Is it just me or are there an phalanx of former footballers after getting management jobs at inter county level. Yes, to a certain extent all managers tend to be former players at a very high level but there have been very notable exceptions too. None greater than our own Sean Boylan.
Who was lest it be forgotten primarily known as a hurler – albeit one of the highest repute – whom, on the insistence of then Co Board Chairman, the late Brian Smyth took on the role as a quick temp “Until we find somebody more suitable”.
It turned out to be the longest and most successful part time job in history! Aside from the neighbour, there have been others in plenty of other places who never pulled up any trees as players who had and still still having exceptional careers in management.
John Kiely in Limerick being the most obvious currently. I have an idea there are plenty of others but out of a fear of leaving someone out or getting names wrong one will refrain from naming names.
However, what mention of that does is offer a nice segue into the fact that Dunboyne’s own Andy McEntee was this evening unveiled as the incoming manager of the Longford senior football team. For you see what many outside of Meath might not realise is that Andy himself also represented the Royals at the highest level.
He may not have attained the same profile as his famous surgeon brother, but he too is the holder of National League, Leinster and All Ireland medals from 1988.
Having won two SFC medals with St Peter’s Dunboyne, in management, he guided Meath to an All Ireland MFC final appearance in 2012, won a county title at the same level two years later before guiding Ballyboden St Enda’s to an All Ireland Club SFC title in 2015.
It was that which in fairness catapulted him into the shop window for county jobs and, in fairness, he was the obvious and only choice to take over from Mick O’Dowd when he vacated the hot seat.
As Meath boss, he guided his native county to Div. 1 of the league, the last eight of the All Ireland SFC and successive Leinster final appearances. He must also be one of the most unlucky Meath managers there has been. Not only because the two Leinster finals were against a Dublin team that was more like a marauding machine, but also owing to being on the wrong end of some of worst anti Meath refereeing I’ve come across. And that’s saying something!
Certainly in ‘back door’ matches against both Donegal and Tyrone our lads were absolutely rode. Anyway, when he felt he had done as much as was possible, he vacated the Royal throne and went towards the green glens of Antrim in search of his next challenge. And, if you want to talk about challenges within the GAA they don’t come any bigger than those from the saffron’s perspective.
That is not meant in a derogatory sense whatsoever. More as an articulation of the societal challenges Antrim GAA face comparative to most if not all of their contemporaries.
Yet for the span of Andy’s time with them they were competitive in all their Ulster championship matches and in fact for long spells on one day in particular it looked like they were about to take Armagh out in the season the Orchard would go on to lift Sam.
Ironically, those from the land of Bushmills also made it to a Tailteann Cup semi final where they gave Meath their belly full of it until, wouldn’t you know it, a Dunboyne man, Ronan Jones got the goal which settled the issue.
Now, there’s no doubt that even allowing for the genuine progress Andy Moran brought about as Leitrim manager, his recruitment by Monaghan to work as forwards coach was very much from the left of field.
Not only did it undoubtedly improve the Farney Army, it also made the power brokers in the land of green and red realise that – having already shafted one of their own in Kevin McStay – they couldn’t afford to let another slip through their fingers.
Thus Moran was – perhaps ahead of schedule – catapulted into the Mayo job. And the rest, as they say, is history. Why that is significant here is that erstwhile Monaghan boss Gabriel Bannigan plumped for our man to replace Moran but, when those who are the controllers in the famed stony grey soil left Bannigan feeling like he had no option but to stand down, it was very surprising that they had not chosen to include Andy in their replacement entourage.
Cest la vie. Monaghan’s loss could turn out to be Longford’s gain. His arrival in the Midlands mightn’t cause a storm like the one howling outside the window as this is being typed, but it will definitely whip up a stir. The man’s enthusiasm and passion are infectious, his commitment manic.
Have no doubt that in whatever interval there was between Longford Chairman Derek Fahy approaching him and the appointment being confirmed, as much forensic research as was humanely possible will have been undertaken.
And to be honest, if you are cognisant and accepting of what and where their starting base is, it’s not a bad time at all to be setting up base camp in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
For one thing because prior to leaving the blue and gold high and dry to take up a role with neighbours and rivals Offaly Mike Solan had steered them to promotion in the league.
Equally if not more importantly though the county won the Leinster Minor Championship a few years ago so there’s obviously plenty of young talent in the county as well.
Add to that club teams like St Columba’s and Kiloe and Clonguish have been no strangers to punching above their weight at provincial level.
So there’s plenty of artillery for the new boss to work with and that he most certainly will. Watch this space!