‘They are a wonderful group, these lads are going to be good’

TAILTEANN CUP ANALYSIS Manager O’Rourke again asks for patience

In the closing stages of Saturday's game at Parnell Park Meath were under the cosh. A point ahead Down were pressing relentlessly in search of redemption and it looked like they might just get it. The Ulster side attacked with intent, fuelled by the possibility they could draw level, or win the game.

Then the Royals won the ball back close to their own posts. They strung a necklace of passes together, moved the ball out of the danger zone. They worked it downfield, won a free at the other end of the field which was converted by Donal Lenihan. Instead of crumbling Meath won with two points to spare.

The move for that score was a significant moment in the match and, perhaps, in the evolution of this Meath team. This new, young Meath team. When the pressure was at its most intense the players found a way to win; to get out of trouble and secure a third successive victory in the Tailteann Cup. It could be seen as a sign of the team maturing. At least Meath supporters will be hoping it is anyway.

O'Rourke hinted afterwards while talking to the media how, in his view anyway, such moves were a sign of "maturity and coolness and calmness among the players." Such multi-phased forward surges may have, as he described it, given him "heart failure" at times as the ball was played back to the goalkeeper or lost in transition but when they got it right his charges were effective in quickly changing from defence to attack.

Maturity is an important factor in the context of the massive rebuilding job O'Rourke and his selectors have embarked on because as he pointed out afterwards by giving Trim's Ciaran Caulfield a start for Saturday's game he and his selectors had now handed championship debuts to 13 players this summer. That's not a steady, controlled change. That's a revolution.

It's why after every game the Meath manager returns to the same theme - the need to give this team time to evolve. Time to become accustomed to the rigours of inter-county football. Repeatedly he has asked Meath supporters for patience and not be harsh on the youngsters who have stepped onto the big stage. He did it again on Saturday.

"Most teams wouldn't do that in five years and we have introduced 13 new players to championship football," he added. "So to win today will give them a huge boost in terms of confidence and everything else. They're a wonderful group of players, these lads are going to be good, It's just a bit of time and patience, they're very committed and hard working and their attitude is first class."

He reflected on how that "maturity" was displayed by the team in those tense closing stages when the outcome hung in the balance. He felt the win and the grit displayed could also be a first step in enticing long-absent Meath supporters back to the fold. He even could detect aspects of other great Meath teams from the past in the way Saturday's victory was carved out.

"There was a good Meath support here. I would expect that we'll probably get a lot more the next day. Meath have traditionally had a very big support which has sort of gone away in the last 10 years. We're hoping to get that back. Performances like that today in the last 10 minutes will do that project no harm either," he said.

"All things considered I though the last 10 minutes was a bit more traditional Meath football in so far as we dug in, kept going and got a few scores when we really needed them. It shows that heart and commitment and all the good qualities that we associate with traditional Meath teams are alive and well."

Yet there is no doubt that luck had a big part to play in Saturday's victory. Down registered a massive 16 wides (compared to 11 from Meath). They also had a goal disallowed, the ball fired to the net a second after referee Fergal Kelly had blown for a free in for the Mourne County.

O'Rourke admitted his side were fortunate the Ulster team left their scoring boots back back home. "We had a lot of wides and Down also had a lot of wides and at one stage in the second-half they could probably have been out of sight."

Another fortuitous aspect of the game for the Royals was the fact that they were given a penalty. It was a neatly wrapped gift from the gods and very harsh on Down. O'Rourke agreed it was fortuitous. "It was but the ball ended up in the net anyway, if the ref had played advantage he could have saved himself a lot of trouble.

"I suppose referees want to blow for a penalty quicker than a free out the field. We should have had another goal in the second-half, maybe two, we had a much easier chance, three against one, but they managed to mess it up. Winning covers a lot of cracks."

Daithi McGowan came on for Conor Gray after 55 minutes and showed real character by lofting over two points, one from a free, one from a '45.' That kind of character and nerve was referred to also by the manager as a factor in how the day was won.

Back in 1991 Down defeated Meath in the All-Ireland SFC final. Back then it was expected that these two counties would feature strongly in the hunt for the Sam Maguire.

Those days are gone for now and the two counties are looking for a way back to the light.

"I suppose it's a bit like Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, our paths have crossed again. Both of us have gone down but I think Down are basically doing the same as we are doing. Conor Laverty, I was speaking to him before the game and we both basically have gone down the same path of trying to build a new team. We're both at similar junctures in that path."

Saturday's victory may in time be seen as a significant step forward for the Royals along that path. Along the rocky road.