BOYLAN TALKS SPORT: So near but yet so proud

Inches. Eventually that’s what it boiled down to. That was all that came between Meath and taking Saturday’s All-Ireland u-20 FC semi-final to extra time. They would have deserved the additional 20 minutes by all means, but, deep down, all concerned will know this was one that got away.

This time round, the Gods frowned upon our dreams and the commendable efforts to achieve them. The angle of goalpost and crossbar combining to deny Conor McWeeney what the Meath contingent in the Semple Stadium stand had already began to acclaim as a deserved equaliser.

Then, undoubtedly and understandably rattled by the preceding, the courageous Kilbride clubman again found himself wishing for time to stand still, but instead, he found himself swarmed by Kerrymen, turned over and, just as quickly as the chance of redemption presented itself, it was gone.

Yet still Cathal O Bric’s brave lads kept resisting. Fighting the tide in many respects. Team captain Liam Kelly conjuring up a class block on what looked a certain goal for Kerry and then charged upfield and fired what was our lad's last shot in defiance as Tomas O’Se’s team hung on for the win their greater efficiency just about deserved.

It had all started so promisingly for the Leinster champions. After Eddie Healy had put their southern counterparts ahead from the throw in, Shaun Leonard broke upfield and flashed over a fine equaliser.

Thereafter, Meath were probably at their best, as points from John O’Regan, Jack Kinlough, Hughie Corcoran and Jamie Murphy (two each) saw the Royals lead by 0-6 to 0-4 midway the first half and though the Kingdom hit four unanswered scores on the run in to half time, a Murphy free left the minimum in it at the break.

Meath did quickly restore parity in the second half, but, try as they might, they were never able to get their noses in front and in the end the greater accuracy of Healy, Luke Crowley and Cormac Dillon just about got the three-in-a-row Munster kingpins over the line.

Inches. Cathal O’Bric wasn’t the only one choking back tears at full time. It was a case of so near, yet so very, very proud. The joy and, more importantly, hope for the future these young men and their mentors have given the entire county is beyond measuring.

It’s a running joke in our house that I have that good of a grasp of the TG4 commentary that I could apply for the job. Reason being that Irish and history were the only two subjects I really liked in school.

Anyway, one line of Aodhan Mac Gearailt’s summing up in the commentary box really struck like a tonne of bricks. Roughly translated, the former wing forward basically said some of the players on show will probably never play inter county football again.

Probably a reality, but still, just enough of a jolt to the already rattled emotions to take the lump in the throat to the point of excretion of ocular fluid. However, on mature recollection, obvious devastation at the nature of our defeat aside, the campaign just concluded has to be seen as one of rejuvenating positivity from a Meath viewpoint.

Not just because they attained silverware therein either - welcome and wonderful though it was. No, equally as important - looking through the long distance lens - will be that the conveyor belt of young talent continues whirring along in the county.

As referenced last week in this column, Brian O’Halloran and John O’Regan and Jack Kinlough have already seen game time with the seniors this term but I have no intention of trying to second guess management regarding who - if any - they might bring in. Especially given the fondness one of the amalgam has for the value of being able to pull rabbits from hats.

It’s bound to be a topic of interest and debate among fans. For reference, when last the Seamus Flood Cup spent Christmas on the banks of the Boyne, 2001, Seamus Kenny, Charlie McCarthy, Christy Reynolds, Niall Kelly, Adrian Kenny and David Crimmins joined David Gallagher - who’d been there since ‘99 - on Sean Boylan’s senior panel.

So, all things considered, how does the bigger picture look as our first time in the All Ireland Series since 2019 approaches? Not bad at all in my book. Strip away the bounce the county are still entitled to feel from the Leinster U-20 success and a group containing Louth, Kerry and Monaghan is nowhere near as cruel as the draw might have been to Colm O’Rourke’s charges.

Just hear me out. Before going a yard further, it’s only fair to acknowledge Louth performed better than many - perhaps even themselves - expected. In Tommy Durnin, Ciaran Keenan, Conor Grimes, Ciaran Downey, Ryan Burns, Sam Mulroy and Ciaran Byrne, Ger Brennan can rely on performers capable of giving anybody their belly full of it.

One swallow - or two since 1958 to be more accurate - don’t constitute summers. Meath must afford the Wee County the utmost respect. It’s the very least they deserve having proven themselves, by some distance, the second best team in Leinster presently. The hungry cannot turn down crumbs.

However, in no way should Meath fear the red and white. Respect, yes, because, being realistic, Louth are the nearest we have to a rivalry at present. But not fear.

We’ve beaten them twice already this season (yes the O’Byrne Cup counts, it’s an official competition) and, while Louth were at full strength in Pairc Tailteann in March, my instinct is to think it’ll be a stronger Meath team this time around. We’ll deal with the other group games in due course, but, no matter what happens from here, the experiences will stand to an evolving Meath team.

***

Can it really be as simple as it looks? Have the Meath ladies regressed to such a point that they are now 19 points a worse team than Dublin? I simply can’t concur.

Extenuating circumstances have to be a factor. Take players of the quality of Orlaith Duff, Emma Troy, Orlagh Lally, Vikki Wall, Niamh O’Sullivan (Walsh), Aoibheann Leahy, Kelsey Nesbitt, Stacey Grimes, Bridgetta Lynch, Aoife Minogue and Sarah Wall out of any panel and it’s going to leave a void that will take some filling.

Yes, many of those who’ve come in have contributed admirably, players such as Aine Sheridan, Nicole Troy, Niamh Gallogly, Shelly Melia, Ciara Smyth, Meadhbh Byrne, Marion Farrelly and Ella Moyles. But those of the class of the absent aren’t easily replaced.

Conversely, with the exception of custodian Ciara Trant and Niamh McEvoy (Rock), Dublin boss Mick Bohan can still call on decorated warriors like Martha Byrne, Sinead Goldrick, Lauren Magee, Jennifer Dunne, Carla Rowe and, most significantly, Hannah Tyrell.

That nucleus taking on such a changed and largely inexperienced Meath side was always going to be a tall order for Shane McCormack’s Royals, but should the disparity be that gaping?

To my mind, at the moment, a fundamental and understandable lack of confidence within the group may be the biggest issue. While it’s unlikely any of the ‘tourists’ could be coaxed back at this stage, sight shouldn’t be lost of the fact the girls managed to retain their Div. 1 NFL status. A fine feat in itself.

The beauty of the system in Ladies Football - now mirrored by the men - is that All Ireland Championship is a separate competition to anything which has gone before.

Thus, McCormack’s side can start over with a clean slate. With a bit of luck anything is possible. Meath haven’t become a bad team overnight