MONAGHAN star Kieran Hughes believes Malachy O’Rourke is still the man to take the Farney County to the next level, after a summer that ended in defeat to reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin.
Since that quarter-final exit last month speculation has surrounded O’Rourke’s future, but The Irish News understands he will be staying on to lead Monaghan for a sixth year.
And midfielder Hughes, one of the Farney’s best performers during the Championship, is delighted to see the Errigal Ciaran clubman remain in charge.
“I’ve no doubt [he’s the right man]. I don’t think people have sat back and really realised what he’s done for Monaghan football,” said the Scotstown ace.
“If you sit back and look at the squad he’s developed over the last four or five years… this year of all years you had five or six men who could come off the bench and make a difference.
“That’s massive testament to management and backroom staff because Monaghan is a small county, I hate saying that because it’s not an excuse, but he’s definitely squeezing as much out of us as he can.”
Former Fermanagh boss O’Rourke has brought huge success since taking over the Farney reins from Eamonn McEneaney in 2012.
He helped the county to an Ulster title the following summer – Monaghan’s first since 1988 – when they toppled Jim McGuinness’s All-Ireland winning Donegal side.
And they repeated the dose in 2015, again beating the men from Tir Chonaill in the decider.
Despite those successes, Monaghan have failed to break through the glass ceiling of the All-Ireland quarter-final stage – and Hughes feels any criticism directed O’Rourke’s direction prove he is a victim of his own success.
“I just feel people were very quick to jump on his back and give out,” he added.
“At the moment you’ve a Dublin team there who – and it kills me to say it – they’re on a different level to us.
“When you’re after playing four quarter-finals [2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017] against a formidable Dublin team and a very well-organised Tyrone team, we haven’t had that bit of luck when it’s come to that.
“I do think we were a wee bit defensive [against Dublin last month] and, for an attacking minded player like myself, I just feel like maybe pushing up against them sometimes would benefit the team.
“That’s an easy thing to say when it’s over.”
Asked if O’Rourke was receptive to players’ opinions, Hughes said: “Without doubt, he’s very open.
“I was talking to him a couple of times building up to games – I would never tell him what to do but he would always listen to players to see what they reckon is the best way to go about it, take everything on board and weigh the whole thing up.
“In 2013 winning Ulster, fair enough you were patted on the back, but Malachy’s all about trying to raise the bar, trying to get the best out of individuals and getting the best out of us collectively.
“If you’re trying to do that, you have to be expecting to get to the All-Ireland quarter-final stage and, with that, there’s a lot of pressure. As soon as you lose, it’s nearly shotguns out, the knives are just ready to be turned in your back.
"That’s what I’ve found – the more you try to raise the bar, the bigger the setbacks are going to be.”
