Form book out the window as Meath bid for glory

If you're hoping to find clues in the form book as to what the outcome of Saturday's Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park between Meath and Derry might be then you've Sherlock Holmes-like powers of deduction.

The most direct line of form, and the most prevalent, has to be that when the two sides met in the group stages of the campaign Meath emerged from Derry's magnificent Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg with a two-point win.

Closer examination underlines Meath's impressive victory in round three. They played most of the game with 14 men following the 28th minute sending off of their talismatic defender James Toher. The Derry goal came from the penalty spot after a very harsh call. Yet Meath hurled tremendously.

All those factors have to be considered.

Surely with a full complement of players, Meath will be stronger - well it doesn't all work out that way.

When Meath were reduced to 14 men, they dug deep in their reservoirs of guts and determination and came out with the win despite the obstacles put in their way.

Would they have shown similar battling hungry if their backs weren't to the wall, remember the most dangerous animal is a wounded one and Meath were certainly hurting that day.

Coming off the back of shipping four goals in their only league or championship defeat of the year in London, Meath's Ring Cup prospects looked in tatters.

They regrouped for what at the time looked like mission improbable and headed north.

The nerves were obvious in Owenbeg. Meath trailed by three points after the same amount of minutes and lost Toher to a harsh dismissal after a red card offence that no-one else in the small tidy ground witnessed only the match official - but that's the only witness necessary.

However, instead of throwing in the towel Meath rallied. Brendan McKeon excelled. Martin Healy took on the Toher role and was accomplished, while up front Eamon O Donnchadha and Nicky Potterton were immense.

Even with Jack Regan and Podge O'Hanrahan mis-firing from frees, they both excelled from play and Meath got the job done and their train back on track.

So with that win in the formbook. Toher's suspension served, Regan back to his best from frees, the ever-diminishing injury-list and the return to the panel of lads like Adam Gannon Meath look better placed than they did on that last Saturday in April.

However, as has already been stated this year's Christy Ring Cup has made a mockery of the form book.

In the opening round Meath were fortunate to escape with a two point win over Mayo who subsequently lost their remaining four games by a combined tally of 38 points.

London were beaten by Sligo in the opening round, London then beat Meath in round two while on the same weekend Derry annihilated Sligo by 20 points.

A week later Meath beat Derry, while Sligo scraped past Tyrone by one. In the penultimate round Meath had eight to spare over Tyrone and Derry scraped past London by two.

Meath needed a win over Sligo in their final game and battled hard to earn the 0-24 to 0-18 win. Sligo finished third in the group, so using them as the barometer Meath claimed a six-point win, while Derry had 20-points to spare over the Yeats County side. Yet 14-man Meath beat Derry by two - it all makes no sense.

If the form book proves anything it is that Meath cannot take anything for granted and they must throw it out the window.

Derry will provide a formidable challenge in Croke Park and in Cormac O'Doherty they have a very accomplished free-taker who will punish any and all indiscretions.

They possess a wide variety of scorers in their team with all six forwards very dangerous. They are a powerful unit in midfield and with their defence backboned by the excellent Richie Mullan Derry will strongly fancy their chances.

However, there is no denting Meath are finishing the campaign a stronger looking outfit than they started it.

The return from injury of Mark O'Sullivan and James Murray has been a boost. Others like Ger Dwane, Stephen Morris and Kyle Donnelly, who were all established regulars, are also back in contention after injury.

Gannon's return to the panel has been significant and with players like O Donnchadha, Regan, Toher, Pa Ryan, Potterton, Mickey Burke, McKeon, Healy performing at a consistently excellent level Meath have all the ingredients to secure an immediate return to the Joe McDonagh Cup - but who knows what will happen in the conclusion to this most entertaining campaign.