Meath…0-09
Kerry…2-18
A Kerry-bred friend of mine residing in these parts posted a photo on social media this (Monday) morning of his young daughter with the great Tom O’Sullivan on the Pairc Tailteann pitch after Kerry had done what most people expected them to do. Albeit with far too much ease than was comfortable for some of us. He was making the simple yet seminal point of how much these things mean to kids. In the same week as another inspirational young man, Adam Screeney, batted away concerns about the length of time he’d spent obliging requests for autographs and selfies after Offaly had defeated Dublin in the Leinster U-20 HC Final.
The mesmeric Kilcormac/Killoughey sportsman, displaying maturity well beyond his years, admitted that it’s not all that long ago since he was the one leading the pitch invasions in pursuit of the likes of Henry Shefflin, Joe Canning and Tony Kelly for the same purpose. Back to Navan, and it would hardly be a shock to observe that a certain member of the visiting full forward line commanded the biggest queue of admirers wishing to spend even a few seconds in his presence.
However, and the following was the crux of the post from the exiled subject of the Kingdom was that – correctly – the Meath players who stayed out to do similar bidding deserve utmost commendation after what was another harrowing experience for the Royal County. From our own perspective, I’ll admit that it was quite surreal seeing Ronan Ryan, Cian McBride and other players swarmed by young fans in the wake of another sobering lesson on our own sod.
Strangely, there was reassurance in it too. The fortunes of county teams still do matter. People do still care. The current players are still heroes to the next generation and they do still aspire to emulate them in the years and decades ahead. It matters to players and those involved with the team too. Immeasurably so. So histrionics from certain parties only amounts to kicking all concerned when they’re down. That, in turn does absolutely nothing for a group of players whose collective confidence has to be fragile at best.
However, as a friend of mine said to me many moons ago, the truth can be blamed but it can never be shamed. And the realistic truth from a Meath perspective is an uncomfortable one. Sunday’s defeat to Jack O’Connor’s side underlined not so much the gulf between the sides but that the two sides occupy different planets in the football galaxy.
Apportioning blame as to whose fault that is is useless. But it presents a choice – do you, as the manager said after the match, that they would “Continue to display patience and encouragement with this group of players and stick to the processes”, or would knee jerk reactionism come up with a better outcome? Before answering that, consider the following: “We created the same amount of scoring chances as them in the first half, but whereas they got ten (points) we only converted three. That saps the confidence out of inexperienced players”.
Hard to argue there. But, just for those who reckon I go soft in terms of analysis of certain people, there are a number of issues which have ground my gears regarding team selection of late:
(a) Is Sean Brennan still injured and if he is, what’s the sense in carrying him as sub ‘keeper? Because he certainly didn’t do anything to merit dropping.
(b) Cian McBride – there was much fanfare – including in this seat – when the St Ultan’s colossus joined the panel at the start of the season. Deservedly so too. However, the manner in which his gametime has been accumulated has been, puzzling to say the least. Either starting and being taken off at half time, or being left out and brought in either at half time or when it’s too late to make an impact. You’d hope that, presuming the Bohermeen native will be part of plans going forward, management would settle on a position for him and that he might get a sustained run of matches in the team.
( c) Dud teams: Colm O’Rourke must now have broken Ger Loughnane’s record for dud teams announced. I understand lineups have to be submitted for the match programme early in the week, but, to me, it would be far better to bring the great A. N. Other out of retirement if there are doubts over certain players, rather than naming a team and then constantly having a raft of changes before throw in. It must be as frustrating for players themselves as it is for observers.
There’s also a pressing issue which, though impinging on the chances of all teams regardless of what level they are playing at, they have no control over. Now, you could debate competition structure until the cows come home, get milked and are put back out to pasture. It’s hardly classified information that there are easy solutions to the matter and no rabbit to be pulled from a hat to suit everybody’s needs. But there has to some alternative worth trying as a means of alleviating results like those which saw both Meath and Cavan take tankings over the last weekend. The following might be unpalatable, but, is it worth considering promotion not automatically appended to winning the Tailteann Cup?
