BOYLAN TALKS SPORT: Cutting cloth according to measure can leave you out in the cold

No sooner had referee Seamus Mulvihil blown the full-time whistle at the end of extra-time in the second All-Ireland Ladies SFC semi-final than my phone began to light up ‘Damn, we’d have a better chance of beating Galway’ read one message, ‘This Dublin team have our number. We don’t need to be meeting them again’, proclaimed another.

It would be hypocritical of me not to admit that yes I would be of a similar view. However, there’s absolutely no need for Meath to fear taking on Derek Murray and Paul Casey’s team. Their male counterparts, who garnered six All-Ireland titles in a row under both Jim Gavin and Dessie Farrell, were beaten and had their spell of dominance ended.

Switch codes to hurling and we’ve seen Tipperary deny Kilkenny five-in-a-row All-Ireland titles, Cork do likewise and, most recently, Limerick’s lead on the rest of the field has been completely whittled away and John Kiely’s side passed out.

Now, what’s probably a scary number of years ago, Cork and Dublin seemed to have the Ladies Football scene to themselves. As Mayo also did for a while before Meath made their breakthrough by winning the All-Ireland IFC in 2020 and the game’s biggest prize in the two seasons which followed.

Unfortunately, though, Eamonn Murray’s prediction that what was his team would break up after that second consecutive Brendan Martin Cup triumph was sadly accurate. As players such as Orlaith Duff, Emma Troy, Stacey Grimes, Aoibheann Leahy, Orlagh Lally and Bridgetta Lynch took their leave of the biggest stage.

Mind you, in the interim, Davy Nelson, Jenny Rispin and Shane McCormack have, between them, unearthed the composition of a brilliant ‘new’ team which has improved incrementally as the season has gone on.

To the point that on Saturday last, they produced their best performance not only this season but for several.

After a typically edgy opening between two fairly evenly matched teams - with Siofra O’Shea posting a brace for the defending All-Ireland champions and Emma Duggan replying at the other end.

Marion Farrelly, Aoibhin Cleary and Megan Thynne also pointed for Meath before a brilliant solo goal from Kerrie Cole gave the underdogs a 1-5 to 0-6 interval advantage.

It, however, was evaporated within seconds of the restart when - in the first of a plethora of atrocious decisions against Meath by Cavan whistler Maggie Farrelly - she allowed a Kerry attack - which culminated with the ball in the net - to continue even though Katie Newe was prone on the ground injured.

The Ratoath clubwoman was unable to continue, but, whether notional or reality, the good ship Royal seemed to steady up with the arrival of former skipper Shauna Ennis to the fray.

That said, sometimes for a team to reach the full of their perceived potential, there will be days when those who are usually unsung heroes or heroines hit the high notes.

Cue the likes of Aine Sheridan, Karla Kealy, Thynne, and Cole stepping up to the plate when Meath’s need was greatest. Though they were all eclipsed by Sarah Wall.

So often overshadowed by her sister, the Dunboyne defender was immense in the midlands on Saturday. Not only nullifying the threat to Meath’s wellbeing carried by the likes of Anna Galvin and Niamh Ni Chonchuir but driving upfield to bury the second ‘major’ for those clad in the seldom seen, under appreciated white Kepak jerseys.

Thereafter, points from Marion Farrelly, Megan Thynne, Ciara Smyth and Emma Duggan buried the ghosts of the last two summers and penned another chapter in the glorious history of Meath teams highly achieving with the meat processing business emblazoned across their jerseys.

There’s very little Meath or Dublin don’t know about each other at this stage, but, from a Royal County viewpoint, cutting your cloth according to measure runs the risk of your own ambitions being left out in the cold.

Put another way, rather than obsessing over the likes of Sinead Goldrick or Niamh Hetherton or Hannah Tyrell or Carla Rowe, focus on the fact that Meath themselves are the most improved side in the country.

On foot of which, in Marion Farrelly, Niamh Gallogly, Ciara Smyth, Emma Duggan and Vikki Wall, we have attacking players capable of giving Dublin’s ageing rearguard something to think about.

Believe in ourselves and let them worry about us.

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Floodlights at the end of the Pairc Tailteann tunnel

For once, though, breaking news off the field will quite possibly and rightly overshadow anything going on between the lines this week. With signs that, at long last, things may be moving towards a physical manifestation of the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann getting under way.

If my understanding is correct, the contract is now ready to go out to tender. Essentially, going out to tender is the selection process to pick who will carry out the work. Presuming that can be expedited fairly quickly, one wonders might there be some sort of a start made before year end.

Obviously, from a personal perspective, greatest interest will centre on the disabled viewing facilities in the new stadium. I would be delighted and honoured if asked to make a contribution to same. As was the case when the current area was being constructed 20 years ago.

What’s more, any engagement received from Meath Co Committee would be an improvement on the stoney wall of silence received from GAA HQ in relation to the tawdry state of affairs currently therein. As many of you will know, in recent months, I've written two fairly extensive pieces in the Sunday Independent detailing my attempts to engage with Uachtarain CLG Jarlath Burns but you’d get more of a reply from the Cistercian Monks.

However, since then, my own research has revealed that there are, in fact, two sections of the Cusack Stand - numbers 408 and 409 - where the row of seats have been removed. Thus leaving patrons requiring the facilities with an unobstructed view. Like the carpark spaces, mind you, they seem to be more closely guarded secrets than those of Fatima.