Sleeping Giants Awakening?
Even with the extensive coverage of the action in the Meath county football championships in this space in recent days, there was still more which could have been undertaken but I had neither the physical or emotional energy to take it on. For reasons which may well become obvious in due course.
Be that as it may, to my mind at least, the other major story surrounding the same subject area is undoubtedly the distinct possibility that some of the sleeping giants of the game in the county Royal County. Unfortunately for the entities involved it will have to end up being a case of two out of three.
But the intrigue and entertainment for the rest of us on the outside looking in will be to see how it all plays out. Adding to the thrill of it all is the fact that two of them – Navan O’Mahonys and Walterstown – have been kept apart in the draw for the IFC semi finals.
With the hoops up against perennial contenders St Pat’s and Meath’s All Blacks taking on Duleek/Bellewstown. Now add in that another group of former senior kingpins, Kilmainhamwood, could also be on the cusp of a breakthrough of sorts when they take on Kilmainham in the final of the JFC B for the right to lift the Fintan Ginnitty Cup.
Regardless of what way this one turns out, it represents a highly commendable achievement for arguably the two smallest clubs in the county to have reached the stage they are at. Because, credit where it’s due, while the ‘Wood might have gone all the way and lifted the Keegan Cup back in 1996, as well as producing many top notch footballers like Sean McCormack and his son Larry, Brian Stafford, Martin Crosbie, Aidan Crosbie, Paul Shankey, Ray McGee, Ray Cunningham (and his late brother Matthew) and professional Snooker Colm Gilchreest, Kilmainham too have prove dab hands at punching well above their weight, as well as fostering gifted ballers such as Barry Lynch, several members of the Butler family and numerous Newmans.
One thing that I genuinely wasn’t aware of was the fact that the great Mickey Newman has never won a Championship in his beloved red and red. Thus, it would be quietly ventured that even the most ardent disciple of the ‘Wood wouldn’t begrudge the opposition’s talisman a victorious souvenir.
That said, the same could probably be said the other way round as well. Perhaps not in terms of individuals to the same extent as above, but, most certainly, because it would be nice – and good for Meath football – to see those who were kings of Meath football exactly three decades ago have a bit of propulsion in a positive direction after some very tough years.
Not least because current stars of the white and blue, Matthew Vaughan and Rian Stafford are players I would love to see getting a go at the highest level. Which would be even more reassuring in view of the fact that they look certain to lose or to have already lost Rian’s younger brother Milo to the lure of the oval ball having seemingly already signed a contract with Ulster.
Now, anyone who has been ingesting content in this space for any length of time will know exactly what I think needs to happen to stop young players being tempted away to other sports but one is not currently possessed of either the heart or the energy to plough all that up again.
Of course the Intermediate last four matches also feature sleeping giants in the form of Navan O’Mahonys and Walterstown and the return of either to the top table of Meath football would be good for both clubs and the county.
Because just as with the match referred to above, for O’Mahonys players such as Cormac Nugent and Sean Betson and Robbie Clarke and Aodhan Mallon are – in the view of this neutral observer – worthy of at least a run out at inter county level.
Ultimately, gut instinct is to think two out of the three sleeping giants should make it through but as for which two, your guess is as good as mine. Meat Loaf might have thought two out of three wasn’t bad but that will be damn all good to whoever misses out.
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