Yes, Westmeath have more then held their own since re-entering the Sam Maguire, but, with the exception of a severely diminished Derry next time out, they haven’t really come across any of the top teams. Though either Galway or Armagh may have big roles to play this year yet.
In contrast, on the two occasions so far that Meath have qualified for this stage, they’ve had the misfortune of being paired with Kerry. In 2019, Mayo and Donegal were also in there, whilst this time around, the draw threw up the most improved team in the country in Louth and a Monaghan side who still have the potential to be a banana skin for anybody.
The following is not meant in an insulting manner to anybody, but, it would surely be accepted that Meath are not, presently, at the same level as some of those teams listed above. There’s no shame in that either.
That said, it’s for that exact reason one has been pondering whether promotion upon procurement of the Tailteann Cup pans out to be a reward or a poisoned chalice?
I feel that there tends to be an unnecessary and unfair degradation of the Tailteann Cup. Yes, it is a step below the Sam Maguire, but, the McDonagh, Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cup competitions are each graded as appropriate under the Mac Carthy Cup competitions in hurling and they – correctly – are treated with the utmost respect. So why shouldn’t the Tailteann Cup?
Call it the All Ireland Intermediate Championship – as they do in Camogie and Ladies Football and as happens at club level. Why should tiered competitions in inter county football – or the mere thought of them – be ostracised like black sheep? After all, there are those who would give the folks responsible for touting the belief that club is the be all and end all the freedom of the nation. So why, then, don’t the powers that be use the same structures to organise those which are actually the most important male football competitions ran under the auspices of the GAA?
Add a Junior or Junior B grade if needs be in order to create equal and meaningful competition. The obvious means by which to arrive at the makeup of the group stages being parallel to where a team finished in the league.
For example, the Tier II Championship, if going on this year’s standings, could be Monaghan Roscommon (*) Westmeath , Down (**) , Meath, Cavan, Clare, Tyrone.
* Relegated from Div. 1
**Promoted from Div. 3
To return to matters between the lines in what may well (hopefully) be the last Championship match played in Pairc Tailteann as she currently stands, in no way was I naïve enough to think we were good enough to beat the only side to get within an ass’s roar of the Dublin juggernaut for the better part of the last decade. Hopes were retained, though, that the pedantic affair which did transpire – Kerry barely having to ease the throttle past first gear and our response as callow as a newborn calf trying to find its own feet – could have been avoided.
I will never, as long as my tail end is facing Australia, understand the insanity of teams giving their opponents a free pass to get their kickouts away. Look, I get the idea of having to carry out remedial action when facing a team you know is better than you, but there’s more than one way to bolster your chances.
Consider that during the stewardships of Eamonn O’Brien, ‘Banty’ McEnaney and Mick O’Dowd, the methodology of choice was to push up on opposition kickouts to try and force turnovers. And on several occasions, the gameplan worked.
Never more so than in 2010 when Meath managed to cause consternation in the Dublin defence and plunder five goals from them. Granted, every manager has their own ideas as to how they like to see the game played, but, if Sunday’s match is anything to go by, Meath are currently like a poorly cooked steak. Not raw, but not done to the best it could be either.
Right, so Plan A was to concede the kickout and overload the defencive end. Not my thing, but each to their own. Mind you, it can hardly be said to have worked when one surveys the ease with which Tom O’Sullivan, Brian O’Beaglaioch and both Kerry midfielders drove forward and kicked scores in the first half.
So as not to be a complete doom monger, there could be absolutely no doubting the courage and conviction of the side. In fact, on various occasions over the 73 minutes, Meath effected wonderful turnovers and – to borrow a bit of rugby terminology – ran great lines at the heart of the Kerry defence.
In the persons of Sean Ryan and Ciaran Caulfield and Cillian O’Sullivan and Frayne, but, unfortunately, collectively, the boys in green would need to see a farrier to get their boots straightened!
In the short term, it’s hard to know how to assess things, but looking through the long range lens, the glass is still very much half full.
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