Pictured at the Meet and Greet at Pairc Tailteann were Cillian, Rian, Aaron, Iarla and Eoghan McCullagh. Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net. PHOTO: DAVID MULLEN/WWW.CYBERIMAGES.NET.

Gallery: 'Meath people have always supported their team'

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Pairc Tailteann was the place to be for true blue Meath supporters on Tuesday evening of last week - although, for once, there was no football action to watch. Instead the focus was on the young, and sometimes not so young fans, meeting the players and getting jerseys, hats, t-shirts, footballs, even arms signed as well as selfies with their heroes.

The 'Meet & Greet' event was all part of the fanfare ahead of the Tailteann Cup final and full credit to the Meath Co Board for organising the evening because the connection between fans and the team is one that should be promoted and developed.

That was recognised by Meath selector Stephen Bray who was one of the those to show up on the evening. "It's nice for the players to spend a some time with the supporters at these events. We probably didn't get that opportunity too much this summer. During the Tailteann Cup we had supporters come onto the various pitches we played on after matches which is nice because more often than not the pitch is closed off and people can't wish the players well or congratulate them after games."

"Meath people have always been very good supporters of the county team and once we start winning regularly again you'll get more and more people wanting to get behind the team and that's important in helping the players perform as well, so it's all part of the same process."

The dark clouds moved in during the event and the rain came down which might have restricted the numbers - but it couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the hordes of young Meath fans. That always remains undiminished.

Followers of the green and gold are unlikely to be in Croke Park in large numbers for Saturday's Tailteann Cup showdown at 3pm - as least not in the numbers that might have been expected.

With Dublin playing Monaghan on the Saturday at 5.30pm the vast majority of the seats in Croke Park will be taken up by fans of both these counties. There were calls by Meath followers to change the Tailteann Cup from Saturday to Sunday when Derry play Kerry in the second All-Ireland SFC semi-final with more space sure to be available for that game - but that won't happen now.

At the time of writing at least some Meath fans were experiencing difficulties getting tickets through general release with the Co Board urging people to access them through their clubs.

Jimmy Geoghegan
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