MALACHY O’ROURKE IS to remain as manager of the Monaghan senior footballers until of the 2017 season.
It was ratified at a Monaghan county board meeting last night that O’Rourke will stay in charge along with his backroom team of Leo Mc Bride, Ryan Porter and Finbarr Fitzpatrick.
O’Rourke was appointed at the start of the 2013 campaign for a three-year term which was subject to a review after two years. Following the review after Monaghan’s 2014 season, it was confirmed that he would stay on for the third year and he has also agreed for an extension of two years that will encompass the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
O’Rourke has delivered successive Allianz football league promotions for Monaghan after they beat Meath in the 2013 Division 3 final and defeated Donegal in last April’s Division 2 decider.
His greatest achievement came when guiding Monaghan to the 2013 Ulster senior crown and ending their 25-year wait for the Anglo Celt Cup. Last July, Monaghan fell short in the Ulster final against Donegal as they sought to retain their title. They have also reached the All-Ireland quarter-final stage in their two years with O’Rourke at the helm as they lost to Tyrone last year and to Dublin last August.
McBride
Meanwhile the Monaghan U21 footballers will have joint managers for the 2015 season. The outgoing manager Finbarr Fitzpatrick will be joined by Tyrone’s Ciarán Mc Bride. Drumhowan’s Donal Mc Adam will remain as selector and the final member of the management team will be confirmed in the near future.
