Meath…1-14
Dublin…1-27
Regardless of what transpired between the lines, what you are about to read hereafter was always going to be a story of two halves. However, even if there was a semblance a script in mind it could be torn up before the chariot conveying yours truly had docked on the fourth floor of the Cusack Stand. Now read on…
Some of you will know, more won’t, that prior to today, the last time this writer was in situ for a meeting of the old foes was the occasion upon which Cian Ward pulled off a most unlikely rescue mission for Meath in 2007.
Now, perhaps making a decision whilst attending a game nursing a broken foot wasn’t the wisest move ever made but it’s a call which has been lived happily enough. That is to say, very reluctantly indeed, it was decided to refrain from attending Meath-Dublin games, at senior level.
Reasoning being that (a) the disabled viewing facilities were more O’Byrne Cup than Sam Maguire, (b) the process of getting into and out thereof wasn’t worth the hassle involved therein and (c) an ELEMENT of the opposing support base tend to be a tad overly boistrous when lauding the achievments of their own and heaping sneery derision on the shortcomings of their opponents.
Before anyone mounts their high horses, a few points. One, there are asshole Meath supporters too. That make a show of themselves and the county. That have obviously forgotten the old adage imparted by a dear departed friend to the effect of ‘Never forget the people who were with you on the way up, you might need them on the way back down’.
All too well is it recalled, the day Meath defeated Kerry by 2-14 to 0-05 in the 2001 All Ireland semi final. Every Meath players touch greeted with Ole in the final ten minutes. Stuff like that always comes back to bite you in the arse.
Then, there’s another side to the situation. So-called ‘supporters’ who turn their backs on their own. Kicking them when they’re down. When they in fact need backing most of all. Thus, it was wholly disspiriting to see a paltry 38,081 on my return to the big field. Among which there was barely the full of two coach loads of ‘Loyal Royals’.
And so we arrive at the first plot twist. It was originally felt one would have to, yet again, decry the poor disabled facilities in GAA HQ. Though before detailing the re-draft, it should be pointed out that the improvement in circumstances for this corner only came about due to knowing people in the right places with the right contacts. Not everybody is that fortunate. The ‘Better deal’ shouldn’t be the lottery it quite literally is.
Today, once conveyance into the stadium was sorted, as someone who has been rolling into the Dublin 3 venue for 32 years, it was a little bit emotionally overwhelming to be brought in a new (to me) wheelchair entrance and guided to our slot on in Section 405.
Yes, there are still further improvements which could be implimented, but today’s transformation was like going from the cargo hold to Business Class. For that, mile buichos to whomever made it possible.
Sadly, that was where the good news for the day ended. Look, as much as it was earnestly hoped with every fibre of my being that the outcome might have been different, Dublin’s victory in the match wouldn’t exactly have had editors holding the back page.
What hurts most tonight is the limp nature of the rebuttle presented by Meath and ease with which Dessie Farrell’s side swatted that counter offensive away. That Dublin were first out of the traps in terms of scoring would be no shock or cause for alarm.
Over the years, clawing back deficits became something of a signature move for the Royal County. Thus, when Andy McEntee’s troops roused themselves from being four points in arrears to make it 0-03 to 0-06 on the quarter hour, it appeared there may be a decent contest afoot.
In reality, all that succeeded in doing was poking the bear. Dublin simply ignited and left Meath caught behind their dust cloud like Wyle E. Koyote after Roadrunner had devoured the seed.
Ciaran Kilkenny, Cormac Costello and Dean Rock must have given the white flag umpire a repetitive strain injury picking up the tool of his trade. Never before has a football team been seen scoring 0-17 in the run up to half time.
But then the situation went from bad to worse when Tipperary official Derek O’Mahoney produced the latest in a catalogue of horrendous decisions against Meath when awarding the Dubs a penalty on the run in to half time.
In the epitome of a dire decision, if it was anywhere else on the field it wouldn’t have even been a foul. And it wasn’t there either. Regrettably though, only if you were to cling to the old maxim of former Irish rugby coach Mick Doyle – Lord rest him – that “At least we won the second half” could any positivity be derived from the day’s events in the green and gold corner.
Rather, the major talking point of the day will most likely be the need for swathes of the Gaelic football world having to sit up and take notice that they haven’t gone away, you know. Perhaps mostly where the pale moon rises. Are they back to the Galactico status of a few years ago? Now isn’t the time to make that judgement.
The following may seem like an asinine assertion given that there were eventually 16 points between the sides, but, the boys in a blue are a completely different beast with James McCarthy in the team. For longevity and influence alone, he is not only the best all round player in the game at present, he stands out as the symbol of a golden era for Dublin.
Consider that already he has won 8 All Ireland SFC medals, 11 Leinster SFC gongs, 5 National League mementos and, at 32, could conceivably have several more years in front of him and you wouldn’t know just how many medals the Ballymun Kickhams clubman could end up with before exiting stage.
On the other hand, in Meath there will be uncertainty of a different kind. For several reasons which will be dealt with shortly. However, yet again I find myself reeling with something between anger and deep sadness at the carry-on of some so-called Meath ‘supporters’.
Yesterday, it started before the ball was even thrown in. One ‘fan’ beside me opining “Sure Dublin at 1/14 is like buying money, we shouldn’t be in here at all”. Dross like that Meath – or any team – would be better off without.
There was one comment heard which will not be recounted other than to point out that being away doing the state and continent some service at a time global unrest is to be appreciated and admired, not sneered at. Furthermore, coming on as a substitute at half time hardly represents ‘swanning’ back into the team.
Am I a little more irked by some issues than others? Damn right I am. For two principal reasons in this instance. Firstly, those spewing the bovine excrement could at least get their facts right before unloading their effluent-laden scour into football discourse. Secondly, as much as it’s wished the following was the case, there is no quick fix solution available upon the rubbing of a magic lamp by Aladdin or some of his underlings.
We are where we are in terms of the bigger picture and even though reactionists and anarchists might think otherwise, the players haven’t become bad footballers. Nor has the effort put in by them or those working with them diminished. If anything, when the going gets tough, the tough dig and work even harder.
Who knows what will happen from here. Sight shouldn’t be lost of the fact that an All Ireland quarter final berth, per se, is only a step away. Where there’s life there’s hope.
Let’s wait for Monday, see what the draw throws up and go forward from there. As the team and their management will be striving to do. True fans, of which there are plenty, should and hopefully will get behind them. It’s what they need and deserve.