Meath manager Seamus McEnaney could be telling Conor Counihan that the Royal County will be taking the Sam Maguire Cup out of Munster this year as the duo await the start of the championship with RTE's Michael Lyster.

Meath set for Westmeath challenge on Friday

Published: Wed 18 May 2011, 4:59 PM

Friday evening's SF challenge against Westmeath at Rosemount will be the last chance for Meath supporters to have a look at how the footballers are shaping up ahead of their Leinster SFC quarter-final against either Kildare or Wicklow on Sunday 5th June at Croke Park. One win in their last nine outings since the start of the NFL Div 2 campaign in February suggests that Meath are in a fragile state and unless there is a significant improvement in form they may find themselves knocking on the back door of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers much earlier than many would have expected. Following the NFL Div 2 draw with Tyrone that secured Meath's status in the second tier of the NFL, confidence was high that Seamus McEnaney was starting to have an impact, but subsequent defeats by Monaghan and Longford in recent SF challenges suggests that there is still a lot of work to be done. Defeats in challenge matches are not the main concern, but the nature of the performances in those two games could be a cause for concern. However, McEnaney appeared unconcerned following the loss to Longford in Kilmainhamwood and with three weeks unhindered preparation ahead of them the manager is confident his team will be ready. McEnaney is confident that he is close to knowing his starting 15 for the opening of the defence of their provincial crown and the manager is likely to play his strongest team against Westmeath in the challenge game at Rosemount. The result will not be important on Friday evening, but the performance needs to be taken up a level. McEnaney has a very obvious plan where he wants the ball delivered quickly and effectively into his forward danger men, but for some reason his players have struggled with that tactic. Next Friday he will want to see his team play with more consistency and the manager is confident that if his plan is implemented then performances and results will improve. Rosemount will welcome GAA President Christy Cooney to perform the official opening ceremony at 7.0. After the formalities the game between Meath and Westmeath will take place. In 2004 Rosemount GAA developed a six-year plan to improve facilities at the club which included the provision of a second playing pitch, a walking track, a second set of dressing rooms, an all-weather astro turf pitch, electronic scoreboard, new dug outs, car park, goal posts and ball stoppers and improvements in spectator facilities.