Mick O’Dowd will remain as Meath manager

All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final between Tipperary and Galway pushed back to 4pm

Mick O’Dowd has had his tenure as Meath senior football manager extended by two years following a county board meeting on Monday night.

The Meath Executive Committee made the decision without the issue going to a vote on the night. Despite a very disappointing campaign this year the committee had previously made their support for O’Dowd clear after three years at the helm, and so after some discussion his position was not put to a vote.

O’Dowd took over at the start of the 2013 season, and despite back-to-back Leinster finals this summer was a disappointing one after a first ever championship defeat to Westmeath ended their provincial aspirations, before Tyrone ended their summer outright.

Following the departure of his two selectors Seán Kelly and Trevor Giles, as well as coaches Eamon and Colm Brady who stepped away following this year's league, O'Dowd is now on the look out for a new back room team.

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There will be a review of his performances following the 2016 season but if all goes well O'Dowd will have been in the hot seat for five seasons, the last manager to do any more than two in the county was Sean Boylan who stepped down 10 years ago.

Meanwhile Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final between Tipperary and Galway has been pushed back to the later time of 4pm, following the minor semi-final replay between Galway and Kilkenny and the second minor semi-final between Dublin and Tipperary.

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue is a former Irish Times journalist