WTF are our county board at....

They should resign immediately.....

Smartarmagh (Armagh) - Posts: 22 - 02/10/2009 20:43:44    443417

I AGREE SACK THE BOARD , this is a giant step in the wrong direction .

appleboy (Armagh) - Posts: 479 - 02/10/2009 23:11:43    443548

Tough times ahead boys...thats some shock.

ontheroad (None) - Posts: 530 - 02/10/2009 23:59:34    443598

That was a bit of a surprise for me lads, what about you? Thought that it was between Murtagh, McGrath or if you believed everything you read, John Rafferty had the job on Wed. His managerial credentials are somewhat unproven so I guess he must have done some interview. Strange one but I suppose you'll have to give him his chance now...

mossgreen (Tyrone) - Posts: 181 - 03/10/2009 10:18:46    443687

Video footage of Armagh County Board meeting to appoint new manager. link

sam2008 (Tyrone) - Posts: 799 - 03/10/2009 11:55:07    443718

Being married into a North Armagh GAA family, and having worked through a good bit of South Armagh for six years or so in the nineties, I confidently told my work colleagues (a mixture of Donegal, Derry and Tyrone people) the other day that Armagh would never appoint a manager from Down. That was when talking about Pete McGrath, whose achievements at least would be respected by Armagh gaels, loyalty to him as manager being another thing entirely. To appoint then a failed Down manager, whose personal popularity in South Armagh would rank somewhere below support for the reintroduction of the British army is beyond bizarre. My better half initially refused to believe me when I told her the news, her first reaction being to laugh at what she thought was a lame attempt at humour on my part, her second being to presume it was a hoax, 'sure you can't believe all the s***e you see on the internet'. At this stage the truth has begun to sink in, and I have made my promises not to rub salt in the wounds of my father and brothers-in-law but to maintain a respectful silence on this one. The Armagh county board has completely lost the plot and it's obvious that they don't pay much heed to the feelings or opinions of their membership in light of an appointment which is not just strange, but wilfully perverse. Being someone who has great affection and respect for Armagh GAA, I am genuinely sorry for your troubles, lads. It won't be easy for anyone going into work in Newry on Monday morning, I can imagine the grief you'll get from the Down ones for taking on a manager they couldn't get rid of quick enough.

doiregael2 (Derry) - Posts: 337 - 03/10/2009 13:33:36    443777

Think I would rather have Nelson MCCausland as manager....

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1073 - 03/10/2009 15:26:46    443868

ah here its not that bad like! he brought us to an ulster final 2003 in which we should have won against the AI champs of that year.
you's have big strong players and he'll make them play an all out attcking brand of football which i think will be scary! much like cork this year.

glenn_abu (Down) - Posts: 515 - 03/10/2009 16:38:39    443910

sean og
County: Armagh
Posts: 655

443868 Think I would rather have Nelson MCCausland as manager....

Bit strong Sean, but I can see where you are coming from! A mind boggling choice without a doubt but you would have to hope that someone in the Armagh County board have done their homework on the fella and made sure that he just wont turn out to be a square peg in a round hole. Like I keep on saying, Ulster needs a strong, competitive Armagh back in the fold, Tyrone need a strong Armagh to lock horns with again, a weak Ulster does no one any good and I for one hope that O'Rourke can get your boys playing football again.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 04/10/2009 13:36:44    444375

Only time will tell if the courageous decision to appoint Paddy O'Rourke was an inspirational one or a mistake. I hope the former for the following reasons:
1. no baggage
2. no club ties
3. no connection to family dynasties
4. no guaranteed place on team - place earned on merit only
5. younger players can earn their place through committment and as mentioned by merit only
6. no county board interference
7. no allegiance to sentimentality re older members of panel
8. attacking football will be a winner i.e. an end to the defensive rubbish
9. six attacking forwards
10. no allegiance to geography i.e. south Armagh
11. Ciaran McKinney back in goals
12. strong backroom team

Need I go on. We needed a clean break to end the rancour. Strong internal candidates declared a non-interest.

