O’Rourke teams up with McCartan

AS anticipated, Down’s James McCartan’s management team has changed, with former Kildare selector Aidan O’Rourke coming in and Brian McIver and Paddy Tally leaving. Jerome Johnston remains as an assistant.

Armagh man O’Rourke recently stepped down from his role with Kieran McGeeney due to travel commitments and will now link up again with McCartan, having worked alongside him in charge of Queens.

Amy Davis will join the backroom team as strength and conditioning coach.

In their statement confirming the appointments, the Down County Board pointed out the players did not force the departures of McIver and Tally.

“We would like to formally place on record a correction to a newspaper report which had previously stated that a players’ meeting had taken place leading to a change in the management. We categorically state that no such meeting took place subsequent to our defeat by Cork in the All-Ireland qualifiers.”