Brendan Boylan: Sport will always ‘protect’ me in this Crazy World

In no way would I claim to be an aficionado on all things Aslan, but you'd want to be hewn direct from a quarry not to be moved by the story and heroics of Christy Dignam. Not only as a gifted musician, but in how his story has changed the lives of so many.

Christy, Lord rest him, was the lad next door who did good. That, however, is only to write the introduction to an amazing life's journey. One which, by his own admission, saw both sides of tracks. That, in turn, it would be ventured, was a huge influence on Aslan's music. Whether written by the band themselves or not.

For example, the feeling that Crazy World is a plea to others not to make parts of the same journey as the band's frontman is inescapable:

'How can I protect you in this Crazy World; How can I protect you when all the crowds are gone; Am I ever gonna get through to you?' Contrast those, then, with what are obviously regretful reflections in This Is.

'These are the dreams of a sleeping father; and in his long lost days, he sees a child, he sees the eyes, waiting for the price he's paid.

These are the tears of a fallen idol.'

You're probably wondering what relevance any of the above has to a sports story, but stay with me here. To say sport 'protects' me in this crazy world might be stretching the realms of reality, but it certainly sustains me.

Thanks to the patience and assistance of my fiancé Susan, I've been to more Meath matches this season than has been the case for about ten beforehand. Through nobody's fault, just circumstances.

No bones will be made about admitting to being highly impressed with what's been seen. Yes the National Football League campaign tapered off a bit after a brilliant start, but the amount of players introduced to the highest level or those who will have bolstered their experience therein require it to be viewed in a positive light.

Now, while the u-20 footballers bowing out of their competition so tamely was of course disappointing, signs for the future of the lads involved are already encouraging. In view of the fact that Conor Gray, Ciaran Caulfield, Eoghan Frayne and John O'Regan have already got game time with the seniors. Ballivor's Brian O'Halloran has also been on the fringes of the panel.

U-20 remains the key grade if Meath football is to continue travelling in the right direction. Next spring will mark 23 years since David Gallagher lifted a trophy at that level for the county. It's a thirst that needs quenching. Remember, we are told hunger is a great sauce.

To that end, and taking the playing pool of young talent currently progressing through the county, it's not only common sense that Cathal O Bric has assumed the reins with the u-20s for 2024, it's crucial on a much bigger scale.

The Wolfe Tones and former Navan O'Mahonys clubman did, after all, guide Meath to All-Ireland MFC glory in 2021. With largely the same group of players at his disposal again. More than that, though, he has also been working with the u-23 Development Squad which is appended to the senior panel.

All of which, you'd imagine, with one eye further down the road. I'd love to see himself and John McCarthy work together someday but the more immediate benefit of the Co Board having their house in order is Cathal and whomever his backroom team may be will be able to start casting the net on the fish for talent straight away once the club championships kick off.

Temptation was to take football-related optimism to another level but as this is being written before Meath take on Wexford in the Tailteann Cup quarter final, there is far too much superstition at play here.

So instead, perhaps it would be a better proposition to dip into some of the other sporting action which has been keeping me afloat over the last while. It being a particularly tricky time of year, with the second anniversary of Da's death on June 10th and other curve balls which life's circumstances like to throw this way.

Recorded sport on the Sky box is always the go-to remedy in these situations, and, for the vast majority of the calendar year, that means basketball. I've always been a fan of the fast-paced, five-a-side fare.

GAA has borrowed much from it over the years and there are still a few dictums which could be adopted. For those not au fait with the workings of the hoops, the 'regular' season entails 82 games and those who go on to win it out could play an extra 20 matches.

The play offs are, essentially, the knockout stages of the NBA season. Though even that requires qualification because each round of the elimination matches are played over the best of seven.

To me, it would make perfect sense the Most Valuable Player (MVP) - the sport's player of the season - would come from whoever won it out. Yet for two of the past three seasons, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets claimed the top gong even though his club had never won the Championship.

The key word there is 'had'. It tells you the prowess of the Serbian and how respected he is among the higher echelons and also gives away the fact that Michael Malone's team have just hooked the big fish for the first time.

Doing so the hard way as well, taking out the former champion Milwaukee Bucks, LA Lakers and Miami Heat along the way. The contributions of Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and mid season signing Bruce Brown being crucial in augmenting the brilliance of Jokic.

Eventually, though, the cream rises to the top, and, though the others mentioned obviously played their part, it’s doubtful one man has done more to carry a team to success since Maurice Fitzgerald towards the end of his career with Kerry. Whether Nikola could score off the sideline into the wind in the last minute, mind you, I’m not sure!