Fitzgerald in as new Meath hurling boss

NICK Fitzgerald was ratified to succeed Martin Ennis as Meath senior hurling manager at last week’s county committee meeting in Dunganny.

The Kildalkey club man and Waterford native, who led Meath minor hurlers to an All-Ireland B success recently, will have multiple All-Ireland hurling winners Martin Comerford and Michael Kavanagh as selectors.

Between them the Kilkenny duo amassed 14 All-Ireland senior hurling championship medals and seven All-Star awards with the Cats. A third selector, from within Meath, will be added at a later date.

Fe U-18 chairman John Kavanagh was critical of what he called a lack of respect from Croke Park for the All-Ireland Minor B hurling final between Meath and Down at Clones recently.

Kavanagh pointed out that Clones wasn’t noted as a hurling venue and said the grass wasn’t cut, there were no nets behind the goals and no national anthem played before the game. He said that wasn’t acceptable for an All-Ireland final and he also noted that Croke Park had attempted to discontinue the competition this year.

The use of a new a video monitoring system for disciplinary purposes at under-age games came in for criticism, with a number of delegates stating that it was an unacceptable development and should be discontinued.

Secretary Francis Flynn informed delegates he had received a request from Coiste na nOg for permission to implement a video monitoring system for underage games.

Coiste na nOg official Ciaran Flynn said the video which was used at one game was carried by one person, a sideline official, to illustrate the lack of discipline along the sideline by some team mentors. However the new concept could be short-lived as its use is due to be discussed at a forthcoming management meeting.

In reply to a query from Skryne delegate Oliver Harrington, chairman Conor Tormey indicated that fund-raising events for Meath GAA in the United States and Europe would be held in the future. The county committee’s first-ever fundraiser abroad took place in New York last April and proved a massive success, boosting the Royal County coffers to the tune of $250,000.

A function to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Meath’s 1967 All-Ireland senior football win will be held in the Knightsbrook Hotel this Friday. There will be a presentation to the players of that team on the night. A limited number of tickets at €35 are available for the function on a first come first served basis.

This year’s annual convention takes place on Monday December 11th in the O’Mahony’s clubhouse.