Highs and lows for Co Board

Meath GAA officials experienced highs and lows over the weekend following the anticipated departure of senior football manager Seamus McEnaney and an unexpected All-Ireland MFC quarter-final victory at Newry on Sunday evening. And there was plenty of drama surrounding the minor football team even before they departed for Newry on Sunday afternoon from Navan O'Mahonys. Regular wing-back Ruairi O Coileain was brought to Navan hospital after he fainted only minutes before the team bus departed for Newry. "Ruairi was brought to hospital after he fainted as we were about to leave for Newry and the lads wanted to win the game for him," stated team manager Andy McEntee. There was a late visit to the young Navan O'Mahonys player on Sunday night by members of the Meath management team who were able to report that the players certainly delivered a big performance against Tyrone. It is anticipated that the talented young player will be discharged from hospital this week and he was also visited by members of the panel on Monday and Tuesday. Early and late goals sealed a sensational victory against a highly-regarded and well-supported Tyrone team. Meath's Barry Dardis had the ball in the Tyrone net after only 12 seconds and Stephen Coogan scored a goal in injury-time after Tyrone had taken the lead and looked like they might snatch victory. Meath's reward is a clash with Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday 26th August in a curtainraiser for the senior semi-final between Cork and Donegal. Dublin will play Kerry in the other semi-final and it could set up a potential re-match of the Leinster MFC decider between Meath and Dublin in the All-Ireland final. The search for a new senior football team manager will begin in earnest after next Monday night's Co Board meeting at Áras Táilteann following the departure of McEnaney. The Monaghan man announced his departure last Thursday night and delegates will discuss the matter and the manner of finding a replacement next Monday night.