BOYLAN TALKS SPORT: Live in hope or hoist the white flag? I know what wagon I’m hitching to

I have no doubt that when Longford registered their two late goals on Sunday last, the naysayers and doom mongers went into overdrive. Along the lines of “if Longford scored 3-12 against them, what will Dublin do?”

Right, the same thought did dock here for a while, but before pondering that, answer me this, which would you rather - to live in hope, believe in the talent and ability our players, acknowledge the class of this Dublin team but embrace the challenge of taking them on? Or to hoist the white flag, concede before the ball is thrown in (no, not literally), thereby making little of our players?

I know which wagon I’ll be hitching up to. No, the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny fan clubs haven’t got new subscribers, but, I think it was Mark Twaine who said that the only certainties are “Life, death and taxes”.

Or, to put it another way, as my neighbour the herbalist did many years ago, “They don’t eat any better spuds than we do”

Look, I haven’t been overcome by delusion either. Have they better players than us? Yes, but that could be applied to most other teams in the country, not just Meath. They have the leather-bound, gold encrusted CVs to prove it.

But they can only throw 15 of them at us at any one time. Just the same as we will have 15 to confront them also. There are players therein capable of giving any defence plenty to think about.

Sunday last perfectly encapsulated the progress which has been made, but also the road which remains to be travelled on the journey. Wherever it may eventually lead to.

Any day a team clocks up 3-19, all but 1-1 of which came from open play, they have to be doing something right. And in that first half, with wind assistance, Meath played some highly impressive, quick tempo football. Captain Ronan Jones dominated the centre field exchanges, which allowed five of Colm O’Rourke’s starting front sextet give the umpires work to do as they wracked up 1-13 before facing into what was at times a storm force wind.

Special mention must be afforded to the returning corner forward duo of Jordan Morris and James Conlon. Both of whom belied a dearth of game time in the lead up to this occasion and sparkled throughout. By the time Fermanagh’s Niall Cullen had blown the short whistle, Conlon had 1-3 to his name while Morris, too - playing his first match since the Cavan SFC Final last October - also had a few scores under his belt.

Now, it was probably only to be expected that the visitors’ scoring rate would drop off when facing into the remnants of Storm Kathleen. Therefore, on the face of it, banking another 2-6 into the elements should have been highly commendable.

Which to a certain degree it was. Thanks to the surging runs Meath built their battle plan for the second half. The fruits of same manifested themselves by way of goals from Championship debutant Cian McBride and Frayne (penalty) as well as a flurry of points from the same players, Conlon and Morris.

On the face of it, a pretty satisfying shift, you’d think. Absolutely, if it wasn’t for the fact that binoculars are no longer required to see the footballing Goliath looming large.

That said, with the benefit of having seen video highlights, initial misgivings about the Meath rearguard relating to Longford’s first two goals may have been a little harsh. It would be fairer to say climatic conditions had more to do with the first two three pointers plundered by Paddy Christie’s charges than anything else.

Nonetheless, it is indisputable that Darren Gallagher advanced on and breached the Royal trenches with far too much ease. It feels like pointing out it’ll be cold out when there’s snow to mention that the forthcoming adversaries are more than capable of leaving our lads - or any other team for that matter - with PTSD without us aiding and abetting its onset.

This column has no intention of itemising the ways in which Dublin could or maybe will cause Meath no end of problems. What’s wrong with extolling the virtues of our own?

Forget weather related aberrations. This is an effective Meath defence, in front of a steady custodian. We have an evolving midfield capable of holding their own with anybody and forwards of genuine quality capable of giving any defence plenty to do.

Furthermore, I remain convinced there are at least elements of the blue barricades have loose stones in their walls which, particularly if ran at, could provide avenues to advancement.

There’s a part of every sports fan that’s a dreamer, but, dealing in reality, do I think Sunday will be the day we tip the scales back in our favour? It breaks my heart to say no, but I do believe we will give a better account of ourselves than many - even within the county - believe.

It is my absolute belief that this team still have forward momentum with them. If, with the help of whoever pulls the levers far away, they were able to raise a few eyebrows against the auld enemy, it would be a highly significant step forward on the road to God knows where. Inches.

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IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE ‘WOOD TODAY…

You can be sure the tradition of producing GAA people of the highest quality is alive and well. One could be here until the cows come home - as if they ever do alone - reeling off the disciples of the white and blue (and, cough, Cavan) with distinction, but for now, thoughts revolve around two in particular.

The first being as obvious as the nose on your face - Brian Stafford. In my opinion, not only the best place kicker Meath have ever had but that Gaelic football has seen.

I can’t have been the only one (surely?) who went digging for the old cassette of Stafford From The ‘Wood having watched Rian - a nephew of the great man - turn in a polished performance - including on dead ball duties - with the Meath U-20s against Westmeath.

Then, on Sunday last, whilst waiting for the action to throw in in the midlands, the most excellent ScoreBeo app was constantly being refreshed as a means of keeping track of the action in Fraher Field in Dungarvan.

For you see, Rathmolyon native Jack Fagan isn’t the only Royal County expat contributing handsomely to the sporting fortunes of Na Deise. Nor is it Dunboyne’s Caragh McCarthy with the Munster outfit’s lady footballers.

Take a bow Paul Shankey. All Ireland MFC winner in 1992, Keegan Cup winner with the ‘Wood in ‘96 and the holder of a Celtic Cross from ‘99.

From the time himself, Evan Kelly and Ollie Murphy (at least) were employed by Mercury Engineering in Leixlip and were thus conscripted to Pat Kelly’s relic of a red bus - as were others like Ray Magee, Niall Kelly, David Crimmins and whatever local parishioners Sean had in with him at the time for delivery to and from training, I've known Paul.

Once Paul departed the Meath setup - when the herbalist did in 2005 - he decamped to Waterford from where his wife Annette hails and threw his infectious enthusiasm with the Portlaw club.

Well, whether by accident or design, last back end he took on a job that, with respect, not many would jump at, and stepped into inter county management with his adopted home.

Hasn’t he only gone and done the supposedly unthinkable and guided them to a first Championship win since 2010 and a first over Tipperary since 1988. Who knows how far he can take them? But equally, what does it matter? If Shankey told me he was going to be the next James Bond, I’d have no reason to doubt him!