Meath hurlers will have no time to dwell on past defeats with Faithful challenge looming
It has to be one of the hardest things in sport. To pick yourself up, dust yourself off after a heavy defeat. A mother and father of a defeat like the Meath hurlers suffered on Saturday when they lost 7-29 to 1-16 to Laois.
You have to try and process what has happened and move on. Somehow.
And to make things even more testing Meath have to get their heads ready to face Offaly this weekend.
Those players who are eager to improve and test themselves against the rest will relish the prospect of taking on the Faithful County, one of the favourites to win the McDonagh Cup despite their recent loss to Laois.
Those Meath players whose confidence has taken a bit of battering after going toe-to-toe with some quality players last Saturday might not be looking forward to the assignment with the same attitude.
After his team had defeated Cork in the 2006 All-Ireland SHC final Kilkenny manager Brian Cody said "I pick on attitude” - a phrase that indicates how attitude is crucial in any sporting environment - and the attitude, the mindset of the Meath players will determine how they fare out against Offaly next Saturday in Trim. It's certain the visitors will win but by how much is the question? Can Meath put it up to them?
Despite the odds against them Meath have to believe themselves that they have a chance. Out-believe. After all David went out to face Goliath with a confidence and a strut - and looked what happened there.
These Meath players will battle to the end but sometimes heart is just not enought. Other factors are required to give yourself a shout.
The joint captain of the Meath team (with Charlie Ennis) Sean Quigley, was bravely willing to talk to members of the media after Saturday's trouncing. He spoke about how it's probably a good thing that the games are "coming thick and fast", one after another. There simply isn't too much time to dwell on a heavy beating.
He talked of how he and his colleagues must "regroup and pick ourselves up for Offaly". Not an easy task. The Faithful County were defeated by Laois first day out (0-24 to 2-21) before overcoming Westmeath last Saturday, 2-23 to 1-20.
Quigley has been playing senior hurling for Meath since 2015 so he, at least, has considerable experience to draw on but other younger players will just have to rely on their own resources of physical and mental strength. On their own attitude to the challenge that awaits.
An insight into Quigley's own positive attitude to Saturday's heavy defeat could be seen in the way he sought to extract some positives from the chastening experience of facing a physically imposing, slick Laois outfit.
He pointed to the opening episodes of the game when Meath stood toe-to-toe with their fast-paced heavyweight opponents and traded punches.
"If you were to take anything from it, it was our opening 20 minutes I actually though we battled well, hassled hard, until around the 25-minute mark the referee gave James Toher the black card. You could see what impact that had on the game. Laois could use the ball a lot better, create more space for themselves and they rattled off a lot of scores."
When asked about the disruption caused by Seoirse Bulfin resigning as manager and Steven Clynch called in to take charge, Quigley, understandably, didn't want to go there. Instead, he suggested, it's about pushing on under Clynch, a respected figure among the players.
After a spell playing in Navan, Meath are now back in Trim. There are those that feel that can make a difference to play in the so-called "home of Meath hurling." Quigley dispelled that idea, although not completely. "Once you are in the white lines it doesn't matter what pitch you are on," he said before adding "it was nice to play before the home support here today."
The familiar surroundings of St Loman's Park must offer some crumb of comfort. This weekend, when Offaly come calling, any little advantage will be needed.