Harte aims to reward Offaly for the faith they’ve put in him

We don’t always get things right in Inside Track. (You, in the back row, get out of the class. The cheek of him: When does it ever?).

We ran a piece here the week after Mickey Harte quit as Derry team manager, having been in the job for just ten months. Someone said it was balanced, which is always good to hear. Others said nothing, which means they hadn’t read it, or just didn’t like it.

Anyway, it finished: “He would have had no regrets about leaving his native county to come here (Louth). Having delivered the Red Hands three senior titles and others at minor and under-21 (All-Ireland's), he was justified in thinking his request for an extension of just one year would be granted.

“On being refused, he probably saw Louth as a tower of refuge, and after that, Derry as the best place to further his All-Ireland ambitions.

“Next move? – Who knows – but don’t bet on there not being one?” (Someone tell that fella out in the corridor to come back in.)

The only surprise about Harte being back in the game is his next destination. As it was with Louth when the Errigal Ciarán clubman came to this part of the country, Offaly are in the dumps, in a dark place when compared to the status the county enjoyed in the 1970s and 80s.

A first-ever All-Ireland in ‘71 was followed by another twelve months later, and the hat-trick was completed in ‘82. Since then there’s been just one Leinster win, and 18 years since a last appearance in the final.

This year’s attempt to exit Division Three in the league ended with a sixth place. It would have been worse had the Declan Kelly-coached team not taken five points from their last three games.

But their 2024 troubles weren’t over. Having exited the championship, Offaly suffered three losses in the Tailteann Cup, one of them to London.

The county’s go-ahead chairman, former hurling All-Star and All-Ireland winner, Michael Duignan, knew something had to be done. There were calls for a new manager, but having led the under-21 team to All-Ireland success, Kelly had enough going for him to retain Duignan’s backing.

You can only think it will get better with Harte involved. But it’s going to be different for the 72-year-old this time. His role is that of joint manager with Kelly, and crucially, perhaps, it doesn’t seem he will have his long-time sidekick, Gavin Devlin, for company.

Harte and Devlin were a tried and trusted partnership, both having spoken publicly of their regard for each other. Since their services were no longer required in Derry, Devlin made a surprise return to this county, taking up the vital role as underage football development co-ordinator.

Joint-managers can work. The year after Harte was rejected by Tyrone, Feargal Logan and former captain, Brien Dooher led the Red Hand to All-Ireland victory, and when Tony Hanahoe completed the double, winning the biggest prize as captain and manager, the wily Kevin Heffernan wasn’t far from his shoulder.

One thing about Harte is, he has a wonderful capacity for surprise. It was a surprise when he wasn’t retained by Tyrone, another when he came here, and another when he then went to Derry.

It was anticipated that if he was to head for the road again it might be to Monaghan or maybe Kildare. But, no, he’s off to the Faithful, to a team with which the county’s best-ever golfer, Shane Lowry, has a close association.

Harte is not bad with a driver and putter himself, so it won’t be a surprise if he tees-off with the British Open winner before the football gets serious.