McEnaney takes up baton for Meath band

GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP:SÉAMUS McENANEY was last night ratified by the Meath County Board as manager of the county footballers. After a lengthy debate, the proposal from the county executive that the former Monaghan manager be appointed was passed by 53 votes to 19.

As recommended by the sub-committee which forwarded his name, the appointment is for three years with a review after two.

McEnaney was manager of Monaghan for the past six years, establishing them as a competitive force in football without accumulating much silverware beyond the NFL Division Two title, beating Meath in the final. They reached two Ulster finals, losing both to Tyrone, in 2007 and again this year.

In that former year the team came also within minutes of eliminating eventual All-Ireland winners Kerry in the quarter-finals.

After the unexpected rejection of Eamon O’Brien, manager for the past two years, by the county committee a special sub-committee, comprising Liam Keane, former secretary of the DRA, the GAA’s independent disputes tribunal, Joe Cassells, an All-Ireland winning captain and former selector, and county chair Barney Allen was appointed to bring back a recommendation to the county executive.

Their recommendation was for McEnaney, ahead of former Dunboyne and Meath under-21 manager Gerry Cooney, together with a management team of former All-Ireland winner Liam Harnan, who has just taken Skryne to the county title, Paul Grimley, who was a selector with Armagh in Joe Kernan’s All-Ireland winning management as well as in Kildare and Monaghan, Martin McElkennon, the trainer and coach who has worked with a number of Ulster counties and another selector, to be appointed from within Meath.

This triggered growing discontent in the county. Former county manager Eamon Barry was critical of the prospect of McEnaney being appointed, citing the lack of tangible prizes won during his time in Monaghan.

His reservations were shared by others, with McEnaney’s track record, the cost of his back-room team and the nature of his motivation – he had been interested in staying with Monaghan for a further term but declined to participate in the interview process insisted on by the county – all being cited.

There was, however, a feeling amongst even some of those opposed to the appointment that delegates would be swayed by a desire for closure on the whole issue which has now dragged on for over two months.

There has been unhappiness on both sides in the weeks leading up to last night’s meeting. Some were unhappy with the players’ views being represented in the public arena by former Meath All-Ireland winner and commentator Colm O’Rourke in his newspaper column, as strongly in favour of McEnaney.

On the other side, there was annoyance that a persistent rumour that the sub-committee had reached its recommendation on a split decision had been put into circulation and Joe Cassells felt constrained to rebut it publicly by emphasising that the decision had been unanimous.

The sub-committee was of the view that McEnaney’s proposed management represented the best option. They were also satisfied that the costs of including Grimley and McElkennon in the back-room team was not excessive and the proposed budget for the team was run past the county treasurer.

Another former Meath All-Ireland winner Trevor Giles will have a role in supervising the physiotherapy requirements of the team.

Another recommendation is that after the proposed three-year term, Harnan should ideally be in a position to be appointed as McEnanaey’s successor.

Ever since Seán Boylan retired in 2005 after 23 years in charge of the county team and four All-Ireland titles, the county has had trouble appointing managers. Barry succeeded Boylan but there was an immediate controversy over his selectors before he got the go-ahead for just a year.

Colm Coyle, the only one of Boylan’s former players to have taken up the reins, came in and reached the All-Ireland semi-final in his first year.

A disappointing follow-up season ended with Coyle’s abrupt departure and the appointment of Eamon O’Brien, an All-Ireland winning selector with Boylan.

He too reached an All-Ireland semi-final and this year added a controversial Leinster title after a clearly invalid goal was allowed in the last minute of the final against Louth. His candidacy for a third year was rejected by the county committee, bringing about the current situation.