Meath much improved since Leinster decider

ALL-IRELAND MFC FINAL:ANTHONY MOYLES and Nigel Crawford were asked by Meath minor manager Andy McEntee to help out at the start of the season. Two recent, highly-regarded intercounty players, their presence around the latest crop of talented teenagers in the county must have been immediately uplifting.

Their experience of the harsh lessons meted out in championship could only be of benefit since July 22nd. That was the day Cormac Costello and Dublin tore them apart; Costello accounted for 3-4 of the 3-17 total. Meath’s response was 1-11.

“It wasn’t a performance they were very proud of,” said Moyles. “A couple of things went against them but Dublin are a formidable team. To try and get around that this week they have to just concentrate on themselves.

“We said to them: ‘Look, lads, go out and give it as good as you can. If that’s not good enough in the end, fair enough, but don’t let what happened the last day happen again’.”

Heavy defeats in team sports always begin with one deflating incident, but then it spreads, like a virus, across every sector of the pitch.

“It happens to teams at senior level but you see it more at minor level; things don’t go your way and fellas start to not really want the ball. They are not really going for the ball. Hiding, to a certain degree.

“The advice is straightforward – it is an All-Ireland final. You leave it all out there.”

It looked certain to get worse after the Leinster final. Tyrone were waiting in an All-Ireland quarter-final. Up to Newry they went. Their championship was about to end when Stephen Coogan scored a late goal.

“Tyrone were well-fancied, strong, playing in the Tyrone style but with some seriously handy forwards. Andy Mc made a few positional and tactical changes that worked on the day.

“The one thing which was very encouraging was they played right to the end. After getting a hammering like they did in the Leinster final, being behind against Tyrone they could have thrown the hat at it. But they kept going, got a few breaks and won the game.

“All of a sudden the momentum was back behind them.”

Mayo in an All-Ireland semi-final was a worry. Not because of Mayo but because the players were fairly confident they were one victory away from another shot at the old enemy.

“I was afraid they might dismiss Mayo,” said Moyles. “One or two decisions went their way but you could see it: they never dropped their heads. That is the big thing taken from the Leinster final. You just keep going.”

Moyles has plenty on his plate this weather. There is his career with Davy Stockbrokers and the Dublin championship is looming with adopted club Oliver Plunkett/ Eoghan Ruadh, where he plays alongside the Brogan brothers.

“It has been hard with training and everything else but you get down when you can. Obviously I’m there for match days. It is very enjoyable to see them reaching the final.

“And there is no doubt about it, they have improved. Have they improved enough for this Dublin team? The bookies would tell you ‘no, they haven’t’.”

They are six-point underdogs or 7/1 to win. Dublin are 1/10 to atone for last year’s surprising final defeat to Tipperary.

“Even from speaking to the Plunketts lads about what’s coming through in Dublin, everyone admits there is a huge wave of talent at underage. Look at the likes of Costello in particular, he gave our defence a torrid time in the Leinster final, comfortable off both feet, fast and not afraid to take responsibility and go at men.

“He is not the only one.”

But a wander through the surnames in the Meath side must fill the natives with encouragement. There is a Harnan and a McEntee around the middle third. The county board executive is yet to decide upon a new senior manager to replace Séamus McEnaney but something, clearly, is being done right on the ground.

“2001 was when we were last in the All-Ireland final. It’s been way too long since we’ve had a minor or senior team in Croke Park in late September. For a county with tradition, and after all the messing that has been going on, this is a massive step for Meath. It is a massive step for Andy and all the boys around him as well, especially considering what happened in the Leinster final.”