I want to stay on, says O’Rourke

Malachy O’Rourke is keen to remain Monaghan manager, admitting it would be difficult to break the bond he has created with this group of players.

This season saw the county gain promotion to Division 1, reach a second successive Ulster final as well as win their first Championship game in Croke Park in 84 years.

The county executive want the Fermanagh native to stay and he said: “I don’t even know what my term was, whether it’s a two-year term, a three- year term, or whatever.

“If I am wanted back, it would be very hard to leave this group. I feel we have made massive progress over the last two years. A lot of young boys have been introduced to the group this year as well and I think that we can make further progress. I’d certainly like to be there to help them along.”

Of the older players, O’Rourke hopes the attractiveness of Division 1 football next season will stave off talk of retirements.

“The experienced fellas have been brilliant over the past couple of years, and as well as that, it’s what they give to the team, their attitude, their leadership, and everything else.

“I know there have been times some of the more experienced lads haven’t started games but they are behind them (the starting players) in everything they do, and that’s invaluable to any set-up, so I would hope no-one would be bowing out at this stage. Next year is a new year, it’s in Division 1. We are up against the Dublins of this world and even though it’s a tough place to be, it’s where you learn most. There is a lot to look forward to.”

O’Rourke encouraged his players after Saturday’s 17-point defeat not to lose heart, and judge their season in a wider context.

“It’s easy to forget everything that went before. That’s what I was remaining them of, the progress made this year, the work we have put in to get to Division 1, to get to an Ulster final, to win a game down in Croke Park and so on. They’ve made massive strides, this wasn’t the way we wanted to finish. We wanted to put it up to Dublin and felt we could beat them.

“That doesn’t seem realistic now, but that’s the way we felt. It’s just very disappointing and frustrating to be beat like that, but I suppose that’s the risk you run when you play teams like Dublin, who are firing on all cylinders.”