Rohan backs Flanagan to revive Offaly fortunes

Double Paralympic gold medallist Mark Rohan believes Pat Flanagan is the man to resurrect Offaly’s footballing fortunes — if and when he is appointed to the role.

Rohan helped Flanagan out when the latter was manager of his native Westmeath by taking on a role as a type of lifestyle consultant and he saw enough then to declare yesterday that Offaly will not be hanging around the Division 4 basement much longer.

“I can see them getting to Division 2 within two years,” Rohan said. “And they’ve a good bunch of footballers down there.”

Flanagan filled the senior and U21 roles whilst with Westmeath — as outgoing Offaly coach Emmet McDonald did there — and, for all the talk of dual players this week, Rohan cannot understand how coaches can juggle two sides in the modern age.

“It is crazy what coaches are doing,” he said after news that Flanagan’s appointment has been deferred for a fortnight. “U21 matches, senior matches, preparations for challenge matches, training, club games, players playing college, O’Byrne Cup, league and championship.

“You see it now with the age of managers going down all the time. I can’t understand how a senior football manager can do U21s as well.”

Asked if the demands involved would fatigue managers he was definitive. “They won’t last.”

Rohan, who is currently in the midst of the handcycling qualifying cycle for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil, was a panellist with the Westmeath U21s when a motorbike accident diverted his life and sports career down a different path.

A thoughtful type, he also spoke about the need for the GAA to introduce some manner of ‘financial fair play’ to bridge the gap between the Dublins and Westmeaths, as well as a two-tier All-Ireland system for the haves and have-nots.

Ultimately, he believes some players and counties don’t help themselves.

“Some of them are codding themselves, to be honest. Some [players] get to wear the jersey and they’re happy just to wear the jersey.

“In Offaly and Westmeath there is a bit of history there in the last 20 or 30 years of success. So they should be aiming to achieve the same things. Especially when there are players who have achieved stuff still hanging around. It should drive them on.”