O'Brien likely to be ratified again

Members of Meath GAA Co Committee will meet this week, but the position of senior football manager Eamonn O'Brien will not be discussed despite the fact that he will have to ratified if he is to serve another term at the helm. O'Brien is currently on holidays following Meath's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat by Kildare last Sunday week. Under the terms of his appointment, he will have to be ratified to serve another term by the Meath management committee and that will not happen until the September meeting of the Co Committee. "The management committee won't even discuss the matter at this week's meeting because we have to check with Eamonn first and he is currently on holiday," Co Committee chairman Barney Allen told the Meath Chronicle. The management committee will be busy discussing other matters, which will include some disciplinary issues, ahead of next Monday night's monthly meeting which will take place at Teach na Teamhrach, 8.0. However, it is unlikely that there will be a large media presence at this month's meeting. The July meeting was dominated by the fall-out from the Leinster SFC final victory over Louth when the management committee convened for a second session on the Tuesday night in the full glare of the national media. It is anticipated that O'Brien will be nominated for the position again by the management committee. That proposal will be put to club delegates at the monthly meeting in September and it's also anticipated that O'Brien will be ratified for a third term, at that stage. Interviews for the position of minor football manager are expected to conclude this week and it's likely that a candidate for that role is also anticipated for next Monday night's meeting. Former Kildare footballer Davy Dalton was at the helm this year for the first time and has been nominated again. It is is also understood that current u-17 team manager Stan Gibney (Ratoath) has been nominated. The Meath minor team competed in the Ulster MFL this year during which all the players in the panel had an opportunity to impress ahead of the Leinster MFC. Meath opened their campaign with a facile victory against Kilkenny and then lost to Offaly in the next round. However, the minor campaign was overshadowed by the untimely death of corner-forward Liam Tolan following a car accident on the night Meath exited the Leinster championship. Following last weekend's club football championship action, club hurling championship games are scheduled for this weekend with the final round of group games down for decision. There are also two Junior B FC quarter-finals with St Vincent's facing St Paul's at Ashbourne on Saturday evening, 7.30 and Seneschalstown facing St Mary's on Sunday (see A to Z page nine for all fixtures). Schedule Weekending 20th - 22nd August - football championship quarter-finals; relegation play-offs; 27th - 29th August - senior hurling championships quarter-finals, intermediate hurling semi-finals, relegation play-offs, JHC, Div 2 HC; 3rd - 5th September - football semi-finals, relegation play-offs; 10th - 12th September - Feis Cup Tailteann Cup; 17th - 19th September - hurling semi-finals, relegation play-offs; 26th September - football finals; 3rd October - hurling finals. League games will also be scheduled where feasible and all the dates are provisional. Meath minor hurlers will be in action this weekend and the u-21 hurlers will also be in action, possibly the following weekend. SFC quarter-finals - Rathkenny v Duleek/Bellewstown; Seneschalstown v Wolfe Tones; Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Skryne; Walterstown v Dunboyne; relegation play-off - St Ultan's v Simonstown Gaels; loser game one v Oldcastle; winner game one v Oldcastle (if necessary). IFC quarter-finals - Dunderry v Longwood (winner v Nobber); Gaeil Colmcille v Carnaross (winner v St. Michael's); relegation play-off - Kilmainhamwood v Castletown; loser game one v Clann na nGael; winner game one v Clann na nGael (if necessary). JFC quarter-finals - Dunsany v Donaghmore / Ashbourne; Ballinabrackey v Meath Hill; Moylagh v Drumbaragh; St Brigid's v Ballivor; relegation play-offs - Boardsmill v Gaeil Colmcille; Slane v Drumconrath; loser one v loser two.