PADDY O’ROURKE HAS stepped down as Armagh football manager in the wake of their 2012 championship exit yesterday afternoon when they were defeated in the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers against Roscommon.
Armagh lost out by 1-11 to 1-9 in Dr Hyde Park and the result capped a disappointing season after they bowed out of the Ulster championship at the quarter-final stage against Tyrone last month.
O’Rourke has been in charge of Armagh for the past three seasons but despite a promising opening to his reign when they defeated Down in the 2010 Division 2 league final, the Orchard county have struggled to shine in the championship.
O’Rourke is the second inter-county manager to bow out this weekend after Luke Dempsey departed from his role as Carlow boss on Saturday evening. Carlow lost out to Laois by 1-10 to 0-9 in O’Moore Park in the qualifier first round to bring their interest in this year’s championship to an end. Dempsey had been at the helm of the Leinster county for four years.
