Colin Walshe says manager Malachy O'Rourke has been instrumental in the renaissance of Monaghan football.

Since taking over at the Farney helm, O'Rourke has steered Monaghan from Division Three to Division One in successive seasons as well as leading them to a first Ulster SFC in 25 years last summer.

Walsh was one of two Monaghan men to win All Stars last year (the other being Conor McManus) and the corner back believes O'Rourke is the catalyst behind everything positive happening in the county right now:

"It has been clear since Malachy has taken over that there has been a big improvement made," the Doohamlet clubman says in The Irish News.

"Everyone has bought into his set-up and he has brought us to the next level now. Before he arrived we obviously weren't where we wanted to be - we got relegated to Division Three - but he has definitely brought us back on the right road and it's great to know we'll be competing in Division One next year.

"There is a good vibe around the team following on from last year. Everyone is hungry to get back at it. There is a good, healthy competition in the squad and a good relationship between players and management and among the players themselves.

"Malachy has good man-management skills and all the backroom team are very approachable of there is a problem or you need to speak to someone." Tweet

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