DIANE O’HORA pulled no punches in her letter of resignation to Meath ladies football board officials at the weekend.
To cap a miserable weekend for the Royals, O’Hora stepped down in the wake of a 1-5 to 3-14 defeat against Westmeath in the TG4 Leinster championship.
Westmeath’s victory puts them through to a very first senior provincial decider but Meath are looking for a new manager after O’Hora stepped down.
The former Mayo ace left with a bang rather than a whimper as she accused Royal County top brass of lacking leadership and disrespecting players.
Diane O'Hora in action for Mayo against Cork in 2007. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
O’Hora’s letter, seen by The42, reads as follows:
“It is with great disappointment that I must write this letter after 25 years of intercounty experience as a player, coach and manager, to resign my position as Meath Ladies Senior Manager.
“It saddens me that this management team can no longer put up with the treatment of our own selves in what we are trying to achieve and most especially the disrespectful treatment of players.
“Meath for 15 years has not had continuous management or been successful for those same 15 years.
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“In situations like this something must change.
“As we all know the talent is there and I felt I was the right person to lead the way for what would be a changed model of a modern and professional approach to build on the great success of underage.
“Having asked the county board for their 3/5 year strategic plan I’m still shocked to have not received it. Where, without leadership, is the county going?
Meath ladies footballers are looking for a new manager. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“(Because of) Not being permitted to meet with the clubs in order to share ideas and find a common ground to help encourage players to play county, numbers have been a huge issue all year.
“Again, we got no help here from the chairperson and from the board although requests were made on numerous occasions. This is very disappointing!
“In an age where player welfare is an absolute priority, our preparations for championship were nowhere near the professional standard I have been privileged to have experienced in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford and Down.
“This was all due to the lack of support for requests made by Senior management.
“I have never in 25 years been in a county that permits clubs to play challenge matches the week of a senior county championship game.
“I have also never in all of my years seen players been asked to go from a county championship game to a club championship game.
“The governing body of this county should be protecting players and not letting this happen!
“To add to this disrespect, one club that in fact encourages their players to come out and represent their county are almost punished for ”same” by giving them only one day in-between Senior County Championship and Senior Club Championship games.
Diane O'Hora has had plenty to say about her resignation as Meath boss. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
“How much more an advantage does that really give the opposition in terms of rest and preparation?
“I thank all of those clubs that have encouraged their players to come and play senior county football and I now clearly see some reason why other clubs are not being represented!
“Why would they be with a day’s rest being all that’s catered for from Inter County Senior Championship and County Club Championship?
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank the players most of all for the efforts and sacrifices they have made and I wish them all the very best of luck in the future on and off the field.
“I believe they will all understand this decision and I will take special interest in them all in the hope that they make their dreams come true and represent their county in Croke Park one day. I believe it will happen.
“I wish to also thank the rest of my Management team of Laura Harrison, Phillip Dowdall, Anne Dungan & Christina Byrne, our Physio.
Meath boss slams county board in scathing resignation letter
DIANE O’HORA pulled no punches in her letter of resignation to Meath ladies football board officials at the weekend.
To cap a miserable weekend for the Royals, O’Hora stepped down in the wake of a 1-5 to 3-14 defeat against Westmeath in the TG4 Leinster championship.
Westmeath’s victory puts them through to a very first senior provincial decider but Meath are looking for a new manager after O’Hora stepped down.
The former Mayo ace left with a bang rather than a whimper as she accused Royal County top brass of lacking leadership and disrespecting players.
O’Hora’s letter, seen by The42, reads as follows:
“It is with great disappointment that I must write this letter after 25 years of intercounty experience as a player, coach and manager, to resign my position as Meath Ladies Senior Manager.
“It saddens me that this management team can no longer put up with the treatment of our own selves in what we are trying to achieve and most especially the disrespectful treatment of players.
“Meath for 15 years has not had continuous management or been successful for those same 15 years.
“In situations like this something must change.
“As we all know the talent is there and I felt I was the right person to lead the way for what would be a changed model of a modern and professional approach to build on the great success of underage.
“Having asked the county board for their 3/5 year strategic plan I’m still shocked to have not received it. Where, without leadership, is the county going?
“(Because of) Not being permitted to meet with the clubs in order to share ideas and find a common ground to help encourage players to play county, numbers have been a huge issue all year.
“Again, we got no help here from the chairperson and from the board although requests were made on numerous occasions. This is very disappointing!
“In an age where player welfare is an absolute priority, our preparations for championship were nowhere near the professional standard I have been privileged to have experienced in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford and Down.
“This was all due to the lack of support for requests made by Senior management.
“I have never in 25 years been in a county that permits clubs to play challenge matches the week of a senior county championship game.
“I have also never in all of my years seen players been asked to go from a county championship game to a club championship game.
“The governing body of this county should be protecting players and not letting this happen!
“To add to this disrespect, one club that in fact encourages their players to come out and represent their county are almost punished for ”same” by giving them only one day in-between Senior County Championship and Senior Club Championship games.
“How much more an advantage does that really give the opposition in terms of rest and preparation?
“I thank all of those clubs that have encouraged their players to come and play senior county football and I now clearly see some reason why other clubs are not being represented!
“Why would they be with a day’s rest being all that’s catered for from Inter County Senior Championship and County Club Championship?
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank the players most of all for the efforts and sacrifices they have made and I wish them all the very best of luck in the future on and off the field.
“I believe they will all understand this decision and I will take special interest in them all in the hope that they make their dreams come true and represent their county in Croke Park one day. I believe it will happen.
“I wish to also thank the rest of my Management team of Laura Harrison, Phillip Dowdall, Anne Dungan & Christina Byrne, our Physio.
“Yours in Sport, Diane O’Hora.”
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