McCormack pleased with improved attacking performance

Shane McCormack is not one for the limelight. Even in the glow of Sunday's superb Leinster SFC win over Kildare the Meath manager was keen to take a back seat and soak up the enjoyment on the pitch.

As a Kildare man, who further enhanced his reputation as a coach and manager with Armagh, McCormack was beaming from ear to ear after putting one over his own county.

There were a few shouts of frustration down from the magnificent new stand in Newbridge from some home supporters in the direction of McCormack as he guided the Royals to victory, but the Meath manager was delighted to get over the line.

"I'd say so (the happiest Kildare man in Newbridge), but it's not about me or about the management team. This is all about the girls," said McCormack as he heaped praise on his players.

"I was disappointed for them over the last couple of months because we are well aware of how capable they are of putting in a huge performance and they did it for 45 minutes today. I'm delighted for the players.

"The main goal at the start of the year was to get to a Leinster final and we achieved that. We just got over the line, so I'm a little bit disappointed with the second-half performance.

"We were nine points up with 15 or 16 minutes to go, then they got back into the game with a couple of refereeing decisions. I know I comment on this every week, but for the life of me I can't understand a couple of the dodgy decisions that put them (Kildare) back in the game.

"Emma Duggan was given a sin-bin there at the end for God knows what, but at the end of the day a win is a win and we can now look forward to playing Dublin in a Leinster final."

After a decent start to the league, Meath's form and promotion hopes fell off a cliff with defeat by Kildare and a heavy loss to Dublin in NFL Div 1, but there was always a sense of hope for McCormack, especially in the away performances against Kerry and Armagh in the last two games of the league.

Despite losing to Dublin in the opening game of the Leinster campaign McCormack continued to see green shoots and was encouraged by what was probably his side's best 45 minutes of football against Kildare.

"We have been working very hard. The coaches, the management team and the girls have been working extremely hard for the last couple of months. After getting a trimming by Dublin in the league, losing by 16 points, and losing to Kildare in the league in Abbotstown we have improved.

"We had a couple of good performances against Armagh and Kerry in the league and even the Dublin game in the championship a couple of weeks ago we were only three points down and well in the game, so you can see the improvement.

"We knew we would hit the blocks running today, full credit to the girls for their work. That's what we have spoken about for the last couple of weeks, and the win is a win."

One of the most frustrating elements of Meath's loss to Dublin in round one of the Leinster SFC was their struggles in attack. They managed just one point from play in that outing, but McCormack admitted that was something they worked very hard on for the last couple of weeks.

"Going more direct is something we have been working on. We aimed to go through the middle more instead of carrying it into cul de sacs. There was more patience, more recycling the ball out and getting runners in off the shoulder," said the manager.

"You could see there for the first 40 or 45 minutes that it worked well and please God we can do something different next weekend. Obviously it will be against different opposition and we'll have to devise a gameplan for an excellent Dublin team, but we are looking forward to it.

"It is hugely satisfying to see the improvement in our scoring. We weren't happy with our return the last time against Dublin, and the girls certainly weren't happy with it.

"It was disappointing against an animal like Dublin to score just one point from play, so to improve that today was very pleasing. We have been working extremely hard and the coaches have done a great job. The girls bought into the work and it's full credit to them.

"There are a few things we have to work on and we will work hard on them during the week. Full credit to these girls, anything you ask these girls to do they will do it to 110%.

"We are over the line, the main aim was to get to a Leinster final, we are there now and it is in our hands."

While Emma Duggan stole most of the plaudits with her brilliant return of 1-6 McCormack was also full of praise for his unsung heroes.

"Emma (Duggan) was excellent on an attacking front, but even from a defensive point at view she was very good. At the very end she was getting back and helping out the defence, the same with Kerrie (Cole) and Vikki (Wall).

"Everyone knows Emma is a super player and she was one of our leaders who stood up today. So did the other girls, even the girls that came on. Megan Collins came on and won a free to help settle nerves.

"They (Marion Farrelly and Megan Thynne) worked extremely hard and I don't think they get enough credit for it. They are work horses for us and Ciara Smyth there as well was brilliant. They bring energy. We have our shooters who get on the ball, but without the middle eight working extremely hard you don't get the chances, you can see the energy they bring," concluded the manager before returning to celebrate reaching the Leinster final with his family and friends.