MEATH…0-09
LOUTH…3-10
Of course it had to happen sometime. And when it did, there could be no qualms about it. Louth were much the better side and thoroughly deserving of their win. Indeed, considering their Blitzkrieg start, the Wee County would be entitled to feel a little underwhelmed that they didn’t kick on to a greater extent. Six of their ten points came from Sam Mulroy free kicks. That presents a bit of a conundrum when trying to analyse Meath.
On one hand, it highlights the fact that a large portion of their forward line didn’t score. Which in turn you’d like to think was down to diligence on the part of the Meath defence. Maybe a small percentage of it was, but that mitigation loses credibility when placed against the reality of the ease with which Louth broke down the green defensive barricades and drew the frees which Mulroy had little difficulty in converting.
Worse still, though, was the manner in which one of the team in red’s half backs – Craig Lennon – was able to gallop the full length of the field and bury two of their three goals. Albeit the second thereof was highly fortuitous in nature, rebounding off a post straight into the arms of the St Mochtas clubman who duly blasted past a stranded Billy Hogan in the Meath goal.
Over the years, yours truly has, on several occasions, been chided for being too ‘soft’ and shying away from administering criticism where it is merited. Perhaps there are kernals of truth in that, but what’s to be gained from deriding the efforts of players or mentors individually?
Generation Snowflake frown upon such practices being engaged in pertaining to referees and other (paid) officials so why should the only ones who should be getting paid but aren’t (the players) be subjected to it either?
Having said that, Colm O’Rourke’s frustration at the rite of passage continually afforded to red marauders was readily shared. The system Meath have been tweaking throughout Colm’s tenure -mirrored on that employed by Sean in his (first!) tenure – let opponents advance as far as the ’45’ and then honeytrap them with swarm defence – had come on in leaps and bounds. They had even effected several turnovers early on against Dublin.
Yet at no stage on Saturday evening did they look like laying a glove on the well drilled, confident and talented Louth attack. Credit where it’s due, their first Championship win over Meath in 49 years must be credited as a managerial masterpiece by Ger Brennan and his not so secret weapon, Niall Moynagh.
Having remarkably successfully employed a drift-defence system against Dublin, it was presumably a very astute call by the Louth management that the tactic – seen commonly in rugby – would work even better in the tighter confines of Inniskeen. They were on the money there.
***
No matter how disappointed the Meath entourage or their fans might be with the outcome, it’s only a game of football. At this juncture, I must extend my heartfelt sympathies to the Costello family of Dunshaughlin following the passing of their beloved Paul. I am truly in awe of Mat’s strength and courage in lining out at all, just hours after his dad’s death.
Not only that, but that he was his usual inspiring, leading self in the most harrowing of circumstances. Poignantly fittingly slotting over Meath’s first score inside a minute.
Further fine efforts from Sean Coffey and Ronan Jones saw the ‘visitors’ lead by 0-03 to to 0-01 as the first quarter drew to a close. That, unfortunately, was as good as it got for the Royal County. From there, they endured a 12 minute spell as gharish as that inflicted upon Bayern Munich in the dying embers of the 1999 Champions League Final.
The nine point buffer that Louth had constructed for themselves meant that all they needed to do was keep Meath at arm’s length. Regrettably, due to the paucity of the riposte coming from our lads, that wasn’t much of a challenge.
***
The first mug of tea hadn’t been drawn from the flask when the “Kerry must be terrified” and” If they (Louth) can do that, what will Kerry do? ” shit began to spew. From elsewhere, you just let it roll off and pay no heed, but when our own ‘supporters’ start that dung it turns my stomach.
To be clear, even my bulky reserves of optimistic positivity are not naive enough to think we’re about to beat one of the top half dozen teams in the country – with the best individual player in the game in tow – but I would never, ever ridicule our own or sneer at their efforts.
Nor do I subscribe to the theory that whenever things go awry, harangue and metaphorically hang the manager is a one size fits all solution. From the time Eamonn O’Brien was insanely shafted by Meath clubs, weeks after leading the county to Leinster title, to ‘Banty’ McEnaney, Mick O’Dowd, Andy McEntee and now Colm, the response to things that have not worked out as supporters have expected/demanded has been – sack the manager!
Bullshit. Aside from the fact that previous holders of the Bainisteoir top were hampered by administrative shortcomings before they assumed the role, do the naysayers not see what goes on elsewhere within the GAA?
Brian Lohan is in his fifth year with the Clare hurlers but only recently garnered the first silverware of his tenure. A certain former Derry manager was a few years into a burgeoning project and – while they had accumulated several noteworthy achievements along the way – I would wholeheartedly contend that they have regressed since the individual in question departed the scene. However, before any high horses are mounted, I’m fully aware of why they had to depart and it was only right that they did at the time, but those circumstances need not have hung around the person’s neck if there were no further developments in relation to them. There’s an awful habit in this country of shackling people to their mistakes for eternity with no riposte possible.
Anyway, the only thing that would have me in any way doubtful about Colm O’Rourke being in situ for quite a while longer is the fact that himself and the other oracle in the management team have a combined age of 147 between them. Besides, regardless of who is on the sideline, the shortcomings which recent managers have had to circumvent will take a while to completely eradicate, though inroads have been made into same and are beginning to yield fruit.
Doubtless, some will vehemently ridicule the following, but, having admittedly dropped off the pace a bit for a period last season, surely the fact that they rebounded from same by annexing the Tailteann Cup and, though Saturday’s beginning was disastrous, I remain convinced there’s good to be garnered from being in the Sam Maguire Cup. In no way would one attempt to underestimate the gargantuan task confronting our lads next weekend, but, if you go out thinking you’ve no hope, well, you definitely haven’t.
In his comments to the press after the uncomfortable evening in the home of Paddy Kavanagh, O’Rourke was keen that the death of Paul Costello not be used as an excuse to explain away the major malfunction on the stony grey soil of Monaghan, but, one would want to be hewn of granite to see one of your comrades grief stricken and not be at least slightly effected by it.
Now, although the reality of the situation is that regardless of what transpires in Pairc Tailteann next Sunday, chances are Meath’s fate will still be in their own hands going into the final round clash against the Farney County in a fortnight. At this stage, you’d take not being in a dead rubber situation going into the last round. As was the case when last we qualified for this stage.
It would be akin to seeking white blackbirds to suggest Meath might usurp Jack O’Connor’s side, however, there would be every confidence that we will at least put on a performance. They will certainly be keen to do so. Out of solidarity with the Costello family in their time of greatest need but also for themselves as they, more than anybody else will know they didn’t do themselves justice in Grattan Park last weekend.
Yes, it might be an extremely tall order to expect to get anything from next weekend, though it’s worth remembering that it is said the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
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