Ewing ready for Meath backlash

Sligo team captain Neil Ewing says he will not be taking any encouragement from the fact that Meath lost by nine points (2-16 to 0-13) to Kildare in the Leinster SFC at Tullamore a few weeks ago.

Ewing and his colleagues take on Meath at Paric Tailteann on Saturday, 6pm but he's not reading anything into Meath's meltdown in the Tullamore heat.

'It's something I always think about GAA games you could play the same game 10 times and you won't get the same winner or the same margin of victory for either team,' he said at a press briefing in the Newgrange Hotel on Tuesday ahead of Saturday's showdown.

The Sligo skipper feels it would be far more accurate to look at the season in totality rather than just one game.

A fairer reflection of Meath's prowess, he added, could be seen in the way they were narrowly edge out for promotion from Div 2 of the NFL.

'In reality that's where Meath are at, they are pushing for the top division and for us that's a reflection of where they are compared to the Kildare game,' added Ewing.

'Obviously there was a change of management in Meath for this year, even from what you see in the media, there seems to be increased expectations from the Meath squad themselves, from management, from Meath supporters and it's probably that expectation going into the game that led to the disappointment after the game.'

All the pressure, he insisted, is on Meath going into Saturday's game. They are the favourites and expected by most to take the 'the weaker county.' Add to that Andy McEntee's side are at home and will be expected to put on a performance.

One significant advantage Sligo have on Meath is that they have played three games in the championship so far, compared to just one by Meath.
Niall Carew's side travelled to New York to kick-start the championship by defeating the host side in Gaelic Park, 1-21 to 1-13.

They stayed in the Big Apple for a number of days after that game and returned home just over a week before they took on and lost to Mayo 0-11 to 2-14.

It was onto the qualifier's where Carew's men clocked up a big score in the 0-22 to 3-7 defeat of Antrim, something McEntee and the Meath management will have noted.

The qualifier followed hard on the heels of the setback to Mayo didn't pose a major issue for Ewing and his colleagues but he is concerned by the fact that his team conceded three goals.

However he says his team will be ready for whatever awaits them at Pairc Tailteann.