O'Rourke chosen as new Louth manager
Aidan O'Rourke has been appointed as the new Louth senior football manager, following a meeting of the County Board in Darver tonight.
O'Rourke, the former Armagh defender, takes the reins on a two-year term with the option of a third season.
He succeeds Peter Fitzpatrick whose three-year reign came to an end after Louth's All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Westmeath in June.
It is the first time O'Rourke will step into the managerial hot seat at inter-county level.
He had a stint as a selector with Kildare, working with his former Armagh team-mate Kieran McGeeney in 2010 and 2011, and was assistant manager to Down boss James McCartan this past season.
O'Rourke had applied for the vacant Monaghan managerial job in recent weeks, but was beaten to the role by ex-Fermanagh manager Malachy O'Rourke.
As a player, he famously won an All-Ireland medal with Armagh back in 2002 as well as five Ulster titles and a single All-Star award.
O'Rourke will be hoping to get Louth challenging for promotion to Allianz League Division 1 next spring.
Last week's draw for the 2013 Leinster Championship saw them paired with Laois in the first round - a county managed by another of his former Armagh colleagues, Justin McNulty.
