Royal rumpus over Banty leaves Meath in a pickle

THE Meath management saga has generated attention far beyond the county bounds. Such coverage surprises me given that the Royals haven’t ruled the football landscape since the halcyon days of Seán Boylan.

But controversy, or the whiff of it, always generates interest and Meath’s managerial appointments in recent seasons have, it seems, always been coupled with drama.

The ending of Eamon O’Brien’s reign was surprising to most outsiders. Meath are Leinster champions, albeit controversially, and they played attractive football in this year’s championship. Still, the powers that be decided O’Brien wasn’t good enough to remain in charge and so he got the road.