When news of Robbie Brennan’s appointment as Meath senior football manager broke on Thursday evening last, the point was made in this space that labelling of the new boss as an outside manager would be well wide of the mark. With his dad Pat occupying a position of reverence with the Wolfe Tones club having captained the Kilberry outfit to a county IFC success in what I think was 1973.
Moreover, presumably on foot of same, young Brennan tended to be at the butt end of plenty of gentle ribbing over wearing the Meath jersey in and around Glenalbyn and its environs. Mind you, if that didn’t end the debate as to where county loyalties lay, Pat and his wife Betty returning to Kilberry when retirement came around surely did.
However, be that as it may, the ‘outside’ manager mallarkey got a little more traction in the wake of Robbie’s appointment due to the fact he announced Tyrone legend Joe McMahon and Monaghan native Martin Corey as part of his entourage.
No matter. In a move commensurate to the astuteness with which he went about putting a package together worthy of being entrusted with the most important football job in the county, ar mBainisteoir nua has again read the room correctly with the announced addition this evening (Monday) of Conor Gillespie to the now finalised team of mentors.
Very quickly after there was a vacancy for the manager’s job, sources indicated that the erstwhile Summerhill boss was about to launch his own bid for the job. This writer would have had no objection if that ended up being the end scenario.
But, as has been covered extensively here in recent days, one is of course immensely proud to see another clubmate and friend assume the most important job in Meath football. As former Co Board Treasurer Colm Gannon of Summerhill pointed out to me most recently, assuming Robbie completes his three year tenure – at least – it will mean that members of St Peter’s will have managed the Meath senior footballers for 32 of the past 44 years.
Doubtless there will be some, perhaps many, who would pour withering scorn on such a statistic, but it would be earnestly hoped that there would be an acknowledgement each of the three had the role bestowed upon them wholly on merit at the relevant times. Indeed, sticking my neck out, I would even suggest we have another one waiting in the wings for further down the line.
For now though, Robbie’s recruitment of former county midfielder Gillespie ticks an awful lot of boxes. It should placate any (understandable) concerns about it being a whole ‘outside’ management ensemble. Add to that, despite his career being cruelly culled by injury, he is somebody who will command the utmost respect of Gaels throughout the county.
Deservedly so, too, firstly for the manner in which he threw himself into team management and such a young age. Especially after what must have been devastation at having to swap the No. 8 jersey for the Bainisteoir bib. Also however, due to the extraordinary success to which he has guided his kinfolk in such a relatively short period of time.
So there can be no doubting the quality of management structure put in place, the only pity is that due to the unnecessary trifling with competition structure and seasonal layout the GAA allowed themselves be bullied into by a cohort of upstarts, it will be all of five months before the majority get to see what the latest new incarnation of a Meath team looks like.
For the new crew themselves, though, there’s a sizable in-tray of work to tend to in the meantime.
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