Geraghty comes in to settle nerves and focus minds

Graham Geraghty might have read his own footballing obituary in recent weeks but there is, at the very least, one more chapter to be added should he ever revisit his 2004 autobiography, Misunderstood.

Here's an enigma. Despite all the controversy that has hounded Geraghty throughout his career, he remains a sound man in direct conversation.

For those seeking the source of the Nile recently or foreign readers who have stumbled onto the GAA pages, Geraghty was recalled to the Meath panel last week after apologising for a violent reaction to a team-mate's training-ground challenge.

While he didn't exactly turn the tide here, his introduction early in the second-half brought an assurance to the Meath attack. Another option in an already impressive arsenal.

"I'm just glad to get back in. I have a tough couple of weeks ahead now to try to get back onto the first 15. I'm just glad to get a run today."

Afterwards, Geraghty turned to the main group of Meath fans behind the goal to express appreciation for their support. He is, after all, one of their favourite sons.

"I always had great craic with the Meath fans over the years. It was a long trip down but fair play to them, they gave us great support down here today."

They reacted accordingly. He was mobbed at the full-time whistle.

After coming off the back of a failed election campaign with Fine Gael and then the adverse attention of the past fortnight, how has he coped? "A lot of the media were trying to get in contact with me but I just didn't want to get involved in that. I'm just glad to be back now."

Smiles all round and we move on. Dislocated shoulders to Eoin Harrington and Séamus Kenny will upset the defence ahead of an All-Ireland quarter-final.

"We're improving the whole time. The two lads that went off today are probably out for the rest of the season, a half back and a corner back, but the lads that came in did well."

Meath manager Colm Coyle was next in front of the dictaphones. He gave credit to the Galway revival but it came with a condemnation of the Micheál Meehan penalty.

"They got the handiest penalty I've ever seen in my life, all that happened was three lads went to contest the ball but anyway that was a knock back. That's what makes the victory all the sweeter that the lads showed such character to keep coming back."

The obvious question was about the future. How far can Meath go? Coyle was never going to chow down on that bait. "I don't know, the last eight anyway."

The tenure of Galway manager Peter Ford is up. What next? "My three years is up, that's it as far as I'm concerned.

"All I was thinking about today was the match. Obviously I'm just after coming out of the dressingroom. You don't even think like. My only concern is with the disappointment that's in that dressingroom and getting lads to walk out with their heads held high which they should because they gave a great performance. They battled to the end."