Nothing ventured nothing gained

The phone notifications had gone into overdrive, even a photo doing the rounds of Flano and Davy chatting over coffee. It was probably AI getting its knickers in a convenient twist I thought, honestly. Fake news surely?

After all, how would two such strong-willed fellas, number ones in their own right and minds, even get around to considering the possibility of a coalition? Let alone in an unequal partnership. How would that work?

But, drawing from experience in the corporate world and other environments, the mind wandered to a quote from David Ogilvy, known as the “Father of Advertising.” “If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarves. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.” Or how about Samuel Goldwyn who said that he didn’t want yes men around him.

“I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs,” said Goldwyn.

You see, it is actually the mark of the man that Brian Flanagan, who did all the initial running here I am led to believe, resisted the urge to stick with the status quo after a decent and progressive (on the whole) first year as a senior inter-county manager.

I am not suggesting Aidan O’Rourke, Damien Hendy and Daryl Flynn are “yes-men.” There is enough evidence to draw on from their own careers to dismiss that idea. But Burke is an altogether different animal. Indeed, it is also the mark of him that he said yes to Flanagan’s proposition.

To go out and hire the only other Kildare manager to bring an All-Ireland men’s football title to the county in sixty years is a ballsy move and you can bet it is the Confey man’s ability to ruffle a few feathers, tell a few home truths and challenge the status quo that drew Flanagan to his mad idea.

We will have to trust that the two men have worked out an ‘operating model’ that will avoid them tripping over each other and delivering mixed messages to the boys under their command. I would suggest it might be an idea to have Davy support from the stand on match day, as - how shall I put this - his emotional reaction to situations may not be his strong suit.

Burke is regarded as an astute tactician, and there is no denying his ambition for Kildare football or his ability to motivate players. On both counts, think back to that 2018 team, relatively small in stature, but superbly fit and organised, spirited and together.

There’s no doubt Burke can be something of an acquired taste for those working under him and his style would not suit all personalities. But that’s management and that’s life.

One big positive has to be his knowledge of the Kildare scene and particularly his existing relationships with the 2018 All Ireland winners, which blends nicely with Flanagan’s with the younger groups.

With Mark Dempsey, Aaron Masterson, Jimmy Hyland, and Brian McLoughlin in the current panel, perhaps there may be a way back too for the likes of Daragh Ryan, in fine form with Sarsfields, Aaron O’Neill, Sam Doran and Paddy Woodgate, to name a few, from that 2018 team.

One can’t ignore the fact, all the same, that Roscommon fans were ready to move on by the end of year three. A concern for sure.

Here’s what Roscommon Herald GAA correspondent Ian Cooney had to say after his stint ended in June.

“Burke didn’t become a bad manager, but his messages became scattered and subsequently diluted as results didn’t match expectations, especially towards the latter end of this season where no one was really surprised Roscommon lost out to Cork – a side they had walloped by 14 points in the League a few months earlier.” Cooney continues, “As supporters shrugged their shoulders and trudged out of Portlaoise deflated, there was also a sense that the connection between them and the players had been lost.” Warning signs there, but Burke is not here to manage, he is here to coach and lend advice to a relatively inexperienced manager at this level.

Remember, he had taken on the Wicklow job at 31 years of age, the youngest ever to manage at inter-county level in 2019, having resisted the opportunity to come into the Kildare senior backroom we believe.

He took Wicklow to promotion from Division 4, embellishing a managerial record that already saw him win a Senior League with his native Confey, that under 20 All Ireland title in 2018 and adding a Kildare senior championship with Sarsfields the following year.

A relegation play-off win over Cavan secured Division 3 status for a second year in the covid-curtailed 2021 campaign before he signed off as Garden County boss after exiting the Leinster Championship to Wexford, who they had beaten the previous year.

His return to Sarsfields for 2022 was perhaps seen as a misstep, the Newbridge side going out in the quarter-final to holders Naas, but it didn’t put Roscommon off appointing him that autumn, his native county having overlooked him in favour of Glenn Ryan the previous winter.

It started off well with a third placed Division 1 finish (when was the last Kildare man to do that?).

But the Rossies reverted to yo-yo type with relegation and promotion in the following two campaigns. Failing to reach a Connacht Final or go beyond an All-Ireland quarter-final in 2024 (losing by six points to eventual winners Armagh), eventually did for him.

Here’s the thing though: there are not many Kildare men, or indeed available coaches from outside Kildare, who have been operating in Divisions 1 or 2 or indeed at Sam Maguire level for the last three years.

It’s a ballsy move by both men. They are so different in personality and approach it might just gel. The cool, rational thinker with the black book and the force of nature that is Burke. I’m thinking Clough and Taylor (reversing the roles admittedly) or Klopp and Buvac rather than Houllier and Evans or O’Neill and Keane. 

Nothing ventured nothing gained.