ALL-IRELAND MFC FINAL Dublin v Meath:THERE IS a moment from last year's presentation of Sam Maguire to Bryan Cullen that lingers in the mind. Dublin people bursting with joy all over Croke Park, throughout the city and all round the world.
Even the defeated minor panel could momentarily unburden their misery, despite being sandbagged by that late Tipperary goal, to yell wildly from just beneath Cullen’s perch in the lower Hogan stand.
But on this almost perfect blue-hued canvas we spied another emotion. There was Dessie Farrell, surrounded by the teenagers he managed, still staring into the abyss.
Of all the men who deserved to cherish the end of a 16-year famine it was the tricky forward so instrumental in the 1995 success. The man who is and remains “tangled up in blue” (the title of his autobiography) couldn’t allow his duelling feeling rise to the surface.
Sure, the opposition were a fine team, winning fair and square but Dublin gave it away. Tipperary substitute Colman Kennedy latched onto a defensive error to grab a goal on 56 minutes. The final scoreline read 3-9 to 1-14.
For Dubliners looking down from the Upper Hogan deck it was an ever so brief dilution of what was an otherwise perfect scene; a sea of delirious blue faces embracing Sam’s return, all except for a glum-faced Farrell.
He was hard to get a hold of this week. We tried but the normally accessible chief executive of the Gaelic Players Association had gone dark.
Total focus on preparing his second Dublin minor team for the ultimate challenge, and for what many feel is their destiny, had taken root.
Farrell, of course, will speak candidly to the media when tomorrow’s dance with Meath subsides. Regardless of the result. Even if the six-point underdogs somehow overturn the 12-point destruction received in the Leinster final two months ago.
Although defeat for Dublin tomorrow is unthinkable. It would overshadow last year and even undermine the seriously impressive line of quality that is being churned out in the capital these days.
Twelve months on and it is not just Farrell returning to the scene of the crime.
Cormac Costello and Eric Lowndes were major contributors either end of the field in 2011 while Niall Scully saw the frantic last two minutes against Tipp. Others like Jack McCaffrey, Emmet Ó Conghaile and Ciarán Kilkenny have since been promoted to the senior panel, with Kilkenny having an instant impact.
Costello is sure to follow this path. Be it in hurling or football. Meath know all about him as he blasted 3-4 in the provincial decider. He was also a major factor in Dublin earning a replay in the hurling final against Tipperary, to be played next weekend.
There was a fear that the Kerry minors could come to life in the semi-final but Dublin, and Costello, had them reeling, 2-6 to 0-3, before the interval. Kerry’s skilful young footballers clawed a way back into the contest but the damage had been done.
“Against this Dublin attack, you need to close down the Dublin defence,” winked Kerry manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan in the aftermath.
Meath understand this. Andy McEntee has Anthony Moyles and Nigel Crawford mucking in this season. They are undoubtedly a decent football team, with Andy’s son Shane swapping from centre back to midfield as captain Pádraic Harnan mans the 45.
Cian Ward’s brother Fiachra joins McEntee and Harnan in the side. There is pedigree in abundance in the side, and plenty of class provided by the likes of Cillian O’Sullivan.
Dublin and Farrell must understand that the Leinster final showing will be of little value here.
Meath climbed out of despair to scrap past Tyrone with a late goal from Stephen Coogan in the All-Ireland quarter-final up in Newry. Then, on their return to Croke Park, they came alive against Mayo. Late in the game again, they rode their luck with goals by Fiachra Ward and Patrick Kennelly.
More than anything they proved their worth as a minor outfit that day. Ignoring the Leinster final performance, they deserve to be here.
It they can build themselves into a fury we will have a tight game. If they lose concentration for any sustained period, Dublin players like Costello, Gavin Burke and Conor McHugh will devour them.
Dublin have been waiting since 1984 to capture the Tom Markham Cup when the late, great Jim Stynes was wearing sky blue.
This, surely, is the moment they banish all the demons.
DUBLIN(possible): L Molloy (St Anne's); E Mullan (Na Fianna), D Byrne (Naomh Olaf, capt), R McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes); E Lowndes (St Peregrine's), C Mulally (Cuala), M MacDonncha (Clontarf); S Cunningham (St Sylvester's), S Carthy (Naomh Mearnog); N Walsh (St Oliver Plunektt Eoghan Ruadh), N Scully (Templeogue Synge Street), G Burke (St Vincent's); C Costello (Whitehall Colmcille), C McHugh (Na Fianna), R Gaughan (Ballinteer St John's) .
MEATH: R Burlingham (Simonstown Gaels); R O Coileáin (Navan O'Mahony's), B Power (Ratoath), S Gallagher (Simonstown Gaels); D Smyth (Dunsany), P Harnan (Jenkinstown Gaels, capt), S Lavin (St Peter's Dunboyne/Kilbride); S McEntee (St Peter's Dunboyne/Kilbride), A Flanagan (Clonard); C O'Sullivan (Jenkinstown Gaels), J Daly (St Peter's Dunboyne/Kilbride), J McEntee (St Vincent's/Curraha); B Dardis (Summerhill), F Ward (Wolfe Tones), S Coogan (Dunderry).
Referee: B Cassidy(Derry).
