McEnaney to remain with Royals
Seamus McEnaney is set to stay in charge of the Meath senior footballers following a specially convened County Board meeting at Pairc Tailteann tonight.
Delegates voted 43-31 in favour of a motion proposed by the Meath County Committee to end McEnaney's term as manager, but it failed to get the two-thirds required for the Monaghan native's removal.
McEnaney gained six more votes than he required to survive in the position which he has held since October 2010.
The Meath County Committee proposed a motion that 'the decision taken in October 2010 to appoint McEnaney as Meath manager be 'rescinded'.
The motion drew heated debate from the delegates present, with a lot of the early discussion centring on the situation regarding Sean Boylan's role as director of football in the county.
Meath Chairman Barney Allen explained that Boylan had been unhappy with the title of 'director of football' and he had spoken to then GAA President Christy Cooney to see if something could be done to change this.
Boylan will continue to assist with Juvenile football structures in the county, despite former Meath manager Eamon Barry questioning the vailidity of Allen's comments.
"I met Sean Boylan in his house and he told me emphaticially that he resigned his position as director of football four to five weeks previously and that was well known by many people in this county," Barry told delegates.
Meath Vice-Chairman Conor Tormey confirmed the reasons for meeting with Boylan were not solely to suss him out as a potential successor to McEnaney.
"The only reason I set up the meeting with Barney (Allen) and Sean (Boylan) was to clear up the other issue," he said.
"We met Sean and we spoke about the directorship. We also had a chat about football and we asked him if the position came up (Meath senior football manager) would he be interested?"
Allen also added that discussions with the players on the future of the management also took place.
"Myself and Cyril (Crevin, the Meath secretary) met with three representatives of the players and we got their views on two occasions."
At around 9.30pm, Allen called that a vote be taken via secret ballot, with one delegate from each of the 58 clubs along with County Committee officials entitled to vote, ensuring a total voting strength of 74.
The vote failed to reach the required two-thirds to see McEnaney removed as manager.
As a result, a second motion which had been placed on the agenda for the installation of Boylan as manager was not required to be voted on.
The reaction of the Meath players to McEnaney staying in place as manager was swift.
Defender Kevin Reilly tweeted: "The real loser in all of this regardless of the result is Meath football. I think everyone has put politics before what really matters."
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