Barry’s future at stake as Royals row rumbles on

A MEATH County Board management committee meeting will tonight decide the fate of Royals’ boss Eamonn Barry.

At the heart of the matter is Barry’s determination to bring in Dessie Rogers as team physio and include his brother Martin in the backroom staff. The Executive opposes both moves.

In the meantime, Meath are due to play Longford in a challenge game under lights at Newtowncashel on Sunday evening.

Understandably, there has been speculation on a possible successor in the event of Barry pulling out if he does not get his own way, as he has already indicated he will. The names of former players Mattie Kerrigan and Colm Coyle (a member of the outgoing management under Sean Boylan) have been mentioned as likely candidates.

Boylan, understandably, has stayed silent and the belief in Meath is that there is no way he would come back, unless in a caretaker capacity.

Barry had been busy in recent weeks, organising a series of trials around the county and selecting a panel of 40 players who had not been involved in the 2005 championship. Twenty of these players were used in the challenge with Louth at the weekend and the other 20 will be played against Longford.

It’s not clear what Barry will do in the event of having to yield to the Executive demands, given that they represent the unanimous view of the members and not just County Chairman Fintan Ginnity.

They have made it clear that they will not back down, with County Secretary Barney Allen saying on Monday that they would relieve Barry of his responsibilities if he persisted in his move to bring in Rogers.

From Barry’s perspective, it’s felt that after having striven unsuccessfully several times in recent years to unseat Boylan, he will do everything in his power to stay in charge of the team.

* All-Ireland champions Tyrone are breaking new ground by opting for Jamaica for their holiday. Galway hurlers are going to China and Cork are heading to South Africa.