Robbie Brennan: 'I have a picture of me and hero Colm O'Rourke at home that I often look at'

Brennan took over the Meath job from Colm O'Rourke on a three-year term

New Meath manager Robbie Brennan says he is taking over the Royal County reins from a genuine hero of his in Colm O'Rourke.

Brennan is recognised for his work with Kilmacud Crokes whom he has guided to three Dublin and Leinster titles, as well as an All-Ireland club win, since taking over as outright manager in 2020.

He is still in charge of the Stillorgan club who will be chasing a remarkable 38th win from 42 championship outings under Brennan when they play Na Fianna in the county semi-finals.

But Dunboyne resident Brennan comes from strong Royal County stock as his father, Paddy, captained St John's to a Meath IFC title in 1974 and played for the new Wolfe Tones team at centre-back the following season.

Speaking to Meath GAA about his new job, Brennan revealed that he has a picture hanging up in his kitchen of him as a kid visiting O'Rourke at the Meath legend's old sports shop in Navan Shopping Centre.

"I remember that day (at the shop) really well because back then you couldn't get a Meath jersey in Dublin," said Brennan, who was brought up in Dublin after the family moved from Meath.

"It was around my birthday time and Dad brought me into the shopping centre. I remember every single detail; Colm being in there, he lifted me up onto the table to take the picture. I remember Dad talking to Colm, 'Do you ever use your right foot anymore, Colm?!' So loads of memories that come back as soon as I see that photo. I have that at home framed and up in the kitchen. It's one I often look at, yeah."

O'Rourke, who guided Meath to the Tailteann Cup title in 2023, was keen to stay on for a third season in charge but stepped down in frustration, apparently unable to finalise a coaching group for 2025 in time for a county board deadline.

Colm O'Rourke celebrates after winning the Tailteann Cup with Meath at Croke Park

Brennan has stepped into the breach with Martin Corey and Joe McMahon as high profile coaches and county title winning Summerhill manager Conor Gillespie as a selector.

"Conor is a big addition with his local knowledge," said Brennan of the former Meath midfielder. "He's done a huge job with Summerhill, a brilliant footballing brain. I'm very excited with what we have and I think the lads will show their true worth when we get up and running."

Brennan, who has managed Dunboyne and St Sylvesters in Dublin, along with Crokes, said he never actually set his sights on inter-county management.

"I'm not sure it was a burning ambition," he said. "I thought (Kilmacud) might be the stopping point to be honest but things have gone really, really well out there and I suppose you're always looking at what's the next step and here I am."

Brennan agreed that Corey, who previously coached Cavan and Monaghan, has forged a reputation as an attack minded coach.

But along with every other inter-county coaching team in Ireland, they still don't know what rules they'll be playing under in 2025.

"There's some exciting times coming and some things we need to figure out and make sure we're not caught behind other counties in that prep," said Brennan. "Martin is already looking to do that and I'm looking forward to seeing what we come up with."

Unlike previous manager O'Rourke, Brennan said he doesn't anticipate any major trials or trawl of the county in the coming weeks and months. O'Rourke has already blooded and handed inter-county debuts to well over a dozen players who are expected to feature prominently in the Brennan era. Meath won the All-Ireland minor championship in 2021 and many of the same players were part of this year's successful U20 team which won the Leinster championship.

"I think where we're sitting at the moment, we won't look at trials," said Brennan. "We'll be looking at last year's squad, we'll be opening conversations to see is everybody happy to stay for a start, that's a starting point. Then we'll be looking at one or two as well that may not have been there and trying to encourage them back into the fold and we're currently working on that at the minute."

Brennan's reference to bringing former players back into the fold could open the door for the return of Ratoath duo Conor McGill and Jack Flynn.

Meanwhile, Pat Sullivan has been named as the new Kildare ladies football manager. He was in previously in charge of Waterford for two spells, leading the Déise to an All Ireland intermediate title in 2015. 

Sullivan helped his county retain their Division 1 status and coached them to the All Ireland Quarter Finals this summer aswell.