BOYLAN TALKS SPORTS: Rude awakening with a few morsels of positivity

With utmost regret, a nadir is about to be crossed pertaining to which there is almost as much anger as upset.

The mere thought of even talking about moral victories, never mind looking for them, is abhorrent to me.

So, rather than that, let’s say the task in the wake of another chastening evening at the hands and boots of the boys in blue was to finitely search for whatever few morsels of positivity were left scattered among what were even meagre leavings for the seagulls.

Perhaps the greatest indicator of what feels like an unbridgeable chasm between Dublin and Meath is that just 21,400 spectators ventured to GAA HQ to see the once great rivals share an arena.

For more than a decade now, it has been less rivalry, more dictatorship. By my calculations, 2012 was the last time Meath got anywhere close to Dublin.

Take the attendance again - 21,400-ish, now consider that the aggregate attendance of the four first round matches between the two counties in 1991 was 250,000. You might say that’s like comparing apples and oranges, but isn’t that exactly the point? Sadly, Meath and Dublin occupy vastly different airspace within the football galaxy presently. Last week, this column expressed the hope that Colm O’Rourke’s side might perform better than a lot of people were expecting. Viewed through a certain lens, to a certain extent, they did. In that, for the best part of an hour, they were respectably in the contest. Albeit at a distance.

However, the flip side of that coin is, from that point on, despite not appearing to exceed third gear, Dessie Farrell’s serial winning machine blew what to that point had been a valiant Royal effort out of the water. Tacking on 2-3 with only an Eoghan Frayne free in riposte.

Mind you, mention of the Summerhill player takes us to the first point of optimism from a local perspective. He has quickly graduated from promising rookie to arguably the fulcrum of the Meath attack.

If asked to categorise his style of play, my best attempt would be a cross between Trevor Giles and Tommy Dowd, with a Brian Stafford-like routine from dead balls.

Everything positive Meath achieved over the 70+ minutes flowed through him. Regardless of what the eventual outcome was going to be, it was imperative for the 14/1 outsiders to get away to a decent start.

This they did with some aplomb, the again luckless Darragh Campion grasping possession from the throw in before charging at the Dublin defence and splitting the posts.

Shortly thereafter, Adam O’Neill, Ross Ryan and Ciaran Caulfield combined brilliantly to manufacture a succession of turnovers. At the end of which firstly Ronan Jones claimed and converted a brilliant mark before Frayne esayed what for this observer was the score of the day.

Gathering possession in front of the dugouts before making stealthy progress up the right side of the Meath attack before dispatching an exquisite effort over the black spot.

At 0-3 apiece after 20 minutes, the Meath camp would surely have been happy with their lot. On such occasions though, the unfancied need a few breaks to go their way.

No dice on that score. Dublin’s Sean Bugler getting away with taking more than three times the permitted steps before hitting the roof of Billy Hogan’s net. By the way, that’s not in any way a dig at the Dublin player. He played the whistle as every kid is taught to from the time they’re able to kick a ball.

But you have to ask if the referee can miss something as basic and obvious as that, are they fit for the inter county list? And it wasn’t the only poor call Meath could feel aggrieved about..

The brash Galweigan giving a most bizarre free against Cian McBride within seconds of the St Ultan’s clubman coming on. The giant midfielder having majestically pulled down a Billy Hogan kickout.

It would appear that the whistler took issue with Cian claiming a mark even though he apparently didn’t call it. But surely he should have been allowed to play on at least.

Look, whether either going the other way would’ve altered the eventual outcome is unlikely, that’s not the point. The Bugler one certainly shouldn’t be got wrong at that level. And that it was absolutely shouldn’t have gone unchecked.

In other words, surely some of the lines persons, the umpires at the Railway End or the fourth official should have been able to notice such an obvious transgression and advised Thomas Murphy accordingly.

If not, it again leads one to ponder how the panel of inter county referees is arrived at. Especially when one considers the lunacy of David Coldrick being dropped from same last season.

Anyway, enough of all that. Ultimately, to my mind, the most notable difference between the sides was the speed and efficiency with which the kingpins were able to create and take scoring chances. Acumen acquired through experience, mileage and familiarity.

Contrast that with, as Colm repeatedly pointed out before and after Sunday’s gruelling experience, there were Dublin players on the field with more All Ireland medals than a lot of the Meath lads have Championship appearances.

You can’t buy experience like that. Yes, this one hurt, you can bet your Sunday dinner on that. But what doesn’t break you will only leave you stronger.

Look at things like Frayne’s superb point in the first half, Jordan Morris buzzing with a bit of confidence, Caulfield’s surging run and masterful second half point, James Conlon clipping over a fine score and evidence of a bit of depth to the panel becoming apparent.

Time may well prove that Meath gave Dublin as many problems during their brighter spells as anybody other than Kerry is likely to. Obviously, you’d be hoping for a bit of luck when it comes to the draw for the groupings for the All Ireland Series.

Regardless of who we end up paired with, the three forthcoming matches - which include one in Pairc Tailteann and possibily another outing in Croker - will bring this Meath team on a tonne.

The journey continues.