Published: Wednesday, 24th June, 2009 12:00pm

Meath to shatter Waterford class

by Fergal Lynch

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When the luck of the draw paired Meath against Waterford for the first round of All-Ireland SFC qualifiers next Saturday, 4th July at Pairc Tailteann, it hardly set the pulses racing, but it might be just the type of game the Royals need.

After the disappointing performance against Dublin in the Leinster SFC quarter-final most expected the summer football season to be a short one, but the high probability of victory over Waterford might be the stepping stone to better things.

'It is difficult to know what to read into the draw. We could have faced stiffer opposition, but we will not take Waterford for granted. If we do that then you never know what can happen,' Meath manager Eamonn O"Brien told the Meath Chronicle this week.

'It is all about our performance on the day. We will need to produce a good performance if we are to win and anything less will be disappointing. We need to get the passion back into our displays and hopefully the game against Waterford will give us that opportunity.'

It would be foolish for O"Brien or his selectors to take Waterford lightly. Nothing can be taken for granted in the All-Ireland qualifiers and if supporters need a reminder of what can go wrong then they can cast their minds back less than 12 months.

When Meath were picked to face Limerick in the first round of All-Ireland qualifiers in 2008 there was the same apathetic approach taken for the journey to the Gaelic Grounds, but the Royals returned with their tails between their legs after one of the most humiliating defeats in years.

Waterford are not in Limerick"s league and of all the teams that were in the hat for the draw, they were one of the least threatening. Their 1-7 to 2-18 defeat by Cork in the Munster quarter-final ensured their name was in the hat and was an indication of where they stand.

Cork were even better value than the 14-point winning margin suggests and Waterford manager John Kiely will not be relishing another trip to Navan for a contest his side are sure to learn nothing from only that they are as far down the pecking order as ever.

The last time Waterford came to Pairc Tailteann was on the last Sunday in March 2007 for the sixth round of NFL Div 2B where Meath"s 4-12 to 1-6 victory propelled them to the top of the table.

It was far from as good a performance by Meath as the scoreline might suggest. It was scrappy, with Meath playing well below par on that occasion, but still emerging with a 15-point win.

Meath went on from that game to enjoy a great 2007 and maybe something similar could be on the cards this time around.

Many supporters had hoped for a tougher draw to see exactly where Meath are standing at the moment, but the test provided by Waterford could be just the game Meath need to get their faltering ambitions back into smooth waters and sail into a second round of qualifiers.

The draw is: Donegal v Carlow; Monaghan v Armagh; Meath v Waterford; Wicklow v Fermanagh; Wexford v Offaly; Louth v Tipperary; London v Down; Leitrim v Longford.