Sheridan ready to have another go

AFTER a well publicised break from the inter-county scene Joe Sheridan is looking to regain his place on the Meath panel and is hoping that his performances in the local SFC will show that he means business. 

The 23 year-old caused a shock when he announced last June that he was leaving the inter-county set-up after Meath's defeat by Dublin. 

Reluctant to talk about it at the time because Meath were still in the running for All-Ireland glory, Sheridan is now ready to relaunch his career at the top level saying that he has rediscoved his hunger for the cut and thrust of it all.

Sheridan has indicated in recent displays with Seneschalstown that he is back to his best and he is looking to continue that form as his team chases silverware in the AFL Div. 1, the Feis Cup as well as the Keegan Cup.

"I'd like to get back, we'll see how the club games go, but I'd hopefully be able to sit down and have a chat with Colm Coyle and take it from there," he said.

After the defeat by Dublin in the Leinster SFC quarter-final replay in the summer Sheridan watched from the stands.  It was something he hadn't done too often since making his senior debut in 2003 and announcing himself as one of the best young talents around.

He says that while he missed some aspects of the inter-county scene there was a certain enjoyment in becoming an observer rather than a combatant.

It was one of the untold stories of the summer why he opted out in the first place. For Sheridan it simply came down to a loss of appetite. Every player at some stage of their career suffers a loss in form and Sheridan felt that the fizz and excitement had dimmed. 

He had started against Dublin in the replay without making an impact on the scoreboard. Throughout his time on the pitch Sheridan appeared out of sorts and was eventually replaced by Brian Farrell who came on to loft over three points.

The week after that game Sheridan was back on club duty as Seneschalstown took on Trim in a SFC encounter at Dunshaughlin. During that encounter he realised that the time had come to take a step back.

"I was on the pitch and I had no interest in being there, I was saying to myself 'what am I doing.' After that game I was thinking to myself that I need a break, I need to get out of it. I went in and I spoke to Coyler and said I don't know what to do," he recalled.

"I told him I'm not thinking about playing football, I'm not interested in coming into training, the hunger isn't there at the minute. We had a chat and decided the best thing would be to take some time off."

On the morning of the Dublin game an article appeared in the Sunday Times with a headline that compared him to one of the  High Kings of Tara. Some might have felt extra pressure with that kind of publicity. Sheridan says that he is unfazed about what he reads about himself.

Sheridan has also heard the nasty comments from the sideline at club games and accepts it as part of a footballer's life, just another obstacle to be overcome. One lesson Sheridan has learned is that being an inter-county footballer demands a certain type of outlook. You need to be able to take the psychological as well as the physical knocks.

"There's people out there who will say this or that, you'll always have your critics but to be honest with you I don't listen to them, I just get on with the game and listen to the people who want to help you."

After the long slog of preparing for a championship campaign Sheridan says that the current inter-county set up demands a huge amount from inter-county players and some break is required. The protracted nature of the current inter-county scene allows for few let-ups.

"It's a big commitment, players need a break, six or eight weeks off. You're training five or six nights a week and some people don't appreciate the effort required, it's just so easy to criticise people and it's hard for a lot of lads to take. You just have to learn to live with it.

"A lot of people have said there was a lot of stuff in the Trim game. I try not to let it affect me, it's hard enough to concentrate on getting your own ball. If you're going to be listening to people roaring on the sideline you'll just make it more difficult for yourself.

"The only reason I gave up the game and took the break was because I wasn't enjoying the game. You have to enjoy your football. I've been playing the game since I was three years old and if you are not enjoying your football you may give up. You just don't feel fresh and not performing to the best of your ability."

After having his sabbatical, Sheridan is once more ready to return to inter-county duty. Some county squads are already back, doing some weights, getting ready for the challenges ahead. Sheridan is now also ready to return.