By John P Graham

Monaghan chairman Michael McMahon was fulsome in his praise of Malachy O’Rourke and not just as team manager, but for his whole approach to the job and the manner in which he dealt with all of the issues surrounding the County team.

O’Rourke stepped down as Farney County boss in the wake of last Saturday’s qualifier exit at the hands of Armagh. During his seven years at the helm, he guided the county to two Ulster SFC successes and a first All-Ireland SFC semi-final appearance since 1988.

“Malachy is a very affable person and I found him very easy to deal with,” McMahon said. “I was in regular contact with him and we would always speak at the start of the year regarding club fixtures, and they would be interpolated into his plan, a plan that he stuck to during the year.

“He was a gentleman in all that he did and he deserves great credit for being so easy to deal with and was never repeatedly demanding certain things because he stuck to the plan and made the best of it.

“He admitted himself that he was dealing with a great group of players but he got the best out of them through his own work and that of the great backroom team that he put together and that whole group gave us some great times.

“We covered a lot of ground over the years and we had some memorable moments, lifting the Anglo Celtic up on two occasions in Clones, lifting league silverware in Croke Park on two occasions as well, but it’s also a memorable time for the colour and excitement that Malachy O’Rourke and his charges brought to a host of venues around the country from Fraher Field in Dungarvan to Austin Stack Park in Tralee, to Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney to Croke Park to Pairc Tailtean in Navan, to McHale Park in Castlebar, and the various venues in Ulster.

“One of the most memorable from my point of view will be that fantastic day in Pearse Stadium in Salthill when Monaghan brought the blue and white to completely new levels.

“I want to thank Malachy on so many fronts, for his cooperation with the County committee and with me personally, for his commitment to the County, for the manner in which he discharged his duties and got the best out of the group of players that he was working with, and all I can do is to thank him most sincerely for his work and to wish him every success in the future, and to assure him that he will always have a place in Monaghan hearts and minds.”

The chairman then went on to outline how the top table will go about appointing a replacement for the Fermanagh native.

“We won’t be making any sudden decision, but we will be putting a process in place now that will see us seeking out the best person and the best group to manage the Monaghan senior team into the future and we will be talking to all parties so that we have maximum input before making a final decision as to Malachy O’Rourke’s successor.

“The one thing I can say is that whoever is appointed has a big pair of shoes to fill.”

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