O’Dowd takes up reins in Royal county

Mick O’Dowd of the Skryne club was ratified as the new Meath senior football manager in succession to Seamus McEnaney at last night’s county board meeting in Navan.

The 39-year–old former forward is the Royals’ fifth boss since Sean Boylan stepped down following the All-Ireland qualifiers defeat by Cavan in 2005, with Eamonn Barry having one term and Colm Coyle, Eamon O’Brien and McEnaney two each.

O’Dowd, Skryne’s player-manager for their SFC triumph in 2004 and who figured in attack on three other championship-winning teams, will have former club team-mate Trevor Giles as one of his selectors.