Seamus McEnaney’s reign as manager of the Monaghan senior football team is over after he decided not to put his name forward for nomination for the role.
McEnaney was said to be angry at the fact that he had to compete and be interviewed for a position he has held for six years.
It looked as if he was set to continue as manager of the team until a meeting of the county board last week, when delegates present voted 29-19 in favour of seeking other nominees, meaning that ‘Banty’ would have to reapply for the job if he wished to continue as manager of the Farney men.
Following that meeting, members of the Monaghan panel issued a strongly-worded statement outlining their support for McEnaney and their anger that he had to go through the process of putting his name forward for nomination, despite his excellent record with the county during his six-year reign.
McEnaney released a statement this morning in which he confirmed that he would not be submitting his name for nomination and wished the team every success in the future.
Seamus McEnaney’s statement in full:
“Last week I released a statement that said I would take some time to think about the Monaghan county board’s decision to open up the manager’s position for 2011 to nominations.
“Today I am confirming that I will not have my name submitted as a nominee for the manager’s position for 2011. I believe that this is in the best interest of Monaghan football and indeed every decision I have ever made as Monaghan team manager has been guided by that principle.
“I would like to thank the Monaghan county board and in particular John Connolly, the chairman who gave me the opportunity to manage my native county team, a post I was honoured and privileged to hold. Thank you to my club Corduff Gaels for their devoted support. I must also pay tribute to the Monaghan clubs, supporters and team sponsors all of whom contributed to the progress of Monaghan football. To every member of my backroom team and every person that helped in any way over the 6 years, only you know who you are, I am sincerely thankful. A special thanks to Niall McNally, who was my co-ordinator and a great help from day one.
“I would like to offer my sincere thanks to this group of players as their commitment, endeavour, attitude and loyalty to the progress of Monaghan football over the last 6 years has been enormous. The players are the jewel in the crown. We, as a management team strived to give them the best so that they could get the best out of themselves. We built and shared a special bond.
“I am leaving with a life-time of memories from the good days and bad. To give just a small example of the progress this group of players has given Monaghan football. I was one of only 20 Monaghan supporters in Carlow for a NFL game in February 2004 and to witness 20,000 Monaghan supporters in Clones in July 2010 highlights the incredible work these players have done. This progress has been driven from the front by our two outstanding captains, Vinny Corey and Damien Freeman.
“My family are steeped in the GAA; we love and support its activities at every level. My family have supported me totally on this wonderful journey. None more so than my wife Rosemarie and my four children and for this I am very grateful to them. My time as manager brought many demands with it but also brought enormous enjoyment to our family life too.
“For a team to progress you need everybody going the one direction; management, players, county board, clubs, supporters and sponsors. This has been the solid foundation that has served us well over the last six years and it is with this that I would encourage everybody concerned to move on and continue to make further progress as the progression of Monaghan football is of the upmost importance at this time. I leave this post wishing the team every success in the year ahead.”
