An early nightmare on the field of dreams

Even though Croke Park has long been the pinnacle of aspirations, it is also a venue that holds torments for players too numerous to mention. How many reputations have been shredded on that field, how many players found themselves idling for years over one, tiny, catastrophic mistake which sent the team lurching to irredeemable defeat.

When you win, Croke Park is wonderland, a teeming, noisy cauldron, there purely to celebrate your achievement. But what a wretched, gloating, inescapable theatre when things turn bad. What a stomach churning place to be when your world caves in around you.

Several of the Armagh players who will line out on Sunday will, even on a subconscious level, associate the stadium with, perhaps, their most traumatic sporting memory. Eight years ago, a highly feted young minor side cruised through the Ulster stages of the championship and took their place in the final against Meath.

It was smack in the middle of a time of renaissance for the northern game; Down had won the previous senior All-Ireland and Donegal were set to contest this showpiece against Dublin. With an overwhelmingly Ulster support dominating the venue, Armagh had good voice behind them.

Although not a particularly brilliant game, that 1992 minor final will long be remembered for it's extraordinary conclusion. Armagh, of course, were burnt, in circumstances which were fashioned through typical Meath grit.

Two minutes into injury-time, Meath were trailing 1-5 to 0-10 and came hunting desperately for some sort of reprieve. Shaving the deficit through points was no longer an option, the Leinster side had seconds to work with.

They scrambled through a converging Armagh defence, Trevor Giles kicked the ball onwards and substitute Michael Farrelly hammered home the defining goal.

"I suppose I was kind of lucky in that the defender slipped after Trevor sent the ball through. I closed my eyes and kicked for goal. The whole thing hasn't sunk in yet," explained the Meath forward the game.

Armagh had one last breath and Barry O'Hagan found himself lining up for a 45 with the venue still buzzing after the turnaround. His kick was well flighted, but to the left and a stray fist sent the ball crashing off the crossbar even as the final whistle went.

Afterwards, the Armagh teenagers were inconsolable. This was a team shimmering with attacking potential and yet they only managed three points from play. Among the players to graduate to senior level were Diarmuid Marsden, Barry O'Hagan and Paul McGrane, all of whom will feature for the county on Sunday. Des Mackin, the Na Fianna player who played at full forward that day, will be on the bench.

The loss seemed to confirm for Armagh folk that the southern venue held some sort of hex over them. Afterwards, Meath manager Christy Moore said that, while he knew his team would come strong, Armagh probably deserved the win.

"You cannot expect to win if you give away a goal in extra time," said Armagh's manager, Brother Laurence Ennis.

As well as providing the crucial assist, Trevor Giles initiated the Meath revival by crashing home a 23-yard goal midway through the second half. That score revitalised a sleepy, error-ridden game which Armagh were controlling mainly through the free-taking abilities of Niall McGleenan.

The abruptness and cruelty of the loss hit Armagh football hard and, last year, Marsden and McGrane experienced more Croke Park misery at the hands of Meath also at the semi-final stage.

But in 1992, they were within touching distance of All-Ireland success. It is probable they will remember that day at some point on Sunday, however fleetingly.

ARMAGH: D Whitmarsh; E Fearon, E Martin, E Breatten; C Wilson, K O'Hagan, B O'Hagan (0-1 free), P McGrane, B Hughes; D Marsden (0-3, 2 frees), P McNulty (0-1), D Toner, D Macken, N McGlennan (0-5 frees).

MEATH: B Murphy; K Cantwell, J Brady, J Smith; P Sharpbury, J Tighe, B Sheridan; D Hunt (0-1), N Dunne; K Harten, C Hall, G Bell; P Duff, P O'Sullivan (0-1), T Giles (1-2, 2 frees). Subs: P Nestor (0-1) for Duff, M Farrelly (1-0) for Hunt.