Disappointment was evident as manager reflected on result

ANALYSIS

The All-Ireland Minor B Camogie Shield final between Meath and Roscommon last Saturday at Pearse Park, Longford was an event trying to shake off the shackles of an era when competitions like this didn't exist.

Fair to suggest that on a weekend when all the attention of camogie officialdom was focused on the adult finals at Croke Park the next day, the minnows of the Camogie Association were handed a platform that wasn't used to its maximum.

No blame apportioned to either Meath or Roscommon, but from the outset the very least that was required was the use of the public address at the Longford venue to announce the teams and build a little bit of an atmosphere.

Pearse Park was a good venue for the game, obviously Croke Park would have been better, but this final was originally scheduled the previous week for Templeport GAA in Cavan.

Fortunately, it was put on hold for a week and Pearse Park was a much more prestigious venue - nothing against Templeport - but if the Camogie Association is serious about promoting itself, All-Ireland finals must be played in a proper setting.

Fair to say that the Camogie Association wouldn't rate too highly in this regard in relation to the subsidiary competitions - but what's new there?

Meath selectors Brian O'Reilly (left), Etti Philip, Anthony O'Neill (manager), Georgia O'Halloran and Tommy Duignan. Photo by John Quirke

And what about the game between the minnows from Meath and Roscommon.

An excellent game, lots of skill on both sides, evidence of hard work on the training grounds.

The victory for Roscommon will probably keep the hard-working officials in that county fighting the good fight for another year.

Meath manager Anthony O'Neill would be well aware of the struggles involved in sustaining hurling and camogie in a football-dominated county.

The Kilmessan man soldiered for many years with the county hurlers and he is certainly the right man to take the camogie team forward - adversity wouldn't pose too many problems.

While the trophy presentation was taking place at Pearse Park he took the time to answer a few questions for the Meath Chronicle.

It was clearly evident that O'Neill and his management team had invested an enormous amount of time and energy with the players over a number of years to get them to the current level.

Photo by John Quirke

"I am so disappointed for the girls, but they can be proud of what they achieved this year and over the last few years, hopefully they will push on from here and we will see them playing for Meath at adult level," he stated.

"This was a big day for our girls, I'm sure it was the same for Roscommon, at the moment I'm just totally deflated.

"The players gave it everything out there today, it just didn't go our way and that's sport, there has to be a winner and it just wasn't our day today.

"All through the qualifying campaign the girls were brilliant and they would have deserved some sort of success, but Roscommon seemed to have a little bit more hunger and that probably made the difference over the hour.

"A lot of people have put in a lot of effort with this panel and I hope that camogie in Meath benefits from this in the long-term.

"Camogie in Meath needs to win something and I thought that we might just achieve that today, the girls gave us everything and we couldn't have asked for any more from them.

"We seemed to be a little off the pace of the game, I can't just figure it out at the moment, but it all comes down to what happens on the day and today it was Roscommon's turn.

Photo by John Quirke

"We had beaten them earlier in the qualifying phase by four points, they seemed to have a stronger team today.

"Our girls should be so proud of what they have achieved, okay, we didn't win today, but I'm sure they will have other days when they will win.

"Hopefully, what they learned today will stand to them in the future.

"From a management perspective, we will have to fight our corner to make sure that we can provide the best possible platform for our young players to develop and improve over the next few years.

"There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved, but that's for another day.

"You can be sure that I will keep fighting for the the camogie and the hurling and maybe in the next final we will get that win," he concluded.

ALL-RELAND RESULTS

First round - Meath 4-11, Armagh 2-14.

Second round - Meath 1-10, Roscommon 1-6.

Third round - Meath 0-13, Kerry 0-5.

Fourth round - Meath 1-19, Down 2-6.

Semi-final - Meath 7-22, Armagh 2-5.

Final - Roscommon 2-9, Meath 1-7.