John McCarthy delighted with another outing at Pairc Tailteann

Meath minor manager John McCarthy was hauled before the media at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday about 15 minutes after watching his talented young team of footballers produce another fluent performance that earned a 13-point victory against neighbours Westmeath.

Almost two months on from a very impressive first round win against Dublin, the Royal County players now face the challenge of two championship games in seven days with Laois due in Navan this Saturday for a semi-final showdown.

Under the current Covid-19 guidelines the manager was brought to the front of the press box in the stand where he fielded easy and socially distant questions with ease.

"Can we do this quickly as I have training in Seneschalstown at 3pm with the young lads," he commented displaying his enthusiasm for the GAA.

"I was very happy with our second-half performance, but I knew we were going to get a stern challenge from Westmeath," he stated in reference to the game.

"The scoreboard didn't actually reflect how tight the game was, the first-half was very tight and it could have gone either way.

"We expected that from Westmeath, they're a good team, but we probably needed the opening 30 minutes to get going, it would have been the same for Westmeath.

"I'm delighted with the way it turned out, a couple of things weren't going exactly to plan, but they (players) stuck with it.

"I've constantly referred to the attitude and the work-rate of this group of players, it's exemplary and they can all play ball as well.

"They have a great ability to work for each other and we were fluent at times, Westmeath were getting plenty of players behind the balland we had to be patient.

"When the opposition is playing that type of game, if you get in front then it will open up a bit and that's what happened.

"There wasn't anything for us to be overly-concerned about at half-time, we were in the lead after getting a good test for the opening 30 mniutes.

"Westmeath had a good second-quarter and we had to find a response to that or we would have had problems in the second-half," he added.

While he was reluctant to single out any one player on the Meath team, the manager acceptd a suggestion that Ciaran Caulfield was worthy of mention.

"I'd be reluctant to highlight any one individual, but yes, I would agree that Ciaran Caulfield had an excellent game," stated McCarthy.

"We lost our full-back, Liam Kelly in the first-half, it was a collision, but I think he will be well enough to be considered for the Laois game.

"Looking ahead to next Saturday, it's great to have another game, it gives us an opportunity to go again and it's great to have something like that in December after they year we have all had to endure.

"I don't know too much about Laois, but then it was the same for Dublin and Westmeath, our focus will be on our own performance, it's great to have the game in Navan and it's up to us to make the most of that,” he concluded.

2020 LEINSTER MFC FACTFILE

First round

Meath 1-15, Dublin 0-7;

Wicklow 4-9, Longford 3-9;

Louth 0-15, Wexford 1-6.

Quarter-finals

Meath 3-11, Westmeath 0-7

Laois 2-14, Carlow 0-5

Offaly 2-9, Wicklow 0-9

Kildare 2-16, Louth 1-7

NEXT UP

SATURDAY 19th DECEMBER

Semi-finals - Meath v Laois; KIldare v Offaly.

SUNDAY 3rd JANUARY

Final - Meath or Laois v KIldare or Offaly.