Meath players show real determination

The next time some of the minority of idiotic so-called Meath GAA 'supporters" decide to take it upon themselves to rush at any player or manager, hurl abuse or throw a programme at them they should take into consideration the sacrifices that these people make for the county. When Meath lost to Limerick in the All-Ireland SFC qualifier last July, a couple of 'amadans" decided to vent their fury towards the then manager Colm Coyle and several of the players without putting any thought into fact that they too were hurting. As people crawled from their beds last Sunday morning, some nursing sore heads from the night before, to be greeted with blankets of snow covering some parts of the county, most of the Meath senior football panel were preparing for a challenge match against DIT. It was obvious from the ground conditions that the game would not go ahead, but instead of returning home to curl up by a warm fire and enjoying a rare Sunday off, team manager Eamonn O"Brien re-directed his troops to the Meath GAA Centre of Excellence at Dunganny. There was much work to be done, too much time had been lost because of the collective training ban in November and December. Instead of taking advantage of the abandonment, Colm Brady gathered the players together and put them through their paces. As the sun started to shine and melt the snow around Ratoath, the rain flooded down at Dunganny as more than 30 of O"Brien"s panel worked hard on righting the wrongs of last July. When Brendan Murphy announced that he was withdrawing from the Meath panel because he had lost his appetite and hated the thoughts of going training, it was easy to understand those sentiments when you consider the horrendous conditions the players endured last week. On Wednesday night last at Pairc Tailteann, Meath continued their preparations for the start of the National Football League by taking on a strong Garda side that included Cork star Michael Cussen and they showed typical Royal determination to secure a 4-10 to 1-13 win. O"Brien used the game to assess the players who hadn"t featured in the O"Byrne Cup and Shield against Westmeath and Kildare. Brady ushered the other members of the panel to the back pitch at Pairc Tailteann and conducted a tough training session in terrible weather. Under the main lights Meath looked like slumping to another defeat, their second in four days, but late goals from the returning Brian Farrell and Jamie Queeney secured a 4-10 to 1-13 victory for O"Brien"s side. As well as a positive result, it was pleasing to see the return of players like Anthony Moyles, Caoimhin King and Farrell. On the back pitch Nigel Crawford was also put through the ringer, the commitment is strong. Farrell and Queeney contributed 4-8 between them against Garda, while Moyles and Walterstown"s Tom Walsh were also on target. Chris O"Connor and Brian O"Reilly made a positive return. St Michael"s Derek Flood did well at full-back and Moynalvey"s Stephen Donoghue featured at centre-forward. 'We have to use these challenge matches to have a look at players,' said coach Brady. The lack of a game on Sunday was a disappointment, but the Meath players are determined to restore lost pride. If the commitment shown at training on Sunday can be replicated in the summer then the 'real" Meath supporters will have plenty to cheer about.