just say we know his team and we will release that info in due course due to current committements, but we are happy with it.

He has had 2 years to get a team together..."
Exactly. Pure smoke screen stuff. And even if he had assembled some mythical dream team that would be 3 years with a different message each year. The likes of McGuinness will be building on last year's plan, not ripping it up and starting again every time.
Will forever be grateful for what COR has done for Meath and hope the players he gave debuts to go onto great careers. But as soon as he came out after the Louth and Kerry games saying the lads just needed time - with no mention of any tactical plan - his race was run. Pity it took so long to reach this point.
Hope (but sadly don't expect) the CB to act quickly and get a team in who can watch entire remaining club championship and energize the lads who were likely weighing up whether they would be back in January. Still believe there is huge potential in this group.

MeathAbroad (Meath) - Posts: 101 - 26/08/2024 10:21:49    2566868

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Replying To Sheridan2010louth:  "That took a lot longer than it should have but the right outcome has eventually been reached. From what I'm hearing it's between O'Bric and Robbie Brennan now. Both are very interested. Would gladly take either. Slight preference for O'Bric."
Please give the football reason why we should go for C O'Bric. Has he managed an adult team at club level because manging under age is a lot different to adult. Similar to O'Rourke a lot of noise coming from the players who were part of the U20's setup this year. It needs to be an outside person so that we can finally put behind us giving jobs to the boys.

Nothingbutthetruth (Meath) - Posts: 84 - 26/08/2024 11:18:14    2566892

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Potential candidates:

Robbie Brennan (Probably number 1 target)
Cathal O'Bric (Still a huge jump from U20 to Senior)
Conor Gillespie
Richie Kealy/Paul Curran
Lar Wall (If not the main man should be on the coaching team at very least)

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 998 - 26/08/2024 11:41:11    2566899

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Took longer than necessary but got there eventually. If the players were as critical as has been suggested, it's a straightforward decision. Can't imagine the lack of backroom team in place was the main reason for the departure at all unless the CB were hoping he'd come up with some sort of miracle coaching ticket. He left on his own terms before the findings of the review. Three backroom teams in 3 years says a lot. Not sure who next but hopefully the messing stops here. Are we in a worse place than when McEntee left? Possibly, which says a lot. Thanks to Colm and all concerned for their efforts, they will remain Meath legends, but it simply hasn't worked out as hoped.

MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 516 - 26/08/2024 11:46:47    2566900

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Replying To Nothingbutthetruth:  "Please give the football reason why we should go for C O'Bric. Has he managed an adult team at club level because manging under age is a lot different to adult. Similar to O'Rourke a lot of noise coming from the players who were part of the U20's setup this year. It needs to be an outside person so that we can finally put behind us giving jobs to the boys."
Agreed. Has to be an outsider, ideally someone who has been involved in Dublin setup and knows what the very best looks like. Sure there'd nearly lend us a coach at this stage to give them a bit of competition!

I'd take Robbie Brennan but Kilmacud have so much in their favour it's hard to properly judge him.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 26/08/2024 11:58:01    2566906

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Replying To Nothingbutthetruth:  "Please give the football reason why we should go for C O'Bric. Has he managed an adult team at club level because manging under age is a lot different to adult. Similar to O'Rourke a lot of noise coming from the players who were part of the U20's setup this year. It needs to be an outside person so that we can finally put behind us giving jobs to the boys."
I mean the football reasons would be that he's been involved with 2 Meath teams and done an excellent job with both. There's a huge gap from 20's to senior for sure but also a huge gap from 17's to 20's that we hadn't managed to solve until this year. He also has Marcus Brennan as his coach who was involved with Andy McEntee's coaching ticket and seems to be a young and even improving coach. From looking online it seems like he was Wolfe Tones manager in 2009 when they made a Meath senior final. And as a manager I actually think it's a bigger step up from club to county (bar the top few mega clubs) than it is from inter county 20's to senior. The reason I wouldn't like to see O'Bric get the job now is because I think our under 20's could still do with having him involved for another year or 2. But I don't think he's an unworthy candidate by any means

