O’Rourke must somehow inspire his team to save their summer

Most managers of Gaelic football inter-county teams - set out on whatever job they take on wrapped snugly in a blanket of optimism. They talk of objectives they hope to achieve - then reality starts to impinge on all the hopes and aspirations.

When Colm O'Rourke took charge of Meath he too was spurred on by a set of aspirations that included his team at some stage defeating Dublin. “I would regard that we will have failed if we don’t beat Dublin and we don’t get to Division 1 of the league (over the next three years),” he said.

Last year in the lead up to his team's Tailteann Cup final with Down O'Rourke issued another statement. "I think we'll get substantially better in the future, next year and the year after."

Then there was the belief he expressed, also soon after taking the reins in 2022, that at the end of the second year of any manager's spell in charge a team should be showing signs of substantial progress.

Sadly, from O'Rourke's and Meath's perspective, those hopes and aspirations, look a long way off being turned into something tangible on the field of play. After a championship campaign undermined by inconsistency; a campaign that has included heavy hammerings by Dublin, Louth and Kerry, Meath look like a side that has gone backwards instead of onwards; a team in the midst of a real crisis of confidence

The team however, has yet another chance of finding a path to redemption if they can defeat Monaghan in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC showdown at Breffni Park - and they could do just that.

If they don't win, and they suffer another heavy defeat, than O'Rourke might well feel it's time for him to step away although he certainly didn't suggest he would do that after the trouncing by the Kerry last week.

If anything he was defiant saying they would ignore the naysayers and push on. He expressed his view "that there is a big performance in us yet."

Royal County supporters will approach Sunday's game with little optimism, especially after those low-wattage, dispiriting displays against Louth and Kerry - yet this might just be the very match that Meath produce that "big performance" the manager spoke about. It’s now or never.

Meath face a Monaghan side that has it's own problems, it's very own crisis of confidence. Prior to a draw with Louth (2-10 all) the other week Monaghan lost eight games on the spin (six in the league, two in the championship).

After a shock win over Dublin at the start of the year Vinny Corey's team has suffered an implosion more than a collapse in form. Injuries and withdrawals have conspired to ensure the Farney County side look a spectre of what they were like last year when they reached the All-Ireland semi-final. They look vulnerable although they too have reasons to believe.

They lost heavily to Kerry (0-24 to 1-11) in their opening All-Ireland series game a few weeks ago but showed in that draw with the Wee County a certain spirit and resilience that should make Meath wary.

They trailed Louth by five points going into the closing stages but with the help of Micheal Brannigan’s goal they drew level. Rory Beggan pointed to put them ahead. Then, in a breathless conclusion, Sam Mulroy lofted over for Louth to leave the side's level again. That comeback was encouraging from Monaghan's perspective but they're surely still vulnerable.

Meath must shore up their defence and find a way to get consistent ball into forwards such as Jordan Morris and Mathew Costello. O'Rourke quoted an interesting statistic after the Kerry game that in the first-half both teams had 14 shots at the posts. Kerry, however, ended up with 10 points, Meath with three.

The Meath simply have to become more clinical in front of the posts. They must also get a more consistent supply of ball which dried up in the second-half of the Kerry game. Meath's best player against the Kingdom was Ciaran Caulfield who repeatedly embarked on surging runs upfield. More of Caulfield's colleagues need to break the first tackle instead of looking to pass backwards. Get beyond the gainline as the say in rugby. They must also stop turnovers conceded.

Most of all the Meath players must somehow dredge up the self-belief, the heart, that has deserted them in recent outings. Much of that confidence and self-assuredness comes from the manager.

As a former St Pat's CS principal O'Rourke knows the mentality of young men better than most. He must find a way to unleash the potential in this Meath team. They are far better than they have shown in recent outings.

The players have the potential but it has not been exploited or full expressed so far in this summer of discontent for the Royals.

The Meath panel to play Monaghan in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on Sunday, 3pm is:.

Billy Hogan (Maigh Dearmhaí)

Donal Keogan (Rath Coinnig)

Adam O’Neill (Bhulf Tón)

Ronan Ryan (Druim Samhraidh)

Harry O’Higgins (Emmet Druim Bhearradh)

Darragh Campion (Scrín)

Sean Coffey (Baile na Breacaighe)

Ronan Jones (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne) (Capt.)

Cian McBride (Naomh Ultain)

Ciaran Caulfield (Áth Troim)

Cillian O’Sullivan (Magh nAilbhe)

Cathal Hickey (Baile Sencaill)

James Conlon (Naomh Colmcille)

Mathew Costello (Domhnach Seachnaill)

Eoghan Frayne (Druim Samhraidh)

Sean Brennan (Dún Doire)

Michael Murphy (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne)

Sean Ryan (Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne)

Brian O’Halloran (Baile Íomhair)

Ross Ryan (Druim Samhraidh)

Conor Gray (Domhnach Seachnaill)

Daithí McGowan (Rath Tó)

Ruairí Kinsella (Domhnach Seachnaill)

Jack O’Connor (Currach Átha)

Jordan Morris (Réaltaí Dún a Rí)

Aaron Lynch (Áth Troim).