Regardless of the sport, once it’s a team pursuit, the loss of one significant component thereof can have catastrophic consequences for the ambitions and prospects thereof. Whether that be Willie Mullins seeing the services of State Man defenestrated for the season, just as Sir Gino – ironically also in the ownership of Joe and Marie Donnelly – was for Nicky Henderson last term, or Eric Cantona’s season being excessively cut short for putting a scumbag ‘fan’ back in his box.
Given the circumstances and resources of the operations referred to above, it would in fact be difficult to calculate the enormity of the loss to Summerhill last Saturday against Athy Eoghan Frayne was. Now, any realistic appraisal must have concluded that even with their talisman and spiritual leader, Dave Clare’s side might still have got hard to circumnavigate the Lilywhite obstacle in the road, but without him, the task was probably akin to trying to stave off a flood with an egg cup.
Ironically, then, the blue and gold actually got away to a start they could only dream of, with Liam Shaw more than ably deputised for the county captain on free taking duties and Frayne’s direct replacement Barry Dardis and Diarmuid McCabe (double) also got on the scoresheet early on.
Which meant that, even though Brian Maher cracked home a brilliant goal and David Hyland point put Ross Bell’s team a point up at the midway point, there was no need for panic from a Summerhill perspective at that stage. Regrettably, though, that was as good as it got for the Meath representatives.
Frayne’s absence was naturally a factor in it, but I doubt the vanquished troops themselves have figured it out yet. However, while – as already alluded to on these pages in recent days – the poor performance of Meath clubs at provincial level grinds like a gearbox starved of oil, other news emerged in the aftermath of the match which will send shudders further down the line than Summerhill. Most notably, obviously, with the player himself, but also with Robbie Brennan and the Meath setup and undoubtedly with Meath fans.
Yes, it may have been somewhat of an inevitability that once it was confirmed as a calf strain and would possibly miss part of the forthcoming National League campaign was still a kick in the guts. Especially with hyper-superstitious me when considering factors like second season syndrome – for the management team – etc.
Still, Eoghan’s unfortunate absence will, naturally, open a doorway of opportunity for somebody to come in and grasp their chance. Speaking after his troops had come up short against a Colm Moran-inspired Athy, Dave Clare said “He had a Grade C tear on his calf muscle, so he could be out for two to three months,” the Dunboyne native and former St Mary’s College RFC prop forward then continued “He went down to Jim O’Donovan, the former Munster and Leinster (team doctor) player down in Mullingar, but there was nothing that could be done.”
The gloomy prognosis was, of course in relation to Summerhill’s outing in Shortgrass territory last weekend but we can only hope that the fact the injury was caught quickly will mean that the recovery can begin and be expedited equally so. That said, if one could be bold enough to be optimistic that the senior inter county season will again be a long one for the Royal County, the important thing will be to have the current skipper operating at optimum levels for the business end thereof.
In the meantime, curiosity and debate alone should keep minds occupied until Operation Aughrim arrives around.
Fág freagra