Harte appointment a statement of ambition - Duignan
By Kevin Egan
In the final year of his term as Offaly GAA chairperson, Michael Duignan could have been forgiven for choosing not to grasp the nettle when it came to the county’s senior football team.
Offaly supporters have had the privilege of watching teams play in All-Ireland finals, at either minor or U20 level, in each of the last four years. In addition, the senior hurlers won the Joe McDonagh Cup and secured their return to Division One, and off the field, issues such as the county’s finances and the agreement with Tullamore GAA regarding Glenisk O’Connor Park have also been tackled.
But it wouldn’t be in Duignan's nature to do anything except shoot for the stars, and so the decision to bring Mickey Harte on board to try and improve the lot of the county’s senior footballers was made.
“From a county point of view, from the first day we came in ambition is my biggest word, one that I always use. If we don’t believe that we can win All-Irelands again, then it’s never going to happen. That’s the standard you have to set, that’s what you have to believe in,” Duignan said.
“If we don’t believe it, and if the lads (management) don’t believe it, then the players won’t believe it. We have to create that culture of excellence across the board, and what we try to do is bring in the best people we could. Declan came in for his first year and after that we did a review and we felt that we could make things better, and that’s what this is," the former St Rynagh’s and Offaly player continued.
“As for tags and names, we call them joint managers but what they are is two men who are going to work together for the betterment of Offaly football, along with Luke Bree, who hasn’t the profile of the lads but I believe he is a really excellent young coach who I think is going to add a lot to overall picture. I’m very excited about having Mickey, Declan and Luke, three great football men.
“I think there’s a great chance for Declan to learn from Mickey and there’s a great chance for Mickey to learn from Declan, because everybody has something to learn every day you get up. I believe that whether we see it straight away in results or not, it’s for the betterment of Offaly, our young people and our young players,” Duignan added.