DARRAGH Ó SÉ WEEKLY COLUMN:Meath will gain a lot of confidence from finally sorting out the Dubs. They will grow now. Should they win the Leinster title, it could be the start of something special
TO THE Dubs conceding five goals in their own garden first.
Then a look at the re-emergence of those clever Royals before a glance at Monaghan’s improved mental state. There is also a game in Killarney on Sunday. I should probably mention the broken hand as well. The young fella’s head was like a brick!
Dublin are drifting aimlessly out to sea at the moment. Everything they have tried this year has gone badly wrong. They don’t seem to have learned anything about themselves from the perilously slow start against Wexford and clearly failed to hold pace with Meath.
They seem bereft of a discernible plan as to where they are going. It is hard to see them recovering.
Something similar happened to Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh when Kerry turned the screw. Dublin lack the established personnel to dig them out of this hole. The two Brogans are excellent footballers but, personally, I would have kept on Ciarán Whelan for another year. I certainly wouldn’t have dropped him last summer.
Then again, nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors, but Ciarán’s presence on the field always made him a natural beacon.
I firmly believe Dublin would benefit from a visit to the qualifiers. A tour of the provincial grounds and a break from Croke Park after five years under that burning spotlight. It would prove cathartic for both the team and supporters.
It could give everyone involved a new perspective on how to approach the big games back in HQ should they chart a course through the back roads and into August football.
But they have Tipperary at home the next day. It is hard to see them building on that. I’d expect them to win, but look what Longford did to Mayo at the weekend. This type of surprise is becoming an increasing feature of the summer.
Nobody is safe as the supposed lesser counties become qualifier- hardened. Just see Antrim’s refusal to bend in Kildare and now they have them back up in Casement Park.
For Dublin, to concede five goals must be seen as totally unacceptable. Rebuilding period or not. Two of them, in particular, must have had the veterans on Hill 16 staring at their feet.
Simple things. A meaner defence would never have allowed Stephen Bray gallop 60 yards, be it the concession of a free or whatever. It was downright bad defending. So was allowing big Joe Sheridan in behind them.
But it is Dublin’s lack of leadership that is the greatest concern. No Whelan. No Shane Ryan. No Paul Griffin. The captain, David Henry, is now a sub. Time for others to lead.
The only positive now from their two championship outings is the expectation levels will have plummeted. The fair weather Dublin fans won’t be expecting an All-Ireland anymore.
When that happens to a team, especially Dublin, it allows them to unburden obvious shackles.
They can just go for it against Tipp.
The balance of power has shifted in Leinster. This is a good thing for football in the province.
When I was growing up, Meath were the dominant team in the country. Their return to the top tier is long overdue. Not since Seán Boylan’s second great side came through in 1999 have they been feared by all.
I always admired their ways. They played manly football.
It was catch and kick. They never complained. They took their medicine and gave it out to whoever they felt deserved it most. Men like Mick Lyons and Liam Harnan would take your life!
They always played some great football too. They had become part of the furniture and then they were gone.
I believe Meath’s decline really gained pace when John McDermott departed. He was just so dominant in midfield. He would look to go toe to toe with you. If there was a chance to drive you into the stand he wouldn’t let it slip past. John was tough, but fair.
The current team have some excellent forwards. Séamus Kenny has the roving role, helping out the defence, but the other five are on the cusp of being seen as a throwback to those who filled the jersey in the late 1980s and early ’90s.
The likes of Colm O’Rourke, Brian Stafford and Bernard Flynn were always able to win their own ball. You wouldn’t want Sheridan crashing into you and along with O’Rourke’s son, Shane, they have two men well capable of gathering possession over their head. In the corners, Cian Ward and Bray are match-winners on their day.
They do have problems defensively, but Nigel Crawford’s return to midfield or centre back should close a few gaps.
They are not exactly spring chickens either. They did make an All-Ireland semi-final last year, but, as ever with Meath, they gain so much from sorting out the Dubs. They will grow now.
A Leinster title could be the start of something special.
There is a high calibre of footballer there and they are contenders because there isn’t a whole pile to fear out there at the minute. Kerry, Cork and Tyrone remain the top tier sides, but Meath and now Monaghan are showing the hunger to challenge.
Mayo are gone and Dublin look some way off All-Ireland standard.
I have been really impressed with Monaghan this year. They are another group that have been around for a while, but were hindered by their indiscipline.
I know all about colliding with Dick Clerkin and company. In 2007 they had their foot on our throats in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
If they kept their eye on the prize they could have eased through. It would have been another Northern revolution!
But their instincts seemed to get the better of them. I’ve said it before – big belts after the first 10 minutes are just reckless.
Cork seem to be slipping down this over-physical route of late and, while it can be useful, eventually, it will cost you.
Monaghan have changed tack by increasing the pace of their game while maintaining their physicality. I’m sure Banty McEnaney knows his panel like the back of his hand, but I can’t help notice the arrival of Paul Grimley has seen them embrace a more attractive approach. They certainly have the quality, players such as Paul Finlay and Tommy Freeman. They learned the hard way having lost vital players at vital moments in the past.
That said, Monaghan may be short a sub or two to make it all the way, but the Ulster final against Tyrone should be a cracking affair. Especially the opening 10 minutes of mayhem.
And then, Monaghan should have the maturity to calm it and play football.
Maybe even outpace Tyrone.
But can they out-think them?
That is all coming further down the tracks. On Sunday, Limerick come over to Killarney. Along with Mickey Ned at the helm, they have one of the most respected coaches down these parts in Donie Buckley. They will be well set up. Up to midfield, Limerick are very solid.
It’s hard to know their form. They arrive under the radar with only the scalp of Waterford in their pouch. Mikey Ned and Donie are astute tacticians so they will look at disrupting the flow into Gooch and Kieran Donaghy. Paul Galvin will be missed around the middle.
Again, though, once it settles, I can’t see them getting a steady flow of ball up to their forwards to make a difference on the scoreboard.
I’m looking forward to it as much as the Killarney publicans. A busy day beckons for the barmen.
I broke the hand at the weekend playing for An Ghaeltacht. Still chasing after young fellas. Should be getting sense in my old age.
At least it gives me a chance to enjoy the Munster final without worrying about the club championship game against Shannon Rangers next week.
I can keep ticking over with running and such, but I am gone for at least the month.
On a final note, I extend my deepest sympathies to the Earley family in Kildare at the loss of Dermot Snr last week. I would have played with Dermot Jnr for Ireland against Australia and I lined out against his father’s Kildare team when he was manager in the 1990s.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dermot and his wife Mary at various GAA gatherings over the years. They are a wonderful GAA family and Dermot a great GAA man. No more a tribute can I pay. It is a pity to see him go.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
