Mick O'Dowd was unanimously given the green light to become Meath's sixth senior football team manager in nine years at the October county board meeting in Aras Tailteann, Navan.

After Sean Boylan stepped aside following a marathon 23 years at the helm, there has been no shortage of controversy surrounding the position with the Dunboyne man's successor, Eamonn Barry, only getting a stormy one term and Colm Coyle, Eamon O'Brien and Seamus McEnaney two each.

Two years ago the proposal to reappoint O'Brien for a third term was shot down by the delegates who last April did not give sufficient support to the county executive's decision that McEnaney be removed for the motion to be carried.

O'Dowd' has been handed a three-year term and his selectors in 2013 will be former Skryne team-mate Trevor Giles, who was on McEnaney's management team this year, and Sean Kelly, who has managed a number of teams and guided Navan O'Mahonys to their last SFC success in 2008.

Meath will also have a new under-21 football manager in 2013 with Sean Barry of the Simonstown Gaels club taking over from Liam Harnan. Barry, who was in charge of the Simonstown senior side this year and was with Sean Kelly for O'Mahonys' last SFC success in 2008. He was full-back for Dublin's All-Ireland MFC success in 1984.

Barry's selectors are three former Meath county senior players, Padraig Lyons, Tom Hanley and Cormac Sullivan.

Andy McEntee, who guided Meath to the All-Ireland minor football final this year, will continue in charge of the Royals' under-18s while former Offaly player Cillian Farrell can look forward to a third term with the county senior hurlers.

Meath will also have a new sponsor with Tayto Park taking over from the Comer Group for all football teams in a two year deal. Tweet

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