Meath… 1-06
Kildare… 1-18
In the final race at one of the smaller National Hunt tracks in the UK on Wednesday evening, the name of one of the participants jumped off the screen at me on Wednesday evening – I Play County – now read on…
There’s not a young lad or young lady in a position to do so that hasn’t used that line in persuance of amorous overtures from the object of their affections.
For you see, making a county Minor panel is the first major milestone in a players life. The thing is, though, sometimes it can pass players by. How odten has it been said in this space that momentum is often the biggest game changer in sport.
A lot of the reason for that is the reality that momentum often doesn’t leave room for adjustment. Simply because the match can get away from those chasing before they know where they are.
Unfortunately, that is actually how it felt for the Meath minor footballers against Kildare in the first round of the Leinster MFC at Stamullen on Wednesday night. Even though Joe Cowley’s charges had actually started the brighter thanks to a Jack Doyle point and a goal from Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s Evan Kelly.
However, a typically well-drilled Kildare outfit soon settled and thanks to a Mick O’Toole goal and a phalanx of points from Harry Donnelly gave them a 1-08 to 1-04 interval advantage which actually flattered Meath.
Though it gives me absolutely no pleasure to mention the following, basic errors were a lot of the home side’s undoing. Including their essaying of three wides before midfielder Evan Boyle stretched the all whites lead as they strode on to a commanding and highly impressive victory.
For Meath, the scenario could hardly have been more contrasting. Lessons are harsh and rapid at that level of football. However, young players are resilient. They tend not to dwell on things as much as those of us observers with more mileage on the clock.
Which in this instance can only be an asset. Furthermore, the fact that they have another game to focus on quickly is probably also a positive as you can be sure the predominant feeling will be one of not having done themselves justice. Banking on the aforementioned resilience of youngsters, hope and expectation would be that they will bounce back against Louth on Wednesday next. A wounded lion is a dangerous beast.