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 26/08/2024 11:58:53    2566907

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Such a messy process but atleast it's now more straightforward and the replacement process can officially begin. For COR to say he didn't get enough time to get a management team in place just doesn't stack up. Kildare and Antrim's manager on the sideline in Navan at the weekend, seems like a cover story to save face. Also to have an issue with using an anonymous players survey when that seems like a very standard thing to do to gauge player opinion. There's no doubt that there'll be increased pressure on the players now because COR seems put out by the process and he still has a media presence. In terms of a replacement O'Bric and Robbie Brennan the two obvious candidates. I would love a Malachy O'Rourke, James Horan or Eamon Fitzmaurice but unlikely any of them would take on the job. Whoever gets the job I just hope the noise and BS that has absolutely derailed us the last 3 years can be parked. Get competent people with track records in their roles and back them to get on with the task of improving our players and team

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 26/08/2024 12:06:37    2566913

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Replying To winatallcost:  "St Colmcilles and D Ashbourne definitely registered four adult league teams this year. And depending on the year, NOM, Dunboyne, Ratoath do more often than not. Nearly every Senior team has up to three teams apart from Ballinabrackey, Curraha and Rathkenny but St Pat's and Duleek Bellewstown would have three also. I'm not including Dads and Lads and technical this is also an adult team too!"
Only 2 teams out of senior have 4 adult team and only
4other senior teams have 3 teams
Dunshaughlin dunboyne ratoath and Summerhill
That's a total of 6 out of 16 senior teams with 3 or more adult teams
So you are really wrong here with your info
Your original point was about development and possible county players so don't start including dads and lads for god sake

Awaywin (Meath) - Posts: 116 - 26/08/2024 12:22:40    2566916

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I would have been ok with COR getting another year, but realise sport by and large result driven and buck stop"s with manager. However, Meath manager's have carried the load since 2010 all ending in much the same way. Will new management bring the required change in fortune ? I hope so, but players have to show a lot more than we saw over last few years. Maybe Colm showed too much patience and took the long term view, we have learned that this approach will not cut it, so new man will be under pressure from the off. Finish by thanking Colm for his effort and wishing new man the very best of luck.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 26/08/2024 13:01:16    2566930

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Replying To Nothingbutthetruth:  "Please give the football reason why we should go for C O'Bric. Has he managed an adult team at club level because manging under age is a lot different to adult. Similar to O'Rourke a lot of noise coming from the players who were part of the U20's setup this year. It needs to be an outside person so that we can finally put behind us giving jobs to the boys."
He managed Wolfe tones to a keegan cup final so yes he has managed an adult team.

Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 26/08/2024 14:09:12    2566954

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Replying To seadog54:  "I would have been ok with COR getting another year, but realise sport by and large result driven and buck stop"s with manager. However, Meath manager's have carried the load since 2010 all ending in much the same way. Will new management bring the required change in fortune ? I hope so, but players have to show a lot more than we saw over last few years. Maybe Colm showed too much patience and took the long term view, we have learned that this approach will not cut it, so new man will be under pressure from the off. Finish by thanking Colm for his effort and wishing new man the very best of luck."
I don't agree Seadog if the new manager will be under pressure from the off , if the new manger wins 3 or 4 games in next year Division 2 league that's a very good start for me , like if he wins 4 league games out of 7 next year that's a great start , because the previous 2023/2024 league campaigns we only won two games each campaign which was very poor.

There isn't any benchmark of success laid down by the previous manager , so I think people will be patient and if he improves year by year I am happy.

Who would you like to see as the new manager you don't mind me asking seadog ?

WhyTheLongFace (Meath) - Posts: 934 - 26/08/2024 14:49:41    2566965

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