The riddle of the double-jobbing managers

A quick GAA riddle. When does a county want to see their manager lose a game? When they're double jobbing, of course.

This weekend, two recently installed inter-county managers have big club championship games to look forward to and it’s fair to say support will be thin on the ground from their newer fan bases.

All-Ireland champions Glen, under the tutelage of new Tyrone boss Malachy O’Rourke, face Lavey in a Derry football quarter-final while recently installed Meath boss Robbie Brennan is hoping to bring Kilmacud back to a fourth straight Dublin final when they face Na Fianna.

Managers taking county jobs while still committed to a club is nothing new, but the above duo are one and two in the Andy Merrigan betting meaning that, if the house has it right, it could be another three or four months before one or even both can give their sole focus to their new positions - so some Meath and Tyrone fans won't cry too many tears if they lose out.

Incidentally, third in the All-Ireland ranking is Kilcoo, where it’s worth noting that a different type of double jobbing is occurring. That’s because Down boss Conor Laverty is in the pretty unique position of continuing to line out for the Magpies - mostly making cameos off the bench - as they chase a 12th county title in 13 years next weekend when they face old adversaries Burren.

Laverty has been able to combine those two roles easily enough for the last two seasons, but in the case of O’Rourke and Brennan, things may get more complicated if their anticipated success continues, although reports suggest that they will be taking different approaches.

Brennan, it is rumoured although not confirmed, will be stepping down as Croke’s boss this month, either after a semi-final loss this