Poised to make an impact on big stage

Leinster SFC Semi-final: That the arrival of Joe Sheridan on the big stage has been slightly delayed is one of the few dissonant notes in an exemplary career to date. Suspended for eight weeks after verbal abuse of Dublin referee Shane Farrell in the under-21 defeat by Kildare, the Meath player makes his debut in the Bank of Ireland Leinster championship tomorrow at Croke Park.

Sheridan is quiet and affable, and his stepping out of line is viewed as most unlike him. Former county player Colm O'Rourke coached him at St Patrick's Navan, and is perplexed by the charge, which kept him out of the quarter-final win over Wicklow.

"He strongly disputes abusing the referee. I never heard him say a bad word to anyone. He comes from the sort of family where bad language is a no-no and he's the sort of fella who if he tells you he didn't do something, you believe him."

Seldom has a debut been as eagerly awaited. Although most of his senior county football has been at corner forward tomorrow he is named in what many believe to be his best position, on the edge of the square.

His assets are high-yield at any level of the game: the ability to score prolifically and win his own ball. An excellent kicker of the ball, he is a reliable place-kicker.

Throughout the years of his development Sheridan's role in teams has been the same. He's big and strong and accurate and played a key role with the Meath minor team that reached the All-Ireland final against Derry two years ago and also with the under-21s this year.

His physique comes from his dad, Damien, who used it well in a playing career that saw success at club level with Navan O'Mahony's and double inter-county recognition in the 1980s with both Meath and Cavan - a combination that has been strangely common over the years.

Everyone mentions his attitude, his relentless focus on self-improvement.

"He's the closest thing to a professional footballer you'd find," says O'Rourke.

"He spends all his spare time playing football and practising. Nothing else. Nothing else. His family are all between 14 and 20 so there's always someone to head off to the pitch with him when he wants to kick the ball around."

Sheridan came to public attention as a rampaging central attacker at St Patrick's Navan. At 16 he played a role in the 2000 All-Ireland win and then, alternating between centre forward and full forward, he racked up big scores in big matches during the 2001 campaign, which saw the school retain the All-Ireland title.

Having bagged 2-3 in the Leinster final against St Mel's and 1-2 in the All-Ireland semi-final against a Coláiste na Sceilge team coached by current Kerry manager Jack O'Connor and featuring county star Declan O'Sullivan, Sheridan made a major impact in the final. St Patrick's were trailing St Jarlath's of Tuam by six points when Sheridan turned the match.

"He got a vital goal when we were in terrible trouble," recalls O'Rourke, whose team went on to win, "and then put over a massive kick from out the middle of the field."

This year Sheridan has already made an impact. As with many quality intercounty players he has maintained his name in the Sigerson Cup.

Dublin selector Dave Billings coaches the UCD footballers.

"Joe is big. He reminds me of Joe McNally (former Dublin All-Ireland winner) except he'd be bigger. But he has that same quality, which is unusual in big fellas, of being able to move like a ballet dancer. He's great skill and a very delicate touch. His ability to kick the ball is also remarkable and his free-taking has been exquisite.

"He's played freshers and senior and has mixed very well with the others. Although he has very delicate feet, he's not one of those forwards that can be a bit extravagant. He does simple things effectively. He's a great finisher and penalty taker and a very bright guy on the field."

The totals chalked up in the spring tell their own story: seven points out of 0-9 in the semi-final defeat by Queen's, 0-6 out of 0-9 against GMIT, 1-3 out of 1-10 against the Garda College. He was either the dominant threat, or, as in the match against Queen's, all that stood between UCD and ruination.

Voted footballer of the year by his peers in UCD, Sheridan played an integral role in the team, according to the club captain, Wicklow's Breandán Ó hAnnaidh. "He was vital to the team. He's an excellent target man and we had been looking for one over the last while. He carried us in a number of matches."

Similarly in the National League, the scores kept coming. He opened with 1-4 against Galway in a great comeback win for Meath and concluded with 2-4 against Sligo in the match that saw the county relegated. In between he hit 1-3 in the match against tomorrow's opponents, Laois.

Yet there are still reservations. His one exposure to championship intensity in a sunny Croke Park was against Derry in the All-Ireland minor final. His flat display that day has created the apprehension that his talents aren't made for hard, summer surfaces, that he might be slow for the top level.

"He used to be a bit slow but he has got better since school," says O'Rourke. "He's worked incredibly hard on improving his speed. He's lost a bit of weight and improved his pace and he has a good sidestep."

Ó hAnnaidh agrees: "It's been said that he's a bit sluggish or slow but he's a fast mover. He has a long stride and when he gets the ball he can get away from his marker quickly."

The immediate problem may be the weight of unreasonable expectation. Twenty this year, he is hardly yet in a position to carry a senior county team.

"He's totally inexperienced at this level," says O'Rourke, "and can't be expected to dominate from the start. Meath will be doing well if he holds his own."