There has to be emotion in writing, but you should never write when you’re emotional. That does make sense, think about it. It will be readily admitted that on more occasions than is cared to be remembered, after watching a match – either in the flesh or on television – social media or this space couldn’t be got to fast enough to vent.
And yes, shots were fired when it would have been far wiser to leave the pistol in the holster. As a very eminent figure in GAA said to me this morning (not about myself I must add), ‘You have to watch what you say, you can’t take it back’.
Which leads me to wonder, when the dust settles, will the keyboard warriors take a step back and wonder why it was done? I refer, of course, to the horrendous abuse directed at Andy McEntee during his tenure as Meath senior football manager. Which, regrettably, came to an end earlier this week.
What did it achieve? It certainly wasn’t supporting the team or those working with them. All that sort of cowardly bashing succeeds in doing is causing distress and upset for the man concerned, his family, those close to him and the community around them. But let me be clear here. Yes I am particularly angry, upset and, mostly, disappointed because it happened to be my neighbour, friend and clubmate being lambasted.
Am I surprised? Sadly not, it shouldn’t happen to any team manager. At any level or in any sport. Unfortunately though, a very small minority of Meath ‘supporters’ have form for such things. It’s not all that long ago when the loudest cheer at a Leinster U-21 FC match in Pairc Tailteann was when the team manager substituted his own son. No, it wasn’t a member of my own club.
Those of us who can go back far enough in the memory bank recall Tullamore in 1985 when, after defeat by Laois, the team were labelled ‘A bunch of old women’ or, 11 years thereafter, following defeat to Mayo in a National League quarter final, a wisecrack opining ‘Sure you’d never win anything with that (Brendan) Reilly on the team, he’s only on it because he’s from Dunboyne’. That didn’t age too well, did it!
Yet anything either witnessed or learned of over the years was only confetti compared to what was directed at the erstwhile Meath manager during his time in charge. Some of which could land purveyors thereof in deep slurry in a lot more serious places than fan forums if people were of a mind to go that route. Then again, giving them a reaction is exactly what these attention seeking whingers want.
It’s very easy to win medals sitting in the stand, sitting behind a keyboard or standing or the terrace. Put yourself forward for these positions, even a club level, the commitment is enormous. Now multiply by as many zeros as you like, and then some, when it comes to county management. That’s before a foot is set on a sideline.
The following is not in any shape or form as a slight on whomever the new manager turns out to be, but, it is my earnest belief that it will be a matter of people not realising how good the outgoing was until after his time. Andy McEntee’s passion for and commitment and dedication to Meath football – or indeed any football in which he is involved – is off the charts.
But, as several players who worked with him attested once he announced he wasn’t going forward, there’s another side to the man that’s seldom mentioned. The amount of good he and his family have done and no doubt still do in a quiet understated way might surprise some of the naysayers. Including one occasion when he came to the assistance of extended family of yours truly and wouldn’t have even known as such.
Before anyone says it, yes I am fully aware the GAA and organisations are full of such wonderful people. The point was merely being made as a counter punch to what has been nothing short of character assassination at times.
However, rather than one be accused of writing a loaded ode because of who is involved, perhaps it would be better to let some facts and figures do the talking. At this point, I must express sincere thanks to Brian Kelly from Seneschalstown GFC for compiling and publishing the following:
1: During Andy’s time in charge, Meath played 79 games.
2: That resulted in 37 wins, 7 draws and 35 defeats.
3: In that time, players from 31 different clubs represented Meath at Senior level.
4: A total of 89 different players got game time under Andy’s management.
To put some flesh on those figures, players such as Harry Hogan, Robin Clarke, Eoin Harkin, James Conlon, Cathal Hickey, Jordan Morris, Jason Scully, Shane Walsh, Jack O’Connor, Mathew Costello, Jack Flynn and Jordan Muldoon all either made their senior inter county debuts or enhanced their standing therein during that time. And that’s just a list off the top of my head. There are probably more.
It is for that reason above all other considerations that I feel Andy’s tenure as Meath senior football manager merits and deserves to be seen in a positive light. In all the dross that has been said about his time with the team, undoubtedly the most annoying – this is only my opinion – was the ‘ X, Y or Z (player) doesn’t want to play under him’ bullsh**.
Look, with the possible exception of Sean Boylan and Mick O’Dwyer, there hasn’t been a manager anywhere that hasn’t had at least one player who took the hump. Indeed, one man who was a central tenet of Andy’s tour of duty absented himself while a previous regime were in situ.
Unless there are extenuating circumstances, players dropping themselves off county panels or – even worse – refusing to answer the call boils down to two things. They either don’t have the stomach for it or know in their heart of hearts they’re not good enough.
The flipside of that coin, mind you, is that players who were ‘project players’ under the now former management can and hopefully will go on to be the solid structure of the Meath team for many years to come.
For that reason, among many others, Andy’s passion for and commitment and dedication to Meath football has paved a better road ahead for it. Did everything as well as would have been hoped? No, but who does that ever happen for?
Division 1 status was regained for the first time in 13 years and the last eight of the Championship reached. Failure to build on same must be judged with cognisance of mitigating circumstances during that time.
All told, Andy and all those who worked with him over the past six seasons have initiated progress. That is all anyone can ask. The torch now passes on so that the journey back to where we all want Meath football to be can continue.
Finally, for very personal reasons, Andy, thank you for efforts, not only over the past half dozen years, but for as long as you have dedicated your time and seemingly endless passion to the betterment of Dunboyne and Meath football.
When you travel life’s journey with a road map such as what I was allotted, what may seem like simple things to an ordinary person can make an incalculable difference to somebody in my position. As long as wheels carrying me turn I will never forget the night after the 1998 county final, in a quiet corner of Mulvany’s bar, you simply said to me “I know how much it means to you”.
It does now the same as it did then. Maybe even more so in fact. Through Sean in the past and yourself in more recent times, I felt a special connection to the Meath setup that there aren’t enough words to describe.
I’ve no doubt it won’t be long until your back patrolling the sidelines somewhere again.
In conclusion, it will be admitted that there is a natural excited curiosity to see what the future holds. There are ideas aboard about who I would like to see taking up the reins, but they can wait for another day.
Leave a Reply