Well done to the courageous 5 man selection panel. Let's all get behind Paddy O'Rourke. Thanks for thinking laterally and hurrah for the younger player - the future of Armagh!!!

Veritas (Armagh) - Posts: 51 - 04/10/2009 18:05:02    444503

Whole thing is a shambles
Paddy O Rourke was chosen as the manager before the meeting even took place

our_fella (UK) - Posts: 119 - 04/10/2009 20:28:45    444659

Obviously words of wisdom from someone with inside information. Thanks for your insight and valued contribution. What meeting would you be talking about? Didn't the club delegates have the chance to reject the appointment but overwhelmingly chose not to do so? I understand there was a frank and open debate at the County Board meeting. Start quoting fact not hearsay. Democracy was a winner for once.

Veritas (Armagh) - Posts: 51 - 04/10/2009 21:19:41    444720

Veritas, are you being employed as a PR man for the county board???

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1073 - 05/10/2009 09:07:07    445053

I think Pete Mcgrath wud have been a gud choice

dabiglad (Down) - Posts: 155 - 05/10/2009 13:06:13    445324

Seán Óg

Absolutely not but in the cold light of day when we remove our prejudices we begin to see the bigger picture. It would appear that the stronger internal candidates were not interested in the present climate which has been totally infused with rancour, rumour and false hope. Surely a clean slate with no baggage is the better option? All each of us wants is the best Armagh team on the field, properly prepared and managed. I'm prepared to give Paddy O'Rourke the benefit of the doubt. That he's from Down doesn't annoy me in the slightest.

Veritas (Armagh) - Posts: 51 - 05/10/2009 15:02:42    445467

have to say you suprised us all by picking Paddy O'Rourke. bad decision i think. you's would have been better off with the crossmaglen manager.

Bridgesmiler (Down) - Posts: 61 - 05/10/2009 21:23:01    445857

I've been reading all your comments on this subject. You's are worse than us Down people for slagging off managers and don't forget he hasn't even started. You's will not and would never had got a better appointment in both O'Rourke and his backroom team. People wanted Murtagh - O'Rourke went and got him. Others wanted McConville - O'Rourke tried but the guy is still an excellent player for Cross so why quit playing. He has plenty of time to be part of a management set up. As for the trainer - who can ask for better. I wish we could get an ex international coach to build our younger players into men as we've quit a young team but that was in my opinion a master stroke to gain his services. And finally Justin McNulty - Well he again has managerial experience and also is still at an age to bond with the players and he also knows the young blood within the county.

In my opinion this was a very good appointment and if ya's want to win anything you's should all get off your high horses, realise you's are not the team of the past and start rebuilding and for that you's will become a team to reackon with in Ulster and maybe further in a few years. GIVE THESE MEN A CHANCE

stonedog11 (Down) - Posts: 13 - 16/10/2009 10:34:40    456250

Stonedog 11 is the only one talking sense.

sam02 (Tyrone) - Posts: 643 - 16/10/2009 21:03:50    456867

O'Rourke is a gentleman & a real football man. He will bring Armagh new enthusiam, a clean slate for players, & anyone who meets him will have true respect.

Give him a chance, I'd swap him for the 'gentleman' down have appointed!

blu (Down) - Posts: 1240 - 01/11/2009 22:35:29    472590

Smartarmagh Post 20 & Appleboy Post 197
I see you want the Armagh County Board to resign or be sacked
I assume that if this did happen yould take over the running of the county board
Could you let me know what experience either of you have in running GAA County Boards or any other commitees'
Give Paddy O Rourke a chance to see what he can achieve, afterall a lot of so called Armagh supporters did not think Peter Mc Donnell achieved very much while he was manager, but under his management he won an Ulster title with the senior team,an achievement that would have been very much appreciated by Armagh supporters from 1984 to 1998, and did he not manage the u21 team that won the All Ireland

Amakane (Armagh) - Posts: 7 - 02/11/2009 13:59:32    472955