Inside Track: County minor team boss should be in place by now

It should be known by now who is to manage the Louth minor team next year. A decision was made at last night’s County Board meeting, too late for this page to carry the result.

The smart money before the meeting was on Eamonn McEneaney. The former manager of this county’s and his native Monaghan’s senior team, is said to have been the choice of the committee named to find a successor to Jonny Clerkin.

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Former Cooley Kickhams and O’Rahilly’s footballer Clerkin was at the helm for the last three years – in the last of them, he guided his team to the Leinster final and after that an All-Ireland quarter-final.

In both matches, particularly the first one in which Offaly provided the opposition, a win was firmly on the cards, but wasn’t nailed, each ending in a one-point defeat. Victory over Roscommon would have put Louth through to a first All-Ireland semi-final since 1953.

Clerkin was said to be anxious to continue, he being one of a number who applied for the job. He had Gavin Devlin working alongside him this year, and if again back in situ, won’t have the new senior boss on his side, but, at the same time, not too far away.

McEneaney has experience in all grades. He guided Geraldines to two minor titles and to another final, and while filling the role of the county’s senior team manager, between 2006 and 2009, was on the line for a provincial junior championship win.

Joined by selectors Stephen Melia, Séamus O’Hanlon and Pat Mulligan, McEneaney had his best day when the seniors beat Donegal in the 2006 replayed National League Division Two final. Several of the Donegal players that day went on to win All-Ireland medals in 2012.

Louth hopes of a good championship win after that were dashed in a game with Meath that had the Reds in great form in the first half, leading comfortably, but unable to score after the interval.

That was only a minor blip, however. Next up in the All-Ireland qualifiers were Sam Maguire Cup-holders, Tyrone, and in a Páirc Tailteann thriller that went to extra-time, Louth gave as good as they got, the champions needing a very late point from Eoin Mulligan to draw.

Paddy Keenan had a tremendous tussle with Seán Cavanagh at midfield, and Jamie Carr had probably his best game with the county. Ray Finnegan soloed 50 yards before beating Pascal McConnell in the Tyrone goals.

The replay took place at Healy Park, Omagh, the decision this going to the home side.

Whether or not McEneaney got the nod last night, those particular games in his time with the seniors are worth recording.