O’Rourke named as new Down manager

Paddy O'Rourke, the former captain of the 1991 All-Ireland winning Down team, has been appointed as the county's new football manager.

O'Rourke has not been given the most enviable job in football, filling the giant-sized shoes of a local legend Pete McGrath.

O'Rourke is not unfamiliar with the strains of football management. He is currently involved with Monaghan side Castleblayney Faughs, who he guided to the Monaghan championship last year.

McGrath stepped aside as manager, after serving in the position for well over a decade, following Down's defeat to Longford in the first round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers.

His term in charge was the second-longest after Meath's Sean Boylan, who has held his post since 1982.