BOYLAN TALKS SPORT Life and sport from an armchair view

If you haven’t seen the above line before, firstly where have you been? It is of the tagline for the website in conjunction with which this column is produced. Seriously, though, such has been the variety and complexity of the tumult engulfing aspects of the world in which particular interests are held, the line of thought was that it was the one banner under which comment could be made on all thereof.

From the time copy was submitted for last week’s edition, a promise was made to oneself that, if it were humanely possible, comment matters regarding the management of the Meath senior football team would be refrained from. But it wasn’t. Firstly due to the understandable disquiet among club delegates at last week’s Co Board meeting about the way in which Colm O’Rourke was treated by the process. And by extension, the same applies to Sean Boylan.

One club representative, who asked to remain anonymous, commented “the whole review process seems to have been a farce”, while another individual deeply rooted in all things Meath GAA lamented: “what an insult to two men who have each dedicated half a century of their lives to the betterment of not just Meath GAA but the Association at large. Possibly the greatest player ever to pull on a Meath jersey and one of the greatest managers GAA or any sport was graced by, cast aside like a chewed piece of gum”.

Those taking the easy way out by insisting Colm ‘stepped down of his own volition’ can spare me. If he was stepping down of his own doing, it would’ve most likely been done in the wake of the defeat by Monaghan or at some other time of Colm’s choosing.

It most certainly wouldn’t have been bulldozed into a two-and-a-half week period. There was absolutely no need for a backroom team to be in place until the end of October at the earliest.If they were in such a rush to know the composition of his backroom team, will the Brains Trust be as quick to rocket in his replacement and insist on their backroom team be in situ immediately? Aye, and you might see pigs booking airline tickets!

Last week, reference was made in this space to the whirlwind of emotions ruminating within yours truly pertaining to this entire subject area. Well, it appears the more you learn, the worse that becomes. Frustration has been generated to the greatest degree by the unnecessary, abrupt and highly insulting manner in which Colm O’Rourke – and others working with him – have been treated over the past few weeks. And for what? The infuriating irony being that, some if not all of those touted as his possible replacements are…wait for it…currently involved with clubs and thus presumably unable to assume their roles until, well, the end of October at the earliest. I know, make it make sense.

It just gives the impression that one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing. Naturally, there is a desire bordering on necessity to have business expedited as efficiently as possible, but, you’d have thought that would have been an across the board policy.

As in, the same for all teams. At least in terms of all county teams. But such is obviously not the case in relation to the senior hurlers. At the last Board meeting, Ray O’Connor of St Peter’s was given the reins with the Royal Minor stickmen while Seanie Corrigan will, in fact, continue with the U-20s after initially indicating otherwise.

Yet there was still no white smoke with regard to the senior position other than confirmation that Pat O’Halloran had, regrettably, withdrawn his candidacy while former Westmeath camogie manager Diarmuid Cahill was described as “unsuccessful” - which I can only assume means he couldn’t get a proposer and/or seconder.

As for where that leaves the process of appointing a new Meath senior hurling manager, your guess is as good as mine. Selective urgency, it seems.

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In other sports, however, business continues apace. Which, from a Meath perspective, has been highly significant. Darragh Lenihan has still to make his seasonal return for Middlesbrough following a long term Achilles tendon injury.

Elsewhere, his fellow parishioner and professional footballer Josh Keeley crossed another career milestone when signing a new three year contract with Tottenham, though he has gone to Leyton Orient on loan for the remainder of the season.

Also on the move is Enfield lad Luke McNally, who has swapped recently relegated Burnley for Bristol City. Evan Ferguson is seemingly close to the conclusion of his recuperation from a long term injury, his inclusion in the recently released Republic Of Ireland squad would appear tenuous at best, as he has yet to figure this season with Brighton.

For Athboy’s Jamie McGrath, it’s been frustration of a different kind as, having made an encouraging start to the season - and been praised as such by Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin - the former Aston Villa player limped off during their 1-0 win over Ross County.

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The times they are a changin’ in horse racing. This segment could - and very nearly was - entirely devoted to what could quite easily be labelled a conspiracy against certain locally based individuals within the sport. But perhaps best - for now at least - to focus on how the face of the sport is changing in a different way.

Namely how smaller and/or predominantly jumps orientated yards are getting a foothold on the Flat. Now, while in the case of the latter, one local operator doing so gives me very mixed emotions, you’d have to be heartened by the sight of people like Gerry Keane, Adrian Murray and Pat O’Donnell garnering huge successes at Royal Ascot and York respectably.

However, at a time when the competitiveness of National Hunt racing here is under serious scrutiny, one of those considered to be the elite - Henry De Bromhead - has noticeably been having a greater presence on the Flat. Impactfully so too.

A vastly increased number of winners on the level here is one thing, sneaking the odd big pot in the UK is another, but on Sunday last, the Co Waterford-based handler broke new ground when collecting a Listed prize in Longchamp, France. It appears things have gone full circle, the Flat is more competitive and open than jump racing.

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It will be openly admitted that farming is brought into my writing at every available opportunity and no apology will be made for that. Mind you, on this occasion, it’s earnestly wished it didn’t have to be brought into the equation. But one couldn’t but take note of comments by trainer Chris Timmons after he had recently saddled a winner.

The Dunboyne man, who trains in Drumree, mentioned that his horses had been underperforming recently due to the proximity of a field of Oilseed Rape (OSR) to his yard. It’s not the first time OSR has been found to be problematic for racehorses and you’d just hope, for example, that the IHRB and the IFA Grain Committee could sit down and come to an amicable, workable solution.