Written 4/5/25 but unused by Meath Chronicle
Without ever mentioning matters of a sporting nature, time has proven that, when it comes to matters which affect the emotions, not only must what goes up come down, the descent tends to occur at much greater rapidity than the elevation. In recent weeks, this locality has been hit with a tidal wave of happenings which should implore us all to look after ourselves, each other and, most crucially, to seek out help and support if it’s needed.
Now, notwithstanding the cacophony of sadness which has enveloped certain aspects of life of late, it will scarcely shock anybody to hear that it was to sport yours truly turned for scintillas of comfort after such a period of mental turbulence caused by everyday life.
The problem, though, arises when the escape route becomes the subject of a road block. Which is exactly how things transpired during another emotionally exhausting week of sport from a local perspective. Not that I would have it any other way. Bar a couple of results going in opposite directions, obviously!
You will of course recall that the sporting week began in a euphoric fashion following the men’s county senior footballers recording a first win over Dublin in 15 years. Granted, an appraisal after, say, 48 hours would underline the fact that, essentially, nothing tangible had been garnered and, viewed through a certain lens, an even bigger Everest awaits scaling on Sunday next.
However, aside from the fact that, having beaten Dublin, you’d have thought Meath will start favourites (Meath 4/6, Louth 6/4 at the time of typing), all the pressure is in fact on the red corner. Meath are already in bonus territory. Nobody thought they would be here. Even a fairly sizable swathe of their own devotees.
Louth, on the other hand, are all the rage. Their third Leinster Final in a row. Represented on the All Star team last season. They’ve beaten our lads in their last two encounters. They are the ones spewing bile and bitterness for 15 years. Even though they were wronged – and they were, let’s be honest – by an admittedly catastrophic officiating malfunction, not the Meath players, management, Co Committee or anybody else. Now is their time to put the record straight. That could be put a different way, but to do so would be to lower the tone.
Furthermore, if there wasn’t enough hype around Louth football as it was, their dethroning of Meath in the Leinster U-20 FC final on Wednesday last will have taken the hysteria to unprecedented levels.
Having said that, Fergal Reale’s team were wholly deserving winners in Cedral St Conleth’s Park. It is a testament to the work that has gone on in the Wee County and continues to that Adam Gillespie – who was tormentor in chief when the red and white defeated Meath at Minor level in Hunterstown a couple of years ago – was again conductor in chief of the orchestra that composed the winning tune to hand themselves a first provincial title since the year I was born.
It had all started so well for Cathal O’Bric’s charges, with Rian Stafford, Eamonn Armstrong and Jamie Murphy pointing before team captain Tadhg Martyn got on the end of a brilliant move and blasted to the net.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for the defending champions. As another Louth goal – courtesy of Pearse Grimes-Murphy – put the challengers into a position they would never relinquish.
That is not to say that it was for the lack of effort on behalf of those in green. From Jamie Murphy pointing immediately after the restart, to the immense Michael McIvor doing so again and again and again.
Though in a classic example of Con Houlihan’s often used quote “Those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad” the two-point scores which have been such a boon for Meath teams since their inception, dried up quicker than a well in a heatwave.
Obviously, the journey coming to an end for this group of players is a big disappointment. Personally, most especially as it marked Eamonn’s last outing in a Meath jersey until God knows when.
However, as gutting as both of above eventualities are, if one was to look through the wide angle lens, the fact that our teams are again competing to a high level in the underage competitions has to be a positive for the future prospects of our county teams at the highest level going forward.
To that end, thankfully, the conveyor belt of young talent coming through in the county shows no sign of slowing up anytime soon.
Albeit that the latest bunch off the production line, our Minors, didn’t get the rub of the green (or the navy, as they were wearing on the night) against Offaly on Thursday night.
Two goals inside the first twelve minutes would’ve been enough to knock the bottom out of a team – particularly an underage one – but to the immense credit of Joe Cowley’s young crew, jump started by a Stephen Cahill goal, they had reduced the deficit to three – 1-05 to 2-05 – before turning to shoot into the Navan O’Mahonys end.
Mind you, like all ensembles representing the Faithful County at present, these lads seemed to have something of an x-factor about them, as their third ‘major’ – courtesy of Charlie Duffy, his second of the contest – prized their chasm out to 1-08 to 3-08.
However, the character of these young Royals was never in question either as a brilliant goal from Summerhill’s Cormac Murray, a two-pointer from the introduced Sean Delaney of Dunboyne and a single from his fellow sub Adam McEvoy drove home the latest Meath rescue mission, tying the sides at 2-12 to 3-09.
Then, the latest collective Lazarus tribute act appeared complete when Charlie Gallagher drove over a monster double to leave the scoreboard reading 2-14 to 3-09 and the clock at 58:14.
Alas, it was then the Houlihan quote unfortunately raised its unhelpful head as those who appeared to have saved themselves coughed up possession allowing Cian McNamee – the latest generation of the great Rhode clan – put Paddy Burns in for the netbuster that broke Meath hearts.
But then, as if to underline the beauty of sport being that you never have to wait too long for something to provide a new infusion of hope and happiness, up stepped the lady footballers on Sunday.
To their credit, Kildare are one of the counties that have made great strides in the ladies game in recent seasons. Underlining as such by defeating Meath in the National League in Abbottstown just a few weeks ago.
For their part, Shane McCormack’s side have made no secret that a provincial title is an itch they want to scratch. Demonstrably underscoring as such by getting away to a flying start, with goals from the Dunboyne duo Sarah Wall and Emma Duggan enabling them to construct a 2-06 to 0-06 interval advantage.
When, nine minutes into the second half, they led by 2-10 to 0-07, it appeared to be a routine day’s work, but, bolstered by the outstanding Alannah Prizeman and a Ciara Wheeler goal, the locals got within the width of a post of salvaging a draw. However, the green and gold held on to finish a tumultuous week on a high.
Only a few days until we do it all again!
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