'Tired' Meath look to recharge batteries in Donegal
O'Rourke seeking to alleviate fatigue and mental tiredness in panel
With nothing but pride to play for Colm O'Rourke and his selectors have made a number of changes to the Meath team to take on Donegal tomorrow in round seven of the NFL Div 2 from the side that started against Cork.
The changes are a clear attempt by O'Rourke the diminish the mental fatigue he believes is weighing the squad down - and give those brought in some game time.
The Meath manager pointed to how he felt a lot of the players looked jaded towards the end of the defeat to Cork last week.
"We do intend having a (warm weather) training camp in May ourselves, we're working on that, but the problem with a lot of the fellas at this stage is maybe a bit of mental tiredeness more than physical," he said after the game.
As part of his response he and his selectors have now made a raft of changes. Safe from relegation and with the prospect of promotion having disappeared over the horizon this is the time to experiment.
Back in his playing days one of the ways the Meath players would recharge their batteries would be to have a good night or two out. Is that still an best option?
Billy Hogan starts in goals instead of Sean Brennan tomorrow while Harry O'Higgins, Diarmuid Moriarty, Keith Curtis, Adam McDonnell, Ross Ryan and Ronan Jones are also included in the team that will travel up to north for the game in Ballybofey.
Players from the team who started against Cork and who make way for this clash include Ciaran Caulfield, Darragh Campion, Sean Coffey, Daithi McGowan, Eoghan Frayne, Jack O'Connor, and Brennan.
Also included in the match day panel for the first time are Brendan McKeon and Sean Rafferty.
The game is a big opportunity for those players brought in to show what they can do with the championship looming ahead on the horizon.
"Every one of these games is competitive because lads know it's a chance to either get on the team or make a jump up to the 26," said O'Rourke.
A victory in Ballybofey would be a real boost for the Royals but the experimental look of the team suggests such an eventuality is an outside chance at best.
Jimmy McGuinness's Donegal are second in the table but have the same points tally (11) as Armagh. The are by some distance the two best sides in the division.
One player who continues to hold onto his place is Brian O'Halloran. He represents the Ballivor club in football and has proved to be one of the success stories of the league campaign with his consistency and strength.
The Meath panel for the clash in Donegal is:
Billy Hogan (Maigh Dearmhaí)
Harry O'Higgins (Emmet Druim Bhearradh)
Adam O'Neill (Bhulf Tón)
Brian O'Halloran (Baile Íomhair)
Adam McDonnell (Druim Samhraidh)
Donal Keogan (Rath Coinnig)
Ross Ryan (Druim Samhraidh)
Ronan Jones (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne) (Capt.)
Cian McBride (Naomh Ultain)
Diarmuid Moriarty (Currach Átha)
Ruairí Kinsella (Domhnach Seachnaill)
Cathal Hickey (Baile Sencaill)
Shane Walsh (Na Fianna)
Mathew Costello (Domhnach Seachnaill)
Keith Curtis (Rath Coinnig).
Substitutes:
Sean Brennan (Dún Doire)
James Conlon (Naomh Colmcille)
Danny Dixon (Bórd an Mhuilinn)
Jack O'Connor (Currach Átha)
Daithí McGowan (Rath Tó)
Michael Murphy (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne)
Aaron Lynch (Átha Troim)
Ciaran Caulfield (Átha Troim)
Eoghan Frayne (Druim Samhraidh)
Sean Rafferty (Na Fianna)
Brendan McKeon (Baile Íomhair)