Over the coming weeks Malachy O’Rourke will be putting all his efforts into guiding the Monaghan ship back on course in the All Ireland qualifiers. 
But like every other Fermanagh native, O’Rourke will be donning his supporters cap on June 24 as Rory Gallagher’s men go in search of that elusive first Ulster title. 
Speaking yesterday (Wednesday) after the dust had settled on the weekend’s game O’Rourke gave his thoughts to the Impartial Reporter. 
“When a county invests faith in you and when you invest so much time and effort into a county you become part of things. And a Monaghan win was all that mattered to me on Sunday, and it was a very tough defeat to take,” explains O’Rourke. “
“But look, I have played for Fermanagh, managed Fermanagh, been involved with coaching at the school for 25 years and have coached a lot of Fermanagh players over that time. So obviously when it comes to the Ulster final I will be, as you say, putting on the supporter’s cap and hoping Fermanagh can go on and win Ulster.”
O’Rourke was the man who guided Fermanagh to their last Ulster final appearance, ten years ago when they came agonisingly close to claiming the Anglo Celt, losing to Armagh after a replay. 
Like Gallagher this year, O’Rourke was in his first year in charge of the Erne men in 2008 and if anyone knows what the buzz and expectation will be like within the county then it is O’Rourke. 
And the Derrylin man is confident that the Fermanagh players will be ready for the battle in just over two weeks time;
“They are in very safe hands. Rory has a lot of experience with Ulster finals, as has Ricey. And Shane (McCabe) and Ronan (Gallagher) have been there with Fermanagh as players so I think the Fermanagh boys are in very safe hands in terms of preparation,” he said before adding,
“The important thing is to just try and put all the distractions to one side and concentrate on the performance, which I have no doubt that they will do, and once that happens they will be in with a very good chance of winning an Ulster title.”
Reflecting on his side’s one point loss to Fermanagh O’Rourke, with a few days to digest the defeat, was philosophical about the result.
“After thirty minutes it was five points to one for Fermanagh. From that point to injury time at the end of the game Monaghan outscored Fermanagh nine points to three. 
“But I have been around long enough to know that things are analysed differently when you win by a point as opposed to when you lose by a point. I think people analyse the result rather than the game itself.”
That said the Monaghan boss was not pleased with how is side performed overall, especially in the opening half
“We were very disappointed with our energy levels, particularly in the first half. When you come up against a team with a lot of men behind the ball you have to try and stretch things and that requires players playing with energy. 
“If you play with energy and make runs you start to see things open up and gaps be created. You saw that a little more in the second half. But in the end Fermanagh got the crucial score, and that is football. We can have no complaints.”
Concluding O’Rourke gave his opinion on the criticism that has been levelled at certain teams for what some perceive to be defensive football. 
Speaking with a fair dollop of common sense O’Rourke revealed that there was a little more nuance needed to some of the critiquing of the game.
“I think if you are involved in coaching you have a greater appreciation of what is happening. People can talk about defensive football all they want but there is more to it than that. Yes, Fermanagh set up defensively but to be fair they also committed men forward when they were in possession, but you don’t hear that side of it. 
“And for ourselves, when you have the ball against a team who have numbers back you are not going to just kick it in aimlessly and lose possession. 
“So there is a bit more to it all than some might say.”