FORMER LOUTH FOOTBALL boss Eamonn McEneaney has been ratified by the Monaghan GAA county board as the county’s new football manager, succeeding Seamus McEnaney.

The tenure of the latter McEnaney, who had succeeded Colm Coyle in 2004, had ended this year – but he had been nominated for the vacancy by eight clubs, and had stated that he would be willing to take on the role again had he not been expected to sit an interview.

“I have done the job for six years, they know what there is to know about how I operate and what I can do – what would they need to be interviewing me for?,” he had said.

McEnaney had taken the Oriel county to two Ulster finals, including the 2010 decider, and to Division One of the National Football League

At last night’s county board meeting, however, delegates opted to give the job to the ex Louth manager who had previously represented the Farneymen at inter-county level.

Louth coach between 2006 and 2009, McEneaney had been managing the Mayobridge club in Co Down but had expressed unease at opposing the incumbent boss.

He had won Division Two of the League, according to the Dundalk Democrat, as well as the Tommy Murphy Cup, and had brought Louth to the last 12 of the All-Ireland championship during his tenure.

McEneaney will be manager for the coming season but will require ratification for further terms thereafter.

Other candidates had included former Clontibret coach Mick O’Dowd and the county’s current minor boss Bernie Murray.