Andy McEntee has stepped down as the manager of the Meath senior footballers after a six-year reign.
The Dunboyneman said he will not seek another term for the Royals after their All-Ireland exit at the hands of Clare on Saturday.
McEntee said: “After completing 6 years as manager of the Meath Football team, I am stepping down from the position and will not be seeking a third term.
"It has been an honour to have been manager of the Meath Senior Football team and I’d like to thank the Chairperson of Coiste na Mí, John Kavanagh and former chairpersons Peter O’Halloran and Conor Tormey for their full support during my tenure.
"But most of all I’d like to thank all the players and management teams that I have worked with over the years. I wish the county every success in the future.”
The 1-11 to 1-09 defeat to Clare brought the curtain down on an uninspiring campaign for Meath who were previously ruthlessly dispatched by Dublin in a Leinster Championship semi-final.
The wide-margin loss to Dublin, an unfortunate theme of McEntee's reign, followed on the back of a league campaign that saw Meath only record two victories from seven matches in Division 2.
Meath GAA said this evening: "Coiste na Mí would like to put on record our thanks to Andy McEntee and his management team for all the work and time invested into Meath football over the last 6 years.
"Andy’s commitment and dedication to the players in particular and to Meath football, in general, has been extraordinary. A high point was the county reaching Division 1 of the league and the “Super 8s” series.
"We wish Andy and his management team every best wish and success in the future.
"Coiste na Mí will now begin the process to appoint a new Senior Football Manager."
McEntee was appointed Meath manager in 2016 after guiding Dublin club Ballyboden St Enda’s to their first-ever All-Ireland club championship title earlier that year.
The highlight of McEntee's time in charge of the Royals was the 2019 season when they sealed promotion to Division 1 and also booked a place in the Super 8s.
It was a narrow victory over Clare that booked their spot in the Super 8s that season, but they were undone by the Banner on Saturday in what proved to be McEntee's final game in charge.
Among those to defend McEntee's time in charge of his native county was his daughter Aisling who strongly condemned online abuse of her father during his time as Meath boss.
She wrote on social media: "I really hope the next manager doesn’t have a family with access to social media.
"I also hope I never raise anyone to be as pathetic as to abuse people from behind a keyboard. Would they put in an ounce of the effort and dedication he did?…doubtful."
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