JAMES MCCARTAN HAS returned as Down senior football boss after being ratified at tonight’s county board meeting.
McCartan, who guided Down to the 2010 All-Ireland senior final in his debut season, when they lost out to Cork, had brought his first spell in charge to an end in July 2014.
He has since been manager of the Down minor team and coached Queen’s University to the Sigerson Cup title in 2007.
James McCartan returns to manage Down
— Official Down GAA (@OfficialDownGAA) November 24, 2021
Down GAA County Committee have appointed James McCartan as manager of the senior football team.
At a meeting on Wednesday evening, the two-time All-Ireland winner was ratified for the role he previously held from 2010 to 2014. pic.twitter.com/rr952xiSHN
It has been reported that Aidan O’Rourke, the 2002 Armagh All-Ireland winning defender, will assume the position of head coach. The pair have previously worked together with Queen’s University and towards the end of McCartan’s previous reign over Down. More recently O’Rourke managed the Louth senior footballers.
McCartan is a celebrated figure in Down football after his playing exploits, landing All-Ireland senior medals in 1991 and 1994.
The announcement means the Mourne county have at last filled the vacancy created by Paddy Tally’s departure in July, after he had sought a one-year extension but did not receive enough support from board delegates.
Tally has subsequently joined Jack O’Connor as part of his new management team in Kerry. Down lost out to Donegal in the Ulster opener in their only championship appearance in 2021 and avoided relegation to the third tier of the league.
Longford are the last senior county still on the lookout for a new manager.
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