BY HARRY WALSH
As the countdown to this year's County Convention continues, it has emerged that one of the best known figures in the game will not contest a position and step away from the Executive come Sunday, December 13.
Brian McEniff, who led Donegal to their greatest moment when he masterminded the 1992 All Ireland final win over Dublin, has served as Donegal's delegate on the GAA Central Council for the past sixteen years.
Speaking to the Donegal News on Wednesday night, McEniff confirmed that he will be stepping aside even though he has been nominated for the position of both Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
"I've decided to spend more time looking after my own business interests. I've been the Central Council delegate for the last sixteen years and I've been involved for the best part of forty years. Plus, I don't think it does any harm to see a few new faces on the Executive.
"That said, I'll never be too far away. I'm still on the Stadium Committee in Croke Park and I'll be more than willing to help out in any way I can," he said.
Mr McEniff, who celebrated his birthday earlier this week, is the Director of Brian McEniff hotels.
"Things are tough in the hospitality industry at the present time and I feel I need to focus all my energy in that particular direction," he added.
With Brian McEniff taking a step back, it looks increasingly likely that the new County Chairman will be Mac Cumhaills man PJ McGowan when delegates meet in Dorrian's Hotel. He will succeed Sean Kelly while Naul McCole (chairman in 1992) is being tipped as the new vice-chair.
unbroken
Since he first dabbled in the world of Donegal GAA upon his return from Canada in the mid-1960s, McEniff's association with the games in the county has been unbroken and he has served as a player, manager and administrator.
In his playing days, he won seven Donegal County Championships with St Joseph's, while in 1972 he was player-manager of the first Donegal team to win an Ulster Championship.
That same year, McEniff broke the mould for individual success for Donegal players when he became the first ever Donegal man to be awarded an All Star.
Two years later, he was wing-back and still in the player-manager role as Donegal landed a second provincial success with victory over Down.
McEniff, who played Championship football for Donegal between 1966 and 1975, was succeeded as manager by John Hannigan in '75, but he returned again for a second term between 1976 and '77.
A third opportunity at glory arose in 1989 and three years later he led Donegal to their greatest moment when he masterminded the '92 win over Dublin.
Having stepped down as boss in '94, it looked as if that was that at intercounty management level, but in 2003 - after he, as County Board Chairman, stepped in to fill the gap following Mickey Moran's departure - the oracle was worked again when he took Donegal through the Qualifiers and into a semi final.
McEniff also had a 25-year stint as manager of the Ulster Railway Cup team, while he has managed the Irish team for the International Rules series against Australia.
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