BOYLAN TALKS SPORT Forget Orbison, cue up Joni Mitchell on the jukebox

“Love hurts, love scars, love wounds and mars any heart not tough, or strong, enough./Takes a lot of pain, takes a lot of pain, love is like a cloud, holds a lot of rain”.

Don’t worry, I'm not about to break into a Roy Orbison tribute ode. Though the above lyrics - most closely associated with he of the distinctive dark rimmed glasses - give a rather accurate analysis of what it has been like surveying the local GAA scene over the last couple of weeks.

First off, it was of course great to be in attendance to see St Peter’s kick off their latest Keegan Cup quest with an efficient if not mesmerising victory against Curraha. Not to mention to be in receipt of the special and treasured welcome which is always assured from the host club, our near neighbours, Dunshaughlin.

While on the subject of the prelims, mind you, could I also offer my sincere thanks to match referee Keith Sheerin of the Drumconrath club who went out of his way to spend some time with me prior to throw in.

In no way would I attempt to portray myself as a saint in terms of analysis of referees - only too well is it known that being on wheels saved being one of the men behind the wire with at least two now retired whistlers.

However, what will be said is this - a level-headed, communicative referee, not intent on making themselves the centre of the universe makes the world of difference. That must apply tenfold from the perspective of a player. Yes, before you ask, I would love nothing more than to be able to take up the whistle. To that end however, my offer to, nay insistence on, umpiring with Keith - or any other ref - still stands, even if I don’t!

Anyway, while it is of course always appreciated when there’s an opportunity to be at a match - or any sporting event for that matter - that evening’s outing was especially treasured for two particular reasons.

One, because we, as a club and community, had laid Mick Reilly to rest that morning and it has always seemed better to be together in the aftermath of such things.

Also, however, for personal reasons, because, with my partner Susan undergoing major surgery the following week (said hurdle has been negotiated in a decent fashion thankfully) there was a cognisance that it would be the last match seen in person for some time.

Which is why the virtues of the novel initiative between Meath GAA, Clubber.ie and the local hospital and nursing homes was extolled extensively here last week. I absolutely appreciate being likewise able to access the online broadcasting platform.

Thence I was able to see Donaghmore/Ashbourne chalking up a noteworthy victory against Ballinabrackey on Friday evening before attention turned to St Peter’s clash with Wolfe Tones at Pairc Tailteann.

Confidence wouldn’t have been an issue for Ger Robinson’s team having hit 0-20 against Curraha. Against that, time and experience has proven there’s never much in clashes with the purple and gold.

On this occasion, it was the depth available to the black and ambers which eventually made the telling difference.

Firstly in the guise of Cathal Finn. A late alteration to the starting 15, his industrious versatility was central to proceedings throughout, but especially in a cagey first half during which he pointed twice.

Even allowing for the fact they would have whatever benefit was to be gained from the elements in the second half, the extent to which St Peter's dominated the second half was surprising.

If the introduced Finn was the commander-in-chief in the first half, when the 2018 winners turned to shoot into the O’Mahonys end, substitute Cathal Lacey took up the baton as his three mesmeric points were the groundwork upon which the 0-11 to 0-7 victory - which didn’t flatter St Peter's - was built.

Taking a little parochial licence, while you’d have been impressed with how St Peter's went about their business, to study the second game on the ‘card’ between defending champions Summerhill and burgeoning Dunshaughlin was to realise the gulf which exists between what I would term the big three - the two aforementioned teams and Ratoath - and the rest.

Consider that by the short whistle these two had clocked up 18 scores - the same number as the pair in the curtain raiser did over 64 minutes.

In the second game, the manifested as 2-5 for the holders, with Conor Frayne and Barry Dardis (penalty) bagging the ‘majors’ with the imperious Luke Mitchell notching a handful of his team’s 0-11.

Conor Gillespie’s kingpins made the sharper start to the second half, opening up a three point chasm before a bullet of a goal from a marauding Conor Gray put things back in the melting pot.

However, late points from Dardis, Eoghan Frayne and Kevin Ryan appeared to have saved the champs’ bacon. But there’s something different about Richie Kealy’s charges this year. The guiding hand of fans afar?

Whatever, once Tim O’Sullivan got his kick out away as the clock entered the red and Mat Costello gathered the pigskin, most would have expected those clad in red and black (the old St Martin’s colours) to fashion a handy leveller and call it quits.

Costello, though, has something in his makeup which sets him apart as the most prodigious talent the county has seen in a generation. Thus, with possession secured, Mat proceeded to do Mat things. That is to say, he ran, and ran, and ran before - after an intricate necklace of passes - finishing to the net. Replicating his goal against Louth in the National League.

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Now, this time last week, I would have thought I’d be saying that Colm O’Rourke and his new backroom team would’ve had plenty of talent to mull over after the weekend’s matches. But of course, as is now known, incredibly, he no longer holds the position of Meath senior football manager.

It’s hard to know what the greatest percentage of my emotions are at the moment. Shock, upset, anger, worry, frustration. Most likely a stew pot of the whole lot.

Shock and anger can probably go together. Because of disbelief that it has come to this. Again. Anger lingers on if the touted narrative as to how all this came about turns out to be true.

Forget Roy Orbison, cue Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi on the jukebox. Given the circumstances, thought hasn’t even been given to what happens next. Other than that the worry and frustration would be the possibility or, Heaven forbid, probability of a period of procrastination. Is there a Plan B on ice somewhere?

Whomever ends up getting the reins, whenever they are bestowed, will have plenty of material for study.

Whatever about matters at senior, there’s last year’s Junior winners Kilbride two from two, Navan O’Mahonys and Walterstown in the mix. And that’s only in one group.

For all that there may be perceived deficiencies within club football in the county, all groups at all grades are feverishly competitive. So logic would dictate there should be plenty of talent there for a county manager’s perusal.

Let’s just hope business is expedited expediently to allow that happen.