MENTON: I THOUGHT MY MEATH DAYS WERE OVER

BRYAN Menton was content with his decision to retire from inter-county football and had closed the door on that part of his life - until the phone rang last autumn.

- BY KARL O'KANE

It was former Meath midfielder Conor Gillespie, who had just left his post as Summerhill manager and joined Robbie Brennan's Royals backroom team.

Menton at 33 and two years out of the inter-county game - assumed Gillespie was calling to get an opinion on the younger players in his club, Donaghmore Ashbourne.

However, it was Menton himself that Meath were after.