MEATH…2-14
DUBLIN…2-08
I was going to use another word at the very beginning of the above headline but for one thing the young men involved would be too young to get the reference and for another, it may not be the right side of the watershed. Suffice to say, the sight of and wholesome challenge presented by a blue jersey brought out the best in this young battalion of Royals at Parnell Park this (Tuesday) evening.
The upshot of their collective brilliance being qualification for a third Leinster Final at this grade in a half dozen years. Now, personally, I’m always conflicted as to what’s right if a team in which one has a vested interest wins the toss and there’s a wind involved.
Traditionally, it has always been the Meath way to play against the wind in the first half if that option is available. Thus, whether by his own volition or prompting by his mentors, the burgeoning Harry McGuirk is due credit for taking the gutsy decision to face down the elements in the opening stanza.
Granted, there is always the danger of it becoming an ‘if my aunt was kitted out differently she’d be my uncle’ scenario because giving the Dubs wind advantage on their own sod has the potential to go very badly wrong indeed. Of course, viewed through another lens, it could be seen as an endorsement of self belief in one’s own collective ability.
At different stages during this enthralling encounter, the coin flipped in favour of either outcome being the eventual one.
As firstly, inspired by the mercurial Mo Salami, the home side opened up an advantage of 0-03 to 0-01. The Meath response being via an outrageously struck ’45’ into the wind by Milo Stafford. Normally, logic would dictate that when playing into the wind, keeping the opposition total within a controllable bracket would be considered a success.
However, the seminal point here is that when it comes to Meath and Dublin teams facing off, normality and logic are generally left outside the door. Which ought to explain both sides outperforming expectations opposing the elements.
On one hand, that meant Cormac McKenna and Dara Loughran combining and a penalty ensuing which young Staff duly buried. And then, the aforementioned McKenna from the Wolfe Tones club following in an underhit point attempt before tucking away a bullet which at that point left the visitors 2-02 to 1-03 to the good at that stage.
The Dublin goal being an identical precursor to McKenna’s ‘major’ which followed seconds later. In that the home side’s Pat Cahill diverted a wayward point attempt beyond Cormac Fitzsimons and into the Meath net.
In helter skelter matches such as this, maintainence of composure is often the deciding factor. And, just to see the said quality in players so young is highly admirable.
Yes, it appears to be woven into the Meath DNA, but, even allowing for that, Conn Brennan looks a bit special. The St Ultan’s lad seems to be able to manufacture time on the ball and his two peaches of points gave Trevor Giles’s side a 2-04 to 1-03 interval advantage.
The late Noel Coogan often wrote about the two sides enjoying “Spells of dominance” over each other and how that fluctuated from time to time from one side to the other like a pendulum. The latest chapter in the neverending story was no different.
Again, the sublime Salami got Dublin off to a fine start in the second half, before their credit column was further bolstered when Eoin Madden blasted to the net from close range.
Incredibly, David Reynolds’s team would only trouble the umpires once more. At which point they led by 2-07 to 2-06. Thereafter, however, Trevor’s troops outscored the locals by eight points to one as Brennan, Stafford, Harry McGuirk, McKenna, Dara Loughran and substitutes Tomas McKeever and Leo Kavanagh all pointed to put the seal on a landmark success for these talented youngsters.
Scorers – M. Stafford (1-4, Pen, ’45), C. McKenna (1-1), H. McGuirk (1x2PT) and C. Brennan (0-3 each), D. Loughran, T. McKeever and L. Kavanagh (0-1 each).
Meath – C. Fitzsimons; B. Browne, T. Clarke, N. Rogan; L. O’Donoghue, H. McGuirk, N. Smyth; J. Killoran, T. Proudfoot; C. McKenna, C. Brennan, A. Keane; C. Walsh, M. Stafford, D. Loughran.
Subs – T. McKeever for Walsh, L. Kavanagh for Proudfoot.
Referee – Stephen Fagan (Wicklow).
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