Meath face tough trip to sunny south-east

LEINSTER MFC PREVIEW

The south-east is known for its sunny climes - and it's hurlers - but there appears to be a decent crop of footballers emerging in the fair county of Wexford.

This evening (Tuesday) Meath's young footballers will get a sense of just how good they take on the Model County in a Leinster MFC quarter-final at Wexford Park, 7.30.

There's no doubt Stephen Morgan's side face a formidable test. Any doubt about that was surely dispelled recently when Wexford welcomed Laois to their sumptuous home for a preliminary quarter-final clash.

The welcome, however, was where the local hospitality ended as the home side proceeded to dish out an unmerciful 6-10 to 0-9 hammering, the sheer scale of the victory underlining the kind of talent contained in the Model County side. It was, according to sources in Wexford, a surprise that the team should win by such a landslide. A big surprise.

In previous championship games Wexford had displayed only modest form, defeating Carlow (1-10 to 1-7) and losing to Wicklow (0-7 to 0-10). So which Wexford team will show up this evening?

Morgan's Meath have, it can be argued, played against much tougher opposition. They have defeated Westmeath (2-10 to 0-10) and Louth (2-9 to 1-7) with their one defeat against Dublin (0-11 to 2-9). Meath have in their panel players such as Ben Corkery, Cian Commons, John Harkin. Players who are well capable of punishing opponents. The defence don't tend to give scores away easily.

Meath will have to keep a watch on opponents such as Rory Gilbert, who got 3-2 against Laois and playmaker Michael Kavanagh. Contain such players and Meath can make their trip to the south-east a fruitful one.