Royals set to reiterate backing for McEnaney

MEATH GAA chiefs were last night putting the final touches to a press release outlining their position on the resignations of Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan as selectors.

The board are expected to issue a press release this morning in which they will give their backing to manager Seamus McEnaney as he prepares for Sunday week’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Kildare in Croke Park.

The delay in their official reaction comes as they attempt to keep a lid on the simmering tensions in Meath football following Harnan and Callaghan’s departures.

The executive committee, which met to discuss the selector departures on Monday night, felt mistakes were made in the manner they conducted their business during the fallout from the county’s highly controversial Leinster SFC final win over Louth last July.

Monday night’s meeting was held at a secret venue so as to ensure there was no media present.

“Monday night’s meeting went on for a good while,” said a county board source.

“There was a lot to discuss about what happened. We’re trying to avoid the terrible circus that followed last year’s Leinster final.

“We’re trying to handle it a bit differently this time.”

The county board are fully aware McEnaney retains the full support of the players who had made it clear from the outset they wanted the Monaghan native to succeed the ousted Eamonn O’Brien.

Speaking yesterday, McEnaney described Harnan and Callaghan’s decisions as “disappointing” but insisted his only focus is on the Kildare game. “The two lads have stepped down for personal reasons. Of course it is disappointing but what happens in the panel stays there and we are moving on and fully focused on June 5.

“That is the game our season has been building up to all year.”