McEnaney's Monaghan reign ends

GAELIC FOOTBALL NEWS:PAUL GRIMLEY has ruled himself out of the list of candidates to replace Séamus McEnaney as Monaghan football manager after the incumbent's six-year term ended on a sour note yesterday.

Despite McEnaney seeking another term and receiving the support of the current panel, the clubs disagreed by insisting on a nomination and interview process that would have forced him to reapply like every other candidate.

Yesterday, in a 500-word statement, McEnaney confirmed his reign was over. In reality, it was concluded by the club delegates who are still simmering with the Monaghan players’ performance in the Ulster final on July 18th when they were crushed by Tyrone, 1-14 to 0-7.

On the pitch in Clones afterwards, McEnaney admitted it was the worst performance of his six years in charge.

Six days later Kildare dumped Monaghan out of the championship in the fourth-round qualifier to conclude a campaign that promised so much more after the early summer victories over Armagh and Fermanagh.

Grimley has been an assistant/coach in Armagh, under Joe Kernan, when they won the All-Ireland in 2002, Cavan and Kildare, with Kieran McGeeney, but his loyalty to McEnaney prohibits him from seeking the Monaghan manager’s position.

“That’s a non-runner because Séamus McEnaney took me to Monaghan last year and I feel huge disappointment that the county board, or whoever, has seen fit to go to nominations.

“There is an argument here that Monaghan hasn’t won a provincial title but they have been in two finals during a period when Armagh and Tyrone have dominated. What other manager in six years has brought his team from the fourth to first division and stayed there?

“Okay, there is no silverware but only half a dozen teams over the last decade have been consistently winning things. In some counties success is measured in different ways and I think Séamus has performed miracles in Monaghan.

“He has brought this team from the gutters up to the big time. I’d say he feels hugely let down. The players, to their credit, have stood by him.”

Grimley criticised the county board for allowing the management team, which also included Martin McElkennon, to be disbanded. “Administrators come into their own at this time of year and sometimes inexperience can be a major problem in the boardroom. It doesn’t stop on the football field.

“You get delegates who have never put on a pair of boots in their life and suddenly at this time of year they are Jack O’Shea’s midfield partner.

“I would have to feel for Séamus. He is a man who is extremely passionate. I mean this man sacrificed his family life and business life. People close to him would know the cost to him is huge. To be treated in what I feel is an underhand way is nothing short of a disgrace.”

McEnaney’s statement read: “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to this group of players as their commitment, endeavour, attitude and loyalty to the progress of Monaghan football over the last six years has been enormous. The players are the jewel in the crown.

“We, as a management team strived to give them the best so that they could get the best out of themselves. We built and shared a special bond. I am leaving with a lifetime of memories from the good days and bad.

“To give just a small example of the progress this group of players has given Monaghan football.

“I was one of only 20 Monaghan supporters in Carlow for a NFL game in February 2004 and to witness 20,000 Monaghan supporters in Clones in July 2010 highlights the incredible work these players have done.”

Meanwhile, along with RTÉ, BBC Two Northern Ireland will be showing live coverage of Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Down and Kildare.