Not much at stake for Royals as Rebels visit Navan

NFL DIV 2 PREVIEW

There's an anti-climatic feeling towards Meath's penultimate NFL Div 2 clash with Cork in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.

On one hand Meath will be keen to maintain their recent run of decent form that has seen them secure wins over Louth and Kildare and a draw with Cavan which secured their place in Div 2 for another 12 months, at least.

However, with promotion next to impossible there is a feeling that there is little or nothing to play for from a Royal perspective and that could give the visiting Rebels a boost as they need the win to secure their second tier status.

Of even more significance for Cork, they need to finish as high up the Div 2 table as possible to avoid the appalling vista of the Tailteann Cup that is looming large on the horizon.

As Meath found out last year survival alone in Div 2 doesn't secure your status in the race for Sam Maguire in late spring/early summer. Cork are not expected to reach the Munster SFC final which would ensure their place in the Sam Maguire Cup. Should they overcome Limerick they are set to face Kerry in the Munster semi-final. By virtue of their victory in the Tailteann Cup last year Meath are guaranteed Sam Maguire football this year, so their finishing spot in the league is irrelevant.

The Royals are due to face Longford in the opening round of the Leinster SFC on Sunday 7th April with the winners set to take on Dublin a week later in the provincial semi-finals.

Meath manager Colm O'Rourke has cut his training panel to 35 players ahead of the final two games of the league and preparations are already underway for the game against Longford - so focus might not be as sharp on Cork next Saturday as it otherwise would have been.

Meath management might use the games against Cork and Donegal as an opportunity to get game time into players who haven't played full 70 minutes in the league, but who could find themselves in the white-heat of championship battle in just three weeks time.

Despite the contrasting importance of this game it is sure to be high intensity. Cork are not afraid to get stuck in, while Meath won't wilt in front of the rebels red shirts.

If nothing else it will be an intriguing battle, but for Meath the significance of the contest is vastly different to that of their visitors, so that could have a bearing on the outcome.