O'Brien and McKenna move to Louth

Meath's All-Ireland u-21-winning hurling manager Philip O'Brien and selector Ken McKenna will make the move across the border into Louth next year to take charge of the hurlers in the Wee County for 2017.

O'Brien is also a monthly winner in the Meath Sports Awards and is in contention for the overall Meath Sportsperson of the Year accolade.

O'Brien and McKenna were central figures in the succcess this year of Meath's u-21 hurlers as they won the All-Ireland u-21B HC title at Semple Stadium in Thurles 12 months after a heartbreaking defeat at the same venue in 2015.

However, the Meath management team didn't have the best of preparations for the final against Mayo with a number of players involved in crucial club football championship games in the week before the Semple Stadium decider.

Accusations of 'encouraging players not to play football' were also levelled at the hurling management - a matter that was raised at the recent Co Board meeting in Dunganny where O'Brien asked the Co Board to withdraw a letter that they had issued over the matter.

A club also apologised to O'Brien at the meeting over the allegations.

Louth hurlers will begin their campaign in the Kehoe Cup in January and will be in action in the NHL Div 3A - one grade below Meath (2B) and will start on 19th February at home to Monaghan. They will also play Fingal, Tyrone and Donegal.