Boylan faces fight to retain Meath job

Sean Boylan will have to see off five other coaches at next month's meeting of the Meath county board if he is to stay on as Royals manager.

The Dunboyne herbalist has been in the role of Meath senior football manager since 1982, and helped them reach the latter stages of the this season's All-Ireland qualifiers before losing 1-6 to 1-8 to neighbours Cavan.

Gerry McEntee, Colm Coyle, Eamonn McEnaney, Benny Reddy and perennial rival Eamonn Barry, who has lost a final vote to Boylan three times, were all nominated before yesterday's noon deadline.

Boylan defeated Barry last September to guarantee a 23rd season at the helm.

Coyle and McEntee were both players during the Boylan reign, while Reddy was Meath's minor boss this year and McEnaney currently manages Trim.

It remains to be seen how many of those nominees will remain in the race against Boylan in a month's time.