'This was about getting results'

Dublin v Meath: Paul Caffrey lives by an actions-speak-louder-than-words policy. Why give a homily when a direct answer does the question justice? Now, this is something players will immediately be drawn to, but it doesn't make him a dream candidate for interviews.

Still, you engineer a victory over Meath or, more importantly, you show courage from the sideline when elements of your game plan are failing.

Graham Geraghty came out on Paul Casey and threatened to beat Dublin on his own. After two points, Coman Goggins took up the reins. Then Jason Sherlock, Collie Moran and Tomás Quinn were all pulled ashore when their return did not add up.

"We were two points down at half-time, it wasn't working for us so we had to change it. This was about getting results. We made two changes (Senan Connell and Mark Vaughan for Sherlock and Moran) and the end result proved it," said Caffrey.

When you attempt to scratch a little deeper and explore the nuances of what happened, he turns the tables in the friendliest of manners.

"The result. That's it. The performances are for you geniuses to analyse. We'll do it in the cold light of day during the week."

Granted, like all good managers he will keep it all in house. But certain performances cried out for comment. Especially the two new boys. Stephen O'Shaughnessy looked like an old hand at corner back while Vaughan came in to kill off Meath with two classy frees from distance in the home straight.

"He (Stephen) has seven national league games under his belt. He was consistent throughout the national league and it's that consistency we are looking to bring into this Dublin team. There were a lot of heroes in Dublin jerseys today."

On Vaughan? "We'll see how you fellas write him up. We'll see. Mark Vaughan has potential. There is talent, but like a lot of guys, myself included, he is far from the finished product. Two bombs. He had an impact."

Wexford were branded the Fermanagh of 2005 and then he was gone. Seán Boylan came back from congratulating the victors with more to say, even if talking to the media was the last place he could envisage being.

"Okay, how are we doing?"

How are you doing, Seán?

"I'm as good as anyone can be when you are knocked out of a Leinster championship, particularly when you're aiming for this since last October.

"Today we were beaten by a very resilient, very good Dublin team, which you saw against Longford and you saw more of it again today. So, how do I feel? I feel disappointed. Terribly disappointed for the lads that are in there. They played their hearts out like all teams do. We did good things, some that weren't so good, but at least they will see the old fighting spirit is back and prepare to have a right good cut at it."

Boylan can look at recent years and see a team with renewed hunger.

"What I did like when it did go against us and they came from two down to two up was that the lads found something within themselves to come back to level it.

"We're not naive enough to think everything is right, but it is certainly coming round. What is evident today was that there's still quite a number of good young footballers coming through in the county."

But can this panel pick themselves up for the qualifiers?

"I suppose the measure where we are at will be how we cope with the qualifiers. It is great to still have a chance in the All-Ireland . . . I just hope fellas can recovery from the injuries they have had."