Louth must make the most of Harte appointment – McDonnell

FORMER Louth assistant manager Peter McDonnell believes that the Wee county simply cannot waste the window of opportunity that has been opened with Mickey Harte’s surprise appointment as manager.

 

Just ten days after his 18 year reign as Tyrone boss cane to an end, Harte quickly found another job when on Monday it was announced that he was replacing Wayne Kierans as Louth manager-the appointment on a three year term.

 

Like Harte, Peter McDonnell is well known around Ballygawley having helped guide Errigal Ciaran to the 2000 Ulster Club final while the pair came into direct competition nine years later when the Red Hands earned a three-point win over Armagh in the Ulster Championship.

 

So from watching up close and from studying him from further afield, the Mullghbawn native is in no doubt that Louth can make significant progress – if they back Harte all the way.

 

“There are good footballers there in Louth but whether they are committed enough, and sometimes commitment comes on the back of belief, is vital,” said McDonnell, who was a coach in 2010 under current Louth chairperson Peter Fitzpatrick.

 

“Mickey is the man for that because the talent is there and now they have the manager.

 

“It’s one thing getting a big name, it’s one thing having this media coup that goes with that, it’s another thing entirely backing Mickey Harte to the hilt and supporting him at county board level in what he is trying to do.

 

“I know ‘Fitzer’ and I know he is a Louth man to the bone, and I’d trust that ‘Fitzer’ will be thinking like that too.

 

“Anything less will sour the whole thing. Louth have an opportunity to do something now.”

 

FULL STORY IN LAST THURSDAY’S STRABANE CHRONICLE