Caution could be best approach to Galway test

Some words of warning to those Meath supporters travelling to Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening expecting a comfortable passage to the third round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers with a victory over Galway - beware a wounded animal. It is not that long ago that Meath football was in a similar state of disarray as Galway's current plight and on those occasions it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Following their dismal Connacht SFC semi-final showing against Mayo, almost every 'expert' has predicted that the Tribesmen will be little more than cannon fodder for a rampant Meath side. However, just a few weeks ago, after an abysmal NFL Div 2 campaign that almost saw Meath relegated and a terrible showing in the Leinster SFC quarter-final against Kildare, everyone was writing the obituary for Meath and their manager Seamus McEnaney. What a difference a week and a win makes. Even ahead of the game against Louth the critics questioned whether McEnaney's men were capable of overcoming the Wee County, but the nine-point drubbing in Breffni Park has everyone buzzing about Meath football again. Hopefully, the players and management won't get sucked into the hype that all of a sudden Meath are the form side in the country just because they knocked five goals past a lacklustre Louth side. It should be remembered that a year ago Meath also hit Dublin for five goals in the Leinster SFC and their season got progressively worse after that with the controversial and fortunate win over Louth in the provincial final and then the shockingly poor display against Kildare in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final. Meath need to be wary about getting caught up in the hype and then being caught with a sucker punch from a Galway side that are still a very capable outfit, despite their atrocious showing against Mayo. Throughout the league McEnaney was quick to emphasise, one week after the next, that one poor performance doesn't make a bad team. The reverse is also true? Cian Ward's magnificent contribution of four goals in the 5-8 to 2-8 win over Louth helped to paper over several cracks that, if they happen to reappear, could seriously weaken the foundations that Meath will need to lay to overcome Galway. There are concerns that Meath didn't hit double figures with their points tally and the accumulation of 15 wides against a poor Louth defence is also worrying. Meath also got off to a slow start against the Wee County and a similar lethargic opening next Saturday could leave the hosts with too much to do against their visitors from the west. Everything fell into place against Louth with the five goals providing the perfect platform, but the frailties were also plain to be seem. Primary possession was rarely secured around midfield and Meath relied heavily on the superb Seamus Kenny, Shane McAnarney and Joe Sheridan to pick up breaks. Will they get it that easy against Galway? McAnarney is an outstanding attacking threat from centre-back, but against Galway he will have to be more defensively astute, as will both Gary O'Brien and Chris O'Connor, both of whom struggled at times against Darren Clarke in the Louth game. Even more worrying for Meath was the poor spread of scores against Louth and that will need to improve. If Galway can devise a plan to contain Ward, and that's a big IF, then Meath might be in trouble. Only two other forwards managed to get on the scoresheet against Louth as Sheridan and Graham Reilly contributed a point each. Midfielder Shane O'Rourke was Meath's second best scoring threat with three points. Fortunately, McEnaney will be able to call on the considerable scoring prowess of Brian Farrell, Stephen Bray and Graham Geraghty for the game against Galway and he will also have the threat of Peadar Byrne at hand. There are now plenty of options open to McEnaney and from that stand point the future does indeed look bright and it is fair to assume that Meath's form is on an upward graph. However, a decisive plan needs to be formulated, one that is adaptable to changing circumstances. Galway will devise a system to shut out Meath. If they succeed then Meath will have to divert from route one football and play some of the more neat inter-passing style they showed against Louth. Galway will bring plenty of attacking options with Cormac Bane and Padraic Joyce sure to improve from their poor displays against Mayo. Joe Bergin is unlikely to be as poor again so Meath can expect a battle at midfield and with Micheal Meehan improving with each passing day the Galway attack is sure to improve beyond all recognition from their terrible showing the last time out. Another positive for Galway will be that they now have genuine championship game time under their belts. That loss to Mayo was Galway's first competitive match since they concluded their NFL Div 1 campaign, which ended in relegation, with a 0-15 to 2-9 draw with Dublin 11 weeks earlier. Since the loss to Mayo, Galway football has been heavily criticised and they have been stung. The last time the Tribesmen went to battle against Meath with nobody giving them a chance was the All-Ireland SFC final in 2001 and they stunned Sean Boylan's side with a 0-17 to 0-8 win. Meath cannot afford to be complacent against Galway. If they approach the game in the proper manner and with the right Royal attitude then the pure class of Kenny, Ward, O'Rourke and Sheridan should be enough to book passage to the third round. It promises to be an evening not to be missed.