Final whistle sounds on Meath Festival of Football

The week-long FAI Festival of Football drew to a close today when the Association's long-awaited Annual General Meeting was held at the Knightbrook Hotel. 

Up to 160 delegates from all over the Republic of Ireland descended on the popular venue to discuss mattters relating to the governance of soccer in the country. 

The AGM was preceded on Friday night by the an FAI dinner at which awards were handed out with Enfield Celtic getting the 'Club of the Year Merit award - a magnificent achievement for the south Meath outfit. 

One of the most controversial decisions in the lead up to the AGM surrounded the decision by President Donal Conway to remain on in the position citing a recent report that suggested at least two members of the out-going board should remain in place as part of a new interm board.

Conway was re-elected with 134 of the 140 delegates entitled to vote agreed that he whould be re-appointed. Paul Cooke was also elected as the new vice-president. A new board was also ratified although there are still more positions to be filled by experts in various areas. 

The local game was represented at the AGM by Gerry Gorman the secretary of the NEFL,  who was representing the Leinster FA and Declan Jordan who was the NEFL delegate. 

The AGM was adjurned until late this year in order to allow time for the Association's finances to be clarified. This follows recent controversies surrounding the position of the governing body and the state of its finances with UEFA believed to be about to give the Association somewhere between €10 million and €20 million to help it out of its current difficulties. 

 The Festival of Football involved well known soccer personalities such as Richard Dunne and Mick McCarthy visiting the 38 clubs around the county. 

Gorman said in his view the Festival was a big success. "How the clubs in Meath presented themselves was fantastic in all cases," added Gorman. 

It was also announced at the Annual General Meeting, that six people have been elected to an Interim FAI Board, by their respective constituencies.

The six elected members are:
National Leagues: 
Martin Heraghty and Dick Shakespeare

Amateur Adult Football:
John Finnegan and Dave Moran

Schoolboys and Schoolgirls:
John Earley

Others and Affiliates:
Joe O’Brien
Four further independent members will be added to the 12-person board in the coming weeks.

The 2019 FAI Annual General Meeting will reconvene later this year at a yet unannounced date, when the annual accounts are published.

SEE A COLOUR PIECE FROM THE AGM IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE 

The video below was put together by the FAI and shows episodes from the week's Festival of Football in Meath.