RONAN PRAISES BOYLAN’S IMPACT

ADVICE will come in time but new Down manager Ronan McCartan has already learned so much from Meath legend Sean Boylan.

Both were involved in Down’s run to an All- Ireland Under-20 semi- final but the Ballymartin native says he hasn’t fully tapped into the greatest resource of all just yet.

“He hasn’t offered me any advice yet but I will be definitely be seeing him when I get back,” said McCartan.

“I will be speaking to him as much as I can in the next 12 months. He is definitely somebody you like to bounce ideas off and get ideas on how to work things.”

McCartan was a coach under Conor Laverty earlier this year, while Boylan acted as more of an advisor behind the scenes.

Boylan’s record with the Royals will likely never be matched; he helped them claim four AllIreland titles in his 23 years in charge, along with eight provincial titles and three National Leagues.

Boylan was a huge asset for Laverty and his backroom team to call upon while Down fought their way to a first Ulster title at that level since 2009 with an extratime victory over Monaghan.

They eventually succumbed to defeat against Roscommon in the AllIreland semi- final but the Down players had grown massively in Boylan’s presence.

“When Sean speaks you couldn’t not be fascinated. The way he speaks to players, the way he is with other members of the management. He is just a gentleman from start to finish,” said McCartan.

Future

“You often hear about people like that, then you see them and they just mirror everything you have heard, Sean would be one of them.

“Conor Laverty has got a massive future in Gaelic football, he will go to the very top.

“But even he picks up an awful lot from Sean, just the way he carries himself.

“Players love him. Everybody who is around loves him and you couldn’t not.”