Meath manager Robbie Brennan has full backing of county board committee
His remarks followed a question from the floor regarding the sudden departures of Joe McMahon and Martin Corey from the senior set-up prior to the start of the Leinster championship.
The Chairperson said he received a phone call from the two coaches and met up with them where he was told they wouldn't be staying within the present set up. They gave different reasons for their departure citing differences of opinion.
Plunkett said there were different rumours circulating around the county but that he wasn't going to engage with the rumours and he and Meath GAA were firmly standing behind the manager and were fully supportive of him.
The Chairperson was also fulsome in his praise for Conor Gillespie who has stepped up to a coaching role within the management team.
Football Development Committee presentation
The Meath senior club championship is among the worst performing nationally and in Leinster, Chairperson of the Football Development Committee Conor O'Donoghue told delegates at the meeting.
O'Donoghue delivered a presentation on the ongoing projects of the Football Development Committee and highlighted the county's lack of success at senior club provincial level with just one final appearance over the past 21 years. He said Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Laois, Longford and Westmeath were all ahead of Meath based on results over the last number of years. Only Wicklow, Wexford and Kilkenny were below Meath. Too many teams are not realistically of senior standard, according to O'Donoghue.
In comparison the junior and intermediate club football championship was of a very high standard with very creditable performance by clubs in provincial competitions over the past 20 years. Meath clubs had nine Leinster championship wins at junior level while there were four successes for Meath clubs from 10 finals at intermediate level.
The performances of second level schools were also a cause for concern and were still a distance from where they need to be with the strongest school in the county, St Patrick's CS not performing nearly as well in recent years.
O'Donoghue said some schools were doing great work but greater support needed to be given to schools
He gave a broad assessment of what was working, what could be done better and what wasn't working at present on the football development landscape.
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He highlighted Academy Structures led by Paul Garrigan and Daithi McCabe as making great strides. The Adult Games Programme was also in good shape according to O'Donoghue as was the Club Pathway Programme which was available to every club in the county.
The Meath Game Model, a specific game model that Meath teams train to and play to across the board was also working well while an Athletic Curriculum overseen by Daithi McCabe was also in place and available to clubs.
Improvements were needed in the Club Pathway structures and O'Donoghue said the Regional Championship had worked well over the past three years and the feedback from players was excellent but it now needed to be reviewed going forward.
The senior development squad was also working quite well with the likes of Sean Coffey, Sean Rafferty and Sean Ryan stepping up to the senior team but more could be done according to O'Donoghue.
Pairc Tailteann redevelopment
In reply to a question from the St Paul's delegate concerning the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann Chairperson Jason Plunkett said they were still waiting on money from the Immigration Investment Programme and that the GAA and the government will not allow the project to commence until the county has a full financial package and can fully fund the stadium. The cost is in the region of €22m and they don't have that money at present.
The Chairperson sounded an optimistic note by saying they hoped to commence work by the end of this year or early 2026. However, he hinted that clubs might have to be levied if there is a shortfall.
Scoreboard
The scoreboard in Pairc Tailteann which was blown down during Storm Eowyn last January is set to be replaced with a similar structure.
Flynn Construction is the contractor and it is hoped that the new scoreboard will be in operation for games in the club championship.
Meath Supporters' Club
Chairperson Jason Plunkett encouraged club members to join the Meath Supporters' Club who he said were doing great work in raising funds for county teams. So far this year the Supporters' Club had raised €31,000 for county teams.
Stewards
The Chairperson also appealed to clubs to recruit as many stewards as possible for big match games in Pairc Tailteann. He said they needed to get some younger stewards with the next big game in the All-Ireland series on the weekend of May 24/25.
Popular Dunderry club man Tommy Nally, along with his son Tomas, will be guests of Leinster Council at this Sunday's Leinster final. Tommy is being rewarded for his service as a steward in Pairc Tailteann and for caring for his son Tomas.
Referees
Louth GAA is ready to step in to help the recruitment of new referees in the Royal County. A recent referee's course in Meath had to be cancelled due to a lack of interest but now those seeking to complete the course are welcome to attend an upcoming referees' course taking part in Louth shortly.
Jim Curtis & Tom Duff RIP
Tributes were paid to Meath GAA president Jim Curtis and former 1954 county star Tom Duff at the meeting.
Both men were presidents of the Syddan club and delegate Aidan Dillon outlined their involvement with the club and expressed sympathy to the families of both men. Those sentiments were echoed by county Chairperson Jason Plunkett.
Sympathy was also extended to Mairead Delaney following the death of her brother Brendan Moran in the United States, Adrian Madden (Meath juvenile board) on the death of his dad Sean, John Leonard (Trim) on the death of his dad Connie and the family of the late Tom Lynch (Ballinlough).
The County Committee also offered their respects to all clergy on the death of Pope Francis.
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