How insensitive for Liam Hayes to suggest that the prospect of being interviewed by Barney Allen, TJ Reilly and Francis Flynn for the position of Meath senior football manager had all the appeal of being bumped off by a bullet in the head (Sport, 16 November). Not a very wise crack just after a sportsman was brutally killed in Limerick.

Does Hayes seriously expect readers to believe that he was genuinely interested in becoming manager of the Meath senior football team? The former star is correct with his assertion that Meath football has slipped somewhat since the glory days but it hasn't yet reached such a low ebb that the 'combined Gaelic football genius' of Barney Allen, TJ Reilly and Francis Flynn were ever going to touch him with a barge pole.

Hayes states that Luke Dempsey was far and away the best and most experienced candidate for the job. The reality is he was never going to be the new manager, even if he received the full backing of the Meath management committee. Not that Hayes would know much about Meath football at grassroots level. Has he ever attended club/ county games since he retired from playing?

He seems to imply that the only reason Eamonn O'Brien got the job was because he managed the chairman's club side. He also incorrectly states that O'Brien miraculously on several occasions saved Rathkenny from relegation. In his first year in charge, O'Brien led Rathkenny to an intermediate title and in their first season in senior they reached the quarter finals. What he omitted from his column is that O'Brien was a selector with Sean Boylan when Meath won two All-Irelands and were beaten in another final; he is also a widely respected figure and has the full support of the county.

Hayes paints a pretty bleak and negative picture of the GAA in his native county and no doubt his article got plenty of mileage with the 'corner boys' and know-all brigade.

Truth is Meath football is a lot better off with Eamonn O'Brien than they would ever be with Liam Hayes. The whole county can- not wait for the 2009 GAA season to begin.

Seán Wall,

Davidstown, Slane, Co Meath.