Well earned rest for Royals ahead of conclusion of league

Not sure the social antics of the great George Best have often been referenced after NFL games, but last Saturday night in Kingspan Breffni Meath boss Colm O'Rourke mused on the question once posed by the legendary Northern Ireland soccer superstar - 'where did it all go wrong?'

After a stunning first-half, or more precisely second quarter, from Meath O'Rourke was quizzed as to why his side's levels dipped in the second-half as Cavan recovered from a four-point interval deficit to lead by one with just three minutes of the regulation 70 remaining.

However O'Rourke, a bit like Best back in the day, didn't really believe that too much had gone 'wrong'. In fact, the Meath manager was quite pleased with the way his side dug out the draw in the face of adversity in those tough, tense closing stages.

“I think George Best was asked that question when he was found in bed with Miss World. The porter said, 'where did it all go wrong, George?' I didn't see that much going wrong. The fact that we end up with a draw after a great comeback when we were a man down and a point down, was good," said O'Rourke.

“We lost our way a little bit certainly in the middle of the second half but we had a couple of great chances of goals early in the second half that probably would have put us out of reach.

"We did expect a fight back but we still thought that we got lots of chances."

So despite letting that 0-7 to 0-3 interval lead slip O'Rourke was proud of his team's performance and especially the first-half display which was probably the finest effort his ever-improving side have produced in his time in charge so far.

“Very proud of the effort. A bit disappointed that we didn't get the two points, but the other positive side of it is we're now up to six points, we're safe in the second division," suggested O'Rourke.

“There's still four points to play for and that could put us in the hunt for promotion. So there's a lot to play for but very proud of the effort of the lads. Definitely a little disappointed because I thought we were the better team.

"I thought it (the first-half display) was the best football we've played and much better than the Louth game and much better than last Sunday.

"Again, we had a very critical analysis of the Kildare game and the lads themselves thought that they could do a lot better and it proved like that in the first half.

"We did really work hard, created good moves, open spaces. Our shooting was poor. We had, I think, 15 scoring chances the first half which was a lot, but at least again what we have in the team is heart and effort and never say die spirit.

"The technical elements of that will come with time and I think that was the best performance of the league so far. So I think there's a lot to look forward to.

"The lads were very disappointed in the dressing room afterwards not to have won, so it shows their ambition," he said.

O'Rourke was fulsome in his praise of the defensive effort of his team. Meath restricted Cavan to just one point from play in the opening half and that type of defensive fortitude has been a feature of this team.

However, at the other end of the field Meath have managed just one goal, Mathew Costello's sensational solo effort against Louth, in five games. It's not like the Royals aren't creating chances, so is the manager concerned about the lack of clinical finishing?

“Well I'm not in the least worried. I think things are improving. The lads will get better and someday it will all come together and we'll get three or four (goals)," said O'Rourke.

"Apart from the Armagh game we haven't allowed any team to run up huge scores. We haven't been able to score enough ourselves to put us out of reach, but I think that's 9, 10, 11 points is what we have restricted opposition to.

"So it's a sign that our defence is working well and people like Adam O'Neill and Donal Keogan were just outstanding there tonight. That is the sort of form that they have shown for the whole league so far."

With each passing game (the disappointing performance in Armagh aside) Meath appear to have improved as the level of competition has risen and O'Rourke is please with the progress his side continues to make.

"I'm very happy with the progress of the players. The effort in training and the fitness levels and everything else," he said.

"I thought in all these games we seem to be able to go right to the end. Ciaran Caulfield in his second year. Darragh Campion has been injured for a long time.

So they're just settling into their role and they're getting better and better.

"You can't invent a defensive system which is going to work in a few months. It has taken time and it will take time and there'll be good days and bad days still with them, but they are continuing to improve."

As well as pointing out the excellence of Donal Keogan, Adam O'Neill, Darragh Campion and Ciaran Caulfield, O'Rourke also had praise for goalkeeper Sean Brennan, although he did take a very Roy Keane-esque view on the Dunderry man's brilliant display against Cavan.

"Well that's what he's paid to do. That's his job! Of course he did. He did all the fundamentals well. His kicking out was very good and then the three frees. Particularly that very difficult one from over at the terrace side 45 metres out. It was a wonderful kick under pressure. because we were one behind at the time."

With six points in the bag and safety all but assured Meath can now look forward to the visit of Cork to Navan on Saturday 16th March and aim to build on the positivity of the last few weeks.

O'Rourke agreed that it was time for his players to let their hair down last Saturday and enjoy what they achieved so far as he suggest it was 'Nunc est Bibendum' time again.

The manager also revealed that he will be giving his players some down time next weekend, but he also admitted that he doesn't expect the injury list to be eased any time soon.

"First of all, it's time for Nunc est Bibendum again tonight. Then we will have a relaxing night or two. We're giving the lads next weekend off," confirmed O'Rourke who has always advocated for a happy balance of enjoying playing for the county and the desire to succeed.

"They've had a hard few months now and they need a little bit of downtime, but I don't think there are any reinforcements arriving quickly.

"I think it'll be a few more weeks, but the only thing about this is, of course, we can take the long view now.

"We're at least guaranteed to be in the second division next year. We're guaranteed to be in the Sam Maguire. So if we were in a difficult position of relegation, we might be trying to rush fellas back, but the good thing now is we can take our time with them.

"Of course, the other side of it is we play Longford in the first round of the championship early in April. So there isn't that much time from league to championship.

"I'd say hopefully Ronan Ryan, Harry O'Higgins, Jordan Morris, Ross Ryan, all of those fellas will be back in contention, I'd say, within a month. So that'll be good. Conor Gray may be a little bit longer, but we could have four or five extra in another month.

"We certainly will taste the delicacies of some north Meath taverns on the way home. I think the lads deserve a good night out. We're telling them to settle back, relax, have a good night and we're going to see them next week for training. I think they deserve that.

"They'll be tired tomorrow after their exertions tonight. So it's great to have a Saturday night match from that point of view and then they can put their feet up and relax,” concluded the manager.