Seán Boylan, Meath and rewriting history

Sir — Under the guise of a half-page “review” of the TV documentary Seán, Tommy Conlon’s vitriolic attack on

Meath football of the 1980s-’90s must be challenged. I hold no brief for the documentary maker, but I am a proud native of Co Meath and co-author with Seán Boylan of his 2006 autobiography The Will to Win.

The big question that puzzles Conlon and “fans of the game” is: “How could such a nice man send out such brutish teams?”

Does Conlon as a sports journalist need reminding that in Boylan’s 23-year reign as manager Meath won the 1984 Centenary Cup, competed in seven All-Ireland finals, winning four of them, three National Leagues and eight Leinster titles. Does he really, really want us to believe those titles were won by brutish, unashamedly cynical teams?

According to your writer, the documentary involved “the rewriting of history and the whitewashing of inconvenient facts”. I respectfully suggest that exact charge be laid at Conlon’s door. I further respectfully suggest you read your article again and then apologise to Boylan and Meath football. I won’t be holding my breath.

John Quinn

Clarinbridge, Co Galway

Conlon displays a lack respect

Sir — I dispute emphatically Tommy Conlon’s claim that Seán Boylan’s teams won All-Irelands assisted by “a few mullockers who could barely kick the ball out of their way”. It’s only sport, but that’s disgraceful journalism. It shows no respect for the warriors in every county who have earned a Celtic Cross.

Conlon should know

‘donkeys don’t win derbies’ and ‘mullockers’ don’t win AllIrelands. Conlon correctly points out “Galway won the 1998 AllIreland with their sweeping style and flair”. Tommy, they were playing Kildare!

Seán and his wife Tina have visited Mayo to see their son playing for Achill and the Mayo Juniors. I have been lucky enough to meet them at matches. A cordial and genial couple. No facades there, Tommy.

Deaglán O Déagh

Ballina, Co Mayo

A petty and unnecessary rant

Sir — The article by Tommy Conlon last Sunday about

Seán Boylan was a disgrace, an anti-Meath rant that was petty and unnecessary. Conlon has questioned the decency of Boylan and at least two generations of Meath players and used his column to belittle the achievements of these men.

To read the article you would think no Meath player was injured or hurt in all those years, no other teams made tough challenges and no players from other teams were sent off.

Conlon would have us believe that since Boylan retired, all is well with the game. In recent years we have witnessed some of the worst games of football ever seen in Croke Park — brawls before games, brawls in tunnels, diving, sledging, eye-gouging and players feigning injury to waste time to name but a few, and not a Meath man in sight.

Mr Conlon whitewashes all this in his crusade to undermine what were great achievements. This was the way the game was played at the time, Meath did not invent it, but they knew how to play it. You don’t hear players or managers from that time complaining.

Gary Geraghty

Drogheda, Co Louth