Cillian O’Sullivan appointed captain of the Meath footballers

CILLIAN O’SULLIVAN has been confirmed as Meath’s new football captain for the upcoming Championship campaign.

he Moynalvey club member has taken over the armband from Shane McEntee, who flew to Mali in March for a six-month tour of duty with the Irish Armed Forces. Meath opens his Leinster SFC campaign on May 1 against either Laois or Wicklow.

O’Sullivan initially took over the role after McEntee’s departure, but in his absence through injury, full-back Conor McGill stepped in as captain for Meath’s last league game against Derry last Sunday week.

The heeled O’Sullivan is no stranger to manager Andy McEntee, who mentored the player as a minor in 2012 when the Royals lost the All-Ireland MFC Final to Dublin.

Shane McEntee, son of Andy, was also part of this team and also rose through the ranks. He took over as captain last year, succeeding joint captains Bryan Menton and Donal Keogan, but then announced a month ago that he was stepping down for an Army mission overseas.

McEntee’s last assignment as skipper was against Offaly in late February; A week later he played for his club St. Peter’s of Dunboyne. “Last Saturday was my last appearance on the soccer field for the time being,” he announced at the time.

“It has been an incredible honor to have been my county captain for the last 12 months and while watching from afar will not be easy, I am delighted to be doing my first overseas assignment with the Irish Armed Forces.

“These two passions in my life have complemented each other beautifully, with many of the lessons I’ve learned in one area being equally applicable to the other. I look forward to drawing on these experiences and gaining many more over the next six months.”