Banty could turn situation around – Devenney

Seamus McEnaney is one high-profile outside manager

The goings-on in Meath have been quite ludicrous over the last few weeks. With Sean Boylan stepping out and declaring an interest in the role as Meath manager, it seemed the stage was all set for Seamus McEnaney to effectively get the sack as the Royals coach.

This whole situation is only the end-game in a saga that has roots growing the past few years. When Eamonn O’Brien got to the All-Ireland semi-final and won a Leinster title, it seems that was not enough. Likewise, Eamonn Barry was given very rough treatment after an exemplary career on the Meath club circuit.

It wasn’t surprising to see that ‘Banty’ showed his face everywhere around Meath over the one weekend that he might have been excused from hiding away from the world. As he says himself, he has never walked away from a fight. It is true that someone like Banty can receive a lot of positive publicity in the media darling because of his friendly, matey nature, but friendly people tend to do better in general.

He is one of the GAA’s great survivors, but the fact that he is still there is strange. Meath face Wickow in the Championship, and if they can get past that challenge, they have a very poor Carlow team up next. Winning those games leaves them in a Leinster semi-final against Kildare, and we know how those games can go.

Banty is under fire in April, but he could be cheered off the pitch in July. That’s just the way it is in the GAA.