Liam Hayes in running for Meath job
Current Carlow boss Liam Hayes is to challenge Sean Boylan for the honour of leading Meath into the 2006 season.
Hayes, a former Royals midfielder who won back-to-back All-Irelands in 1987 and 1988 as a player under Boylan, was nominated for the position before Monday's noon deadline.
Boylan's bid for a 24th year in charge will be decided at next month's Meath county board meeting at which he could be challenged by upwards of seven candidates.
As well as Hayes, who memorably helped Carlow knock out Offaly in this year's All-Ireland qualifiers, ex-Westmeath and Cavan manager Mattie Kerrigan was another late addition to the list.
Boylan's perennial challenger Eamonn Barry, Gerry McEntee, Colm Coyle, Eamonn McEnaney and Benny Reddy, Meath's minor manager, have also put their names in the hat, although a number of them could drop out before the interviewing process begins.
