Seeing Ronan Ryan and Cian McBride swarmed by young Meath fans hunting autographs and selfies in the wake of Meath’s resounding loss against Kerry was somewhat surreal. Yet, for this sporting romantic, there was hope in it. Kids still look up to the current players and still dream of emulating 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.
Then there’s an issue that’s beyond the control of any of the teams. Now, it’s a given that the topic of competition structures could be debated until the cows come home, get milked and are put back to pasture again.
There is no perfect solution, but there has to be 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.
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 (a) Westmeath , Down (b) , Meath, Cavan, Clare, Tyrone.
Relegated from Div. 1
Promoted from Div. 2
To return to present matters though, regardless of what anybody thinks of the current structure, the fact is if Meath beat Monaghan, they will qualify for a Preliminary Quarter Final of the All Ireland SFC. If you’d offered that to anybody after the NFL, your hand would’ve been taken off.
Even if there is a slight sense of foreboding about how the long road might look.
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