To look at Meath’s finalised fixture last in both football and hurling ahead of the commencement of the 2026 National Leagues is to endorse long held suspicions that upper echelons of the GAA couldn’t give a toss about fans. Aside from their hard earned readies, that is.
The following may not go down well in some quarters. To be honest, it upsets me a little as well even thinking about, but, while people will naturally understand the need for the renovation of Pairc Tailteann, was there really a need to opt for Croke Park for our ‘home’ games?
Yes, I can see the value in getting a developing team more experience in the big field. However, given the calibre of opponent to be encountered therein, whilst obviously hopeful the following won’t be a factor, a few defeats in there could have a counterproductive detrimental effect of decimating the group’s confidence. Obviously, an alternate venue had to be acquired but you know what’s said about things that appear too good to be true.
Those of us around long enough can recall the last time Pairc Tailteann got a face lift when the Royal County played their home league fixtures at Pairc Colmcille in Kells – once infamously so against Armagh when Mickey Kerins of Sligo disgracefully sent off Colm O’Rourke – thus doing the county’s greatest forward out of an All Star that was such a nailed on certainty bookies wouldn’t have even have chalked up odds on same.
Anyway, I’m guessing the fact that the late Fintan Ginnitty, Co Board Chairman at the time was a disciple of the Gaeil Colmcille club might have had something to do with how their grounds ended up being the backup venue of choice. But that’s purely a guess on my part.
Now, with all due respect, it goes without saying that a similar venue could not be prof-erred instead of the county’s spiritual home this time around. Though I’m not sure why, given that (a) Louth have been allowed nominate a club ground in Monaghan for the last couple of seasons, (b) the Farney County themselves have played league games in the likes of Castleblaney, Carrickmacross, Ballybay and Scotstown over the years and (c) Cavan have, on occasion, used Pairc Ui Raghaillaigh in Kingscourt as a home venue.
There are, however, two other issues which I am highly surprised nobody has commented on. Firstly, that there was no mention in the Croke Park agreement – if one was to title it thus – allowing other county teams in league competition (Camogie, Hurling and Ladies Football) the use of GAA HQ owing to the prevailing circumstances. Granted, there’s a strong possibility the hurlers would nominate St Loman’s Park in Trim as their venue of choice anyway and – as we know – the county camogs have their own successful fundraising drive (#Yourplasticisourpitch) ongoing with a view to having a home of their own. Though in neither case should such even be an issue, but that’s a horse of a different colour.
The other aggravating factor relating to Meath’s forthcoming league fixtures is the timing thereof. Not as in the time of year, but in terms of the allotted throw in times for some of our matches:
FOOTBALL:
Round 4
Sunday February 22nd
Meath v Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn 14.00
Round 7
Sunday March 22nd
Meath v Offaly O’Connor Park Tullamore 13.15
HURLING:
Saturday January 24th
Round 1
Meath v London at Lomans Park Trim 12.30
Sunday February 22nd
Round 4
Meath v Derry at Lomans Park Trim 13.00
With the exception of the footballer’s final round encounter against Offaly in Tullamore – when all games in each division must start at the same time – i.e. all the matches in Div. 2 will throw in at 1.15 – there is no apparent reason why the others highlighted have to be slated for such early throw ins.
Must especially, for example, the football league fixture against Cork or the hurling encounter with London. Surely the obvious the thing to do was play the football match on a Saturday evening in Cork under floodlights and the hurling clash with the exiles at a more respectable time on the Sunday.
FOOTBALL:
Round 1
Saturday January 24th
Meath v Derry at Croke Park 15.00
Dublin v Donegal at Croke Park 17.00
Round 2
Sunday February 1st
Meath v Cavan at Kingspan Breffni 15.45
Round 3
Saturday February 14th
Meath v Louth at Croke Park 17.00
Dublin v Monaghan at Croke Park 19.00
Round 4
Sunday February 22nd
Meath v Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn 14.00
Round 5
Saturday February 28th
Meath v Kildare Cedral St. Conleth’s Park 19.00
Round 6
Saturday March 14th
Meath v Tyrone at Croke Park 17.00
Dublin v Armagh at Croke Park 19.00
Round 7
Sunday March 22nd
Meath v Offaly O’Connor Park Tullamore 13.15
HURLING:
Saturday January 24th
Round 1
Meath v London at Lomans Park Trim 12.30
Sunday February 8th
Round 3
Westmeath v Meath at Cusack Park Mullingar 14.00
Sunday February 22nd
Round 4
Meath v Derry at Lomans Park Trim 13.00
Saturday February 28th
Round 5
Meath v Mayo McHale Park 14.00
Sunday March 8th
Round 6
Meath v Laois O’Moore Park Portlaoise 14.00
Saturday March 21st
Round 7
Meath v Kerry Lomans Park Trim
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