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Barry was denied permission to speak at the meeting last night. INPHO/ Tom Honan

Meath GAA are the laughing stock of the country, says Barry

The former manager has described recent events surrounding the county as “a complete farce”.

FORMER MEATH MANAGER Eamonn Barry says the county are “the laughing stock of the country” following last night’s controversial meeting to vote on the future of manager Seamus McEnaney.

The manager ultimately survived in his role, despite 43 Meath delegates voting to oust him from his position.

Barry was denied permission to speak at the meeting by chairman Barney Allen, and while saying that “you have to respect [Allen's decision],” he proceeded to heavily criticise the chairman.

Speaking on Off the Ball, Barry said:

“The whole thing turned into a complete farce. I knew for a fact that Sean [Boylan] had resigned as Director of Football, because I had been at his house. I was shocked when I heard the chairman say Sean hadn’t resigned, when every well-informed club official knew he had.”

He suggested that Allen was being deliberately misleading, and said that he had secretly offered Boylan the job, while claiming that he assumed McEnaney would resign as the pressure on him mounted.

However, he defended Boylan’s role in the saga, saying:

“The real loser is unfortunately Sean Boylan. He was dragged into it. How the county chairman could offer Sean the position [when McEnaney was still in the role] was a complete shock… Sean will do anything to help his county.”

Barry also advocated the creation of an independent chief executive-style position, which other counties have already adopted, as he claimed Meath GAA “need a review conducted from the top”.

The Royals were recently relegated to the third tier of the National Football League, following their defeat to Louth.

Read: It’s D-Day (again): Galway name team for relegation replay>

Read: ‘Relieved’ McEnaney ready for Championship battle>

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16 Comments
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    Mute Thomas Mc Grory
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    Apr 19th 2012, 9:36 PM

    3rd Devision, best place to start learning how to play football.

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Apr 19th 2012, 10:17 PM

    If you think the rest of the country is sitting around waiting for a chance to laugh at Meath you are sadly mistaken, we have lives……..

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    Mute THE GRINDER
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    Apr 19th 2012, 11:28 PM

    meath footballers have a notion of their worth that is much removed from their ability and it doesnt matter a damn who manages them.
    A few all irelands and they think the football world revolves around them.

    get over it lads, ye have no more status in football than tipperary.

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    Mute Mark O Brien
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    Apr 19th 2012, 11:55 PM

    utter shite i suppose you know the team so you know that they have notions above their ability? and not many (if any) current players have won an all ireland so how would they think the world revolves around them for winning a few all irelands??

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    Mute Cian Walsh
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    Apr 20th 2012, 12:02 AM

    What sort of comment is that to make? Tipp have won the all-Ireland minor championship last year, beat Kerry last weekend at minor, have won the munster u-21 in recent years and have focused on development of young players in a bid to gain more recognition so I think you are wrong to compare Tipp to Meath

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    Mute Stephen
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    Apr 19th 2012, 11:51 PM

    Ironic that Louth sent them on their way to the third division !!!

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    Mute howzat
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    Apr 19th 2012, 9:50 PM

    There is a god

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Apr 20th 2012, 12:46 AM

    Meath play football ?

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    Mute James Dunphy
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    Apr 20th 2012, 6:32 AM

    What is ‘Meath’?

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    Mute Croneisha Jackson
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    Apr 20th 2012, 12:24 AM

    It don’t makes no damn difference how good MEATH be performing at that foozeball ! They still the ROYAL county and that how it always gonna be ! Croneisha speaks !

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    Mute Aodhan O Cuana
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    Apr 20th 2012, 10:17 AM

    A fockin ligind response…

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    Mute Dexter Gordon
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    Apr 20th 2012, 12:26 AM

    Yawn .. who cares

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    Mute Niall Fitzpatrick
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    Apr 20th 2012, 7:10 AM

    He’s being a bit hard on Meath thinking that it’s the laughing stock of Ireland , not everyone cares about the GAA. There, I hope that makes him feel better.

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    Mute Peter McQuillan
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    Apr 20th 2012, 11:58 AM

    The problem with Meath football can be linked to the Celtic tiger. With the boom times the city dwelling dub found he had a few euros in his pocket and started to look around for somewhere nice to live. He saw the rolling hills of Meath and thought it would be a great place to live. The Meath man at first welcomed the dub with open arms and sold him some land at a very nice price. However the Meath man didn’t realise he was selling his soul. Because now instead of every young Meath man out training every night in the rain and sleet and wind they were at home playing on the Xbox and play station and watching porn on the tinternet paid for with the dubs gold and this made the Meath man weak. And now we are in division 3 I blame it all on Bertie

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    Mute Karl Harty
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    Apr 20th 2012, 1:41 PM

    another tool blaming everything on the government. remove your head from the boghole. bad management and bad selection and hopefully a nice bit of karma got meath in the dire position they are in.

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    Mute Croneisha Jackson
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    Apr 20th 2012, 12:41 PM

    Laaaawd Jesus !

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