Why always Meath?

Why always Meath?

It would appear the old adage about never seeing a bookmaker on a bicycle is indeed correct. I will openly admit that from this seat the odds before Sunday’s Leinster Club SFC encounter between Dunshaughlin and St Loman’s of Mullingar were unfairly lopsided in favour of the Westmeath kingpins – with the blue and white chalked up at 8/15 with the Meath representatives 2/1 against.

However, a bit of due diligence on my part would’ve explained exactly why the market was as such. For one thing, in Sam McCartan, John Heslin and Ronan O’Toole Loman’s have the three best players on the Westmeath team at their disposal. Secondly, they are a battle-hardened, well moulded side who have been on the road quite a while.

In contrast, and the following is meant in the best way possible, it could be the case that Dunshaughlin actually got reacquainted with the Keegan Cup slightly ahead of schedule. That they were the best team in the Meath senior championship is beyond question. But even allowing for that, the step up from county championship level to provincial level is considerable and, unfortunately, was glaringly exposed in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday last. 

The three county players referred to above sent a phalanx of points over Tim O’Sullivan’s crossbar, before, belatedly but almost inevitably, Mat Costello got the red and black on the board. 

When the same player instigated and then teed up the conclusion to a move which culminated in Aaron Murphy palming the ball to the net. 

That said, just when Dunshaughlin may have thought they were getting back into contention, that bubble was well and truly burst when the Mullingar side’s outstanding full forward Fola Ayorinde rounded two opposing defenders and blasted to the net. 

At 1-09 to 1-01 when it came to the change of ends, logic, common sense and everything in between suggested that, whatever about 34th Street, it was going to take a miracle on Brews Hill to overcome such a deficit. 

Then again, if recent years have taught us anything about the people of Dunshaughlin, it’s their strength of character and redoubtable spirit. 

Albeit fleetingly, those qualities surfaced at the beginning of the second half as wing back Ciaran McCarrick drove forward and posted a mighty point. But again, any inclination of a turnaround quickly dissipated as the brilliant Sam McCartan drove forward before putting his younger brother Danny away for the goal which gave those from the Lake County game, set and match. 

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Why always Meath? At this juncture, let it be made abundantly clear, the following is not a dig at anybody, after all, my own club faired as poorly as anybody when representing the county. Well, our male footballers at least. But, you do have to ask why Meath teams continually fall short on the provincial stage. 

Only four times in my 40+ years of life has a Meath side won the Leinster Club SFC. Three of which came in a row through Walterstown in 1982, ‘83 and ‘84 before Dunshaughlin recorded the county’s last such victory in 2002.

In the interest of fairness, it should be pointed out that, over the years, Drumree and Nobber and Wolfe Tones took provincial titles at Junior and Intermediate level respectively. However, it is difficult to avoid the uncomfortable truth that the standard of club football in the county has to be the broken link in the chain. 

For instance, both Dunshaughlin and IFC winners Meath Hill looked highly impressive in their domestic triumphs, yet, just like Dunshaughlin at senior level on Sunday, the ‘Hill came up short against Caragh of Kildare 24 hours earlier. 

No, I do not have a silver bullet solution to the county’s travails at the level. Nor do I think there is one. But it is something which, someday, somehow will have to be tackled to ensure that the county doesn’t get cut adrift with regard to its status in the game. Any further.