Managerial merry-go-round in full swing

Conor O'Donoghue has left Dunboyne after guiding the club to the SFC final this year as many clubs are on the hunt for new managers following a turbulent 2021.

As well conducting a search for a new manager Dunshaughlin have appointed a three-man committee to undertake a review of the first team that suffered relegation from senior football earlier this month following the play-off loss to Navan O'Mahonys.

Martin Reilly stepped down as manager of the 2000 to 2002 Keegan Cup champions following the relegation final loss, but the club have taken decisive steps to address their future with the establishment of this special review committee.

The hunt for a new manager is already underway and one of the leading contenders for the role could be Caoimhin King, with the former Meath player leaving his role as Drumbaragh boss at the end of their disappointing IFC campaign.

King, who played for Dunshaughlin in this year's Premier FC Div 1 final loss to Dunboyne, is a highly regarded coach and could be the man to bring Dunshaughlin back to senior football.

The team that beat Dunshaughlin in that relegation final, Navan O'Mahonys, are also in the hunt for a new manager following Davy Nelson's departure from the role.

Nelson is one of O'Mahonys most successful players and managers having been involved in half of the club's Keegan Cup successes, six as a player and four as a manager.

He won the Meath SFC as a manager in 1997 and again in 2012, 2014 and 2015, but perhaps his greatest achievement was ensuring the club's senior status this year with that relegation final win.

2020 SFC finalists Gaeil Colmcille have moved quickly to replace the departed Lar Wall with former Westmeath manager Luke Dempsey appointed to take over at the Kells club.

Over in east Meath St Colmcille's have appointed the dynamic and hugely successful duo of Sean Kelly and Sean Barry to take over from Mickey Conlon, while several other senior clubs are still on the hunt for a new manager.

Na Fianna have parted ways with Mickey Foley, while Anthony Malone's one year term in charge of Seneschalstown and Liam Harnan's caretakership of Skryne are both over.

Curraha are also on the look out for a new manager with Stephen Morgan gone from his role, as are Ballinabrackey who will no longer be coached by Gordon McDonnell.

There are plenty of goings and not many comings yet amongst the intermediate teams with Rathkenny looking for a replacement for Dudley Farrell and Nobber parting with Anthony Monaghan after just one year - could that be a swap move?

Dunshaughlin and Drumbaragh are also looking for new men, as are Longwood who have parted with David Flynn. St Michael's have replaced David Wright with former Ballinabrackey player Trevor Bannon.

Two of the bigger changes in the junior ranks will see Syddan looking for a new manager after Davy Cahill's departure, while Colm Coyle has left Castletown to take up a role with the Meath under-20s

Amongst the junior clubs, surprisingly Shane Waldron and his entire management team have left Dunsany, while Eoin Feeley will no longer fill the player manager role with Slane, opting to focus on playing for 2022.

Boardsmill have appointed Shane Mangan and Stephen Quirke to replace Eddie Holton and Pat Winters, while St Brigid's are also looking for a new boss after George Plunkett stepped down.

All aboard the managerial merry-go-round.