‘Gutted that we were not able to deliver for the fans’

There was a strong hint of 'what might have been' in the air under the stand at Inniskeen on Sunday.

As those who didn't feature or only played 20 minutes or so were put through an extensive load top-up on the back pitch, Meath manager Robbie Brennan was left frustrated as the chance of promotion to NFL Div 1 slipped from his side's grasp.

Heading into Sunday's away trip to take on Louth in the home of Monaghan GAA promotion was out of Meath's hands, they needed other results to go their way and as it transpired, with Cavan losing to Cork and Roscommon only