'We did not down tools and that's what I'm most proud about'... Burke reflects on loss to Westmeath

Before the camogie game between Meath and Westmeath got underway in Raharney's high-quality home ground on Saturday the players from both teams mingled together in the centre of the pitch before, in unison, they sat down.

It was all part of the approach players from the camogie and ladies football fraternities have taken to highlight the fact that they are "playing under protest" due to their preceived failure of the GAA, LGFA and the Camogie Association to implement a ‘ Charter for Minimum Standards of Player Welfare.’

Who could blame them for voicing their concerns. The Meath camogie team have often struggled to find proper training facilities over the years. Earlier this year they had to train in the Porchfields in Trim. Whatever delights that location offers in terms of an historical backdrop - and as a community facility - it is not suitable for a hurling team to train on.

Clearly there is a lot of work to be done to give the players what they seek and for the moment they are prepared to play under protest - so hopefully their concerns will be listened to as regards to expenses, playing gear, access to pitches and action taken.

Camogie games like the one that was served up on Saturday - especially when they are played in top class grounds like the one available in Raharney - offer tremendous entertainment and those who showed up for this latest encounter between near neighbours had plenty to shout about, especially if you were from Westmeath.

For Meath there were less reasons to be pleased. After two conspicious, eye-catching victories over Laois and Kerry, Meath looked to be on a roll. They had beaten Westmeath in the league so it was certainly reasonable to assume they would do so in the championship. The Lake County players didn't read the script, as their 4-11 to 2-7 victory demonstrated.

Meath captain Ellen Burke has been playing for Meath now for 10 years or so. She knows nothing can be taken for granted in the rollercoaster world of sport. Saturday's defeat underlined that reality. The Dunboyne player who works as a teacher also knows the integral, crucial part human nature can play in shaping and moulding how sporting events can turn out.

"Winning can become a habit but Westmeath needed to win today, it's human nature, that's going to be in their psyche so they tore into us from the start, they made it very difficult so full credit to them they got it right today," she said. "We knew it was do or die for them, we didn't match that, they had more hunger from the off but we did not down tools and that's what I'm most proud about. We did not down tools at all in that second-half."

This year Burke is the team captain a role she obviously takes very seriously indeed. She describes it as a "massive personal honour" although she says she doesn't have to do any rousing pre-match speeches to get the game motivated and moving. "Before we take the pitch I might say my bit beforehand but there's leaders there who have massive experience.

"There's Claire Coffey who always knows the right things to say, then there is Aoife Minogue on the pitch who just leads by example in how she performs every day for us," she adds before pointing out there are all sorts of ways for players to show a sense of leadership.

"Everybody has to stand up and win their battle on the day, there are no one or two leaders on the field, we are all looking to each other to lead in their own way and push things on."

One of the features of Meath's line-up for Saturday's game was the return of Maggie Randle to the position of goalkeeper. She had been abroad for a few months and in the meantime her place was filled by Kilmessan's Tara Murphy who gave a string of polished, game-changing performances. It was certainly a surprise she was replaced for Saturday's game.

It was unfortunate for Randle she should return to the ranks on a day when little went right for the team - and she could do little about any of the goals Westmeath scored. The competition for the number one jersey hints at a certain strength in depth that could yet prove crucial in deciding the team's fate this year.

Captain Burke, as usual, sought to lead from her centre-half-back berth but she must have felt like her job was similar to holding back maroon-coloured tide on Saturday as Westmeath attackers repeatedly poured forward.

Burke has known some great days in the Meath jersey such has the 2017 All-Ireland Intermediate triumph. She has known plenty of the forgettable days too. Saturday was among the latter. She also knows that after any morale-battering defeat a team simply has to pick itself up and move on. She knows that sunshine can follow rain. The important thing is to keep believing