Development squad under threat after O'Brien exit

The departure of Eamonn O'Brien has not only left Meath football in a state of shock, but his exit could also be viewed as a major blow to the long-term development of the county team. The decision of the Co Committee delegates not to ratify O'Brien for a third term means that plans for the development of Meath football are now in limbo. Co Committee chairman Barney Allen confirmed that the future of the development panel is in doubt following O'Brien's departure. "I'm not sure what the status of that development panel is now," the chairman told the Meath Chronicle this week. "That is something that we were funding and had put in place months ago, but it's up in the air now. "It depends on the next manager, whether he wants to keep that panel going. It all depends on the next man," said Allen. O'Brien confirmed that he had developed the idea to help to the long-term strategy for Meath football. "I had set up a development panel for young, up-and-coming players and it was our intention to bring in several new faces to help bolster the panel," O'Brien told the Meath Chronicle. "We had 10 players involved in a training programme with the view to having them ready to make the step up to the senior panel," he added. The introduction of a development panel for the future of Meath football was one of the unheralded plans that O'Brien had formulated. He had enlisted the services of former Meath trainer and minor selector Paul Clarke from Match-Fit Ireland to oversee the development squad. Clarke is disappointed that O'Brien will not get a chance to enjoy the fruits of his labour. "I met with Eamonn back in March and we discussed the idea of bringing in a number of players and preparing them for inter-county training," Clarke told the Meath Chronicle. "Some of these players had been involved in minor teams and then had to wait a further three years for involvement in the u-21 team, that wasn't to the benefit of Meath football," said Clarke. "We formulated a plan to ensure the long-term development of some of the county's brightest young players and I have been working with 10 of them since June. "I have provided them with a suitable training regime that should leave them ready and able to step into the inter-county training scene. "They have received nutritional advice and I believe the training they are doing will benefit Meath football. "However, now that Eamonn is gone, we don't know what the situation is with this development panel. "I contacted the players last week and asked them if they wanted to continue with the programme, they expressed a desire to do so, so we are continuing. "I'm not sure if a new manager will be keen to maintain this panel, but it can only be a good thing for the future of Meath football. "We will have to wait and see what the future holds," said Clarke. The 10 players involved in the development panel are Donal Keoghan (Rathkenny), Mark Collins (Duleek/Bellewstown), Tommy Johnson (Dunshaughlin), Paddy O'Brien, Donncha Tobin (both Blackhall Gaels), Damien Carroll (Ballinabrackey), Gearoid Rennicks (St Ultan's), Shane Gillespie (Navan O'Mahonys), Michael Newman (Kilmainham), Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle).