A right Royal farce as McEnaney survives vote

Seamus McEnaney last night survived a “no confidence” motion and will remain in charge for Meath’s Leinster SFC first-round game against Wicklow on May 27.

At a tense and dramatic meeting in Arás Tailteann last night, the management committee’s recommendation he be removed from the position failed to receive the required two-thirds majority.

Of the 74 votes (59 club delegates and 15 executive), 43 voted to remove McEnaney, six short of the necessary number. He needed 26 votes against the motion to remain in charge and received 31.

Despite asking McEnaney to step down, county chairman Barney Allen insisted the Corduff man will receive the full support of the Meath County Board going into the championship.

Speaking afterwards, Allen denied it was a gamble that backfired and said he was responding to the reaction of supporters following the defeat by Louth last Sunday week, which consigned Meath to Division 3 next season.

County treasurer Pat Clerkin also called on all club delegates to row in behind the team now that the matter has come to an end.

However, the authority of the executive is now in serious question after their proposal failed to receive backing from the clubs.

McEnaney’s fate had looked all but cast last week after the executive called for him to be replaced following the team’s demotion from Division 2 on the back of five consecutive defeats.

Four-time All-Ireland winning manager Seán Boylan had been lined up to replace him. A motion proposing the Dunboyne man’s candidacy would have been put to delegates had McEnaney been ousted.

Responding to the news last night, Meath 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.”

Despite appearing to be a doomed man, McEnaney had continued to carry out his duties, attending club games last week as well as Wicklow’s clash with Clare in Aughrim last Sunday.

Several clubs had questioned the executive’s handling of the situation, with a number of delegates suggesting they mismanaged it.

At last September’s meeting which gave McEnaney the green light for a second season at the helm, Allen had spoke heavily in favour of him remaining in charge despite heavy criticism from his former selectors Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan.

A number of delegates had raised the question of why the management committee effectively wanted to sack McEnaney.

Kells’ delegate Ultan Fitzpatrick and his brother Gerry (Simonstown Gaels) had expressed different opinions on McEnaney with the former against the Monaghan native remaining in charge.

Rathkenny delegate Edmund Curtis, from the same club as chairman Allen, said Meath were currently playing a brand of Ulster football that didn’t suit them.

Allen recounted he received much verbal abuse following the Louth game as well as receiving phone calls and also had a sleepless night with worry about Meath’s predicament. After that, he decided to go about seeking a change of management.

Vice-chairman Conor Tormey arranged a meeting between Allen and Boylan last Wednesday week where Boylan was asked about the possibility of taking over from McEnaney. At a management committee meeting later that day, it was decided to recommend McEnaney’s removal as manager, with Boylan put forward as a full-time replacement.

Leinster Council delegate Brendan Dempsey claimed there was surprise among executive members that Boylan had already been approached for the role.

However, vice-secretary Francis Flynn and Central Council delegate Brendan Cummins said the management committee couldn’t sit back and be happy with playing Division 3 football next season.

In one bizarre exchange, it was suggested McEnaney could have reason to take legal action against the county board for a breach of a verbal contract.

Allen also revealed members of the county board executive had met with three player representatives on two occasions to gauge their opinion on management.

Despite meeting in Simonstown on Monday night, the players elected not to release a statement, with opinion on McEnaney remaining on as manager said to be divided.

At the outset of the meeting, Allen said he regretted if anyone misunderstood his comments about Boylan’s position as director of football earlier this month. Allen had dismissed the suggestion Boylan had stepped down from the position. But a day later Boylan confirmed he had already resigned some weeks earlier. “I was satisfied he was reducing his role to promotion of underage football and it was reasonable to assume he had not stepped down as director of football,” said Allen. “I didn’t set out to mislead anybody. I regret if I was misunderstood.”

Former Meath boss Eamonn Barry claimed Boylan had resigned his position four to five weeks previous to Allen’s remarks. But as he was not a club delegate, Allen warned Barry not to speak again.

According to Allen, Boylan was uncomfortable with the title of the position and had spoken to former GAA president Christy Cooney about a more appropriate label.