When is a challenge not a challenge match?

With the preseason inter-county competitions gone by the wayside challenge matches have become all the rage in recent weeks as counties adapt to the new rules and adopt new players into their systems.

Some counties have been open about their playing of these so-called friendlies. Some have used the games to boost their teams training funds or help out local charities.

Others are a bit more precious about their work and are careful about divulging any information to their supporters (or indeed future opposition) as to their plans for challenge games.

Secrecy appears to be the name of the game and many counties have been going about their business under a cloak of invisibility which has been a source of frustration for many supporters.

Meath have been operating with blurred lines in terms of their challenges. It has been made clear to the Meath Chronicle that challenge matches involving the Royal County are not 'behind closed doors', but it has also been said that they are not shouting about the games from the rooftops.

After challenge matches against Fermanagh (which Meath won by a narrow margin) and a six or eight-point loss to Tyrone in UCD last week word spread quickly of an appealing challenge match against Kerry last Saturday.

Further enquiries about a mouth-watering opportunity to watch the Cliffords, Sean O'Shea et al up close and personal in Dunboyne quickly revealed that the match would most likely be between two development panels.

With several players involved in Sigerson Cup games during the week and others still getting up to speed either after a spell away from the county panel or their initial introduction to the set-up, it was felt that Meath wouldn't be close to full strength.

Kerry were on their training camp in Meath. Based in Dunboyne Castle Hotel and with use of the St Peter's club's magnificent facilities Jack O'Connor and his panel of stars were put through their paces on Friday evening.

With the thaw well and truly kicked in St Peter's pitch was playable, but heavy, for Saturday's challenge against Meath, but as a small band of supporters queued at the coffee dock the word quickly spread that Meath had also send a troop of players west to Tuam to play Galway in a separate challenge.

So it was clear when the players took to the field to commence their warm up under the guidance of John McCarthy, Paul Garrigan, Joey Farrelly and Seamus Kenny that the Meath team to take on Kerry was very much a development one, a side featuring mostly players under 21.

Kerry too decided against fielding their big guns and so it was with slight disappointment that the Meath supporters who turned up for the mouth-watering challenge ended up parched.

Daithi McGowan was the only player from the recognised 2024 panel that featured for Meath, the rest of the team saw young players given their opportunity, but such was the gulf in class that the opportunity was lost and unfair on those eager to impress.

Kerry won the game 3-1-21 (32) to 0-0-6 (6). Efforts to identify the Kerry team proved fruitless.

When enquiries were made as to their line-up the Kerry team officials issued a stern 'no comment'. The orders were clear - under no circumstances was anyone to divulge any information about the Kerry team.

As Jack O'Connor sat perched behind a desk which was placed on the bank opposite the dugouts he watched on with an analyst feeding information into a laptop.

O'Connor soon made his way pitchside and it was clear from his demeanour that there were aspects of the occasion that didn't please him.

Maybe he wasn't happy with the level of the challenge from the opposition, maybe he was frustrated with aspects of his own teams play - we'll never know as the cone of silence was very much in place.

Cormac Reilly implemented the new rules. They had no major impact on the contest. Kerry did manage one two-pointer, there were a few solo-and-go frees taken with no real advantage accruing and apart from a couple of kickouts that went astray there were no other issues with the new kickout systems.

The 'three-up' rule went smoothly and neither side infringed. It did create a lot more space for attackers to flourish, but it was Kerry who utilised that acreage a lot better.

The Meath lads never stopped battling and their work rate was excellence, it was just the gulf in class that proved so decisive.

Several players put their hand up for another look by the 'senior' management. Oldcastle's Dylan Garrigan was a tenacious and energetic corner-back. Cathal Lacey showed glimpses of his excellence and chipped in with a couple of nice points.

Hughie Corcoran was lively when winning ball out in front, while Evan Connor made one spectacular save in the second-half.

However overall it was a disappointing experience for players and supporters alike who would have expected more, much more.

It is believed that the 'first team' ran Galway close in Tuam. There is no talk of more challenges before Meath travel to play Cork in the opening round of what is going to be a tough NFL Div 2 campaign on Saturday 25th January.

Meath - Oisin McDermott (Ballinlough); Liam Kelly (Ratoath), Ciaran McCarrick (Dunshaughlin), Dylan Garrigan (Oldcastle); Conor Quigley (Trim), Liam Stafford (St Colmcille's), Jared Rushe (Dunshaughlin); Daithi McGowan (Ratoath 0-1 '45'), Rian McConnell (Castletown 0-1); Cathal Lacey (St Peter's 0-2), Jamie Browne (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Mark Coffey (Ballinabrackey); Hughie Corcoran (Drumbaragh 0-1), Christian Finley (St Colmcille's), Josh Harford (Kilbride).

Subs - Sam O'Leary (Kilbride), Evan Connor (St Vincent's), Tadhg Hanrahan (Simonstown), Con Smith (Bective), Evan Quinn (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Adam Quinn (Walterstown 0-1), Mark Furlong (St Peter’s).