Roscommon ladies management fire parting shot at county board
September 12, 2023
A Roscommon flag flies high. ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry.
Roscommon ladies football manager Ollie Lennon and his selectors have expressed their disappointment at being told their services are no longer required.
Lennon and his management team consisting of twin brothers Tom and Brian Lennon as well as John Kennedy, led the Rossies to a National League Division 3 title and an All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final last year, but were informed by Roscommon LGFA last Monday night that they were seeking new management.
The outgoing management released a statement over the weekend which was critical of a review carried out by the county board that this year's Roscommon captain and vice-captain were not consulted as part of the process.
"We — the Roscommon intermediate ladies’ football management team — are extremely disappointed with the decision of the Roscommon LGFA executive to remove us from our position,” the statement read.
"As a management team, we wanted to build on the strides we had made and were looking forward to leading the team into 2024.
"Following a recommendation from the Roscommon LGFA Development committee who undertook a review of our two years at the helm, it is our understanding that it was stated very clearly at last Monday evening’s executive meeting that one of the reasons why we should not be offered a third year in charge was because up to 15 players had indicated that they wouldn’t return to the panel if we stayed on.
"Following our own internal review over the past number of days, we have every reason to believe that this was not the case and that the vast majority of players on the current panel were never consulted during the review, including our captain and vice-captain.
"Over our two years at the helm, we have wanted only the best for the players. We have always tried to help them reach their potential, and the girls delivered with a Division Three League title in 2022 and a Connacht intermediate title earlier this year.
"We acknowledge that results might not have been what everyone would have hoped for in league and championship this season but we feel that we were very competitive in all of these games.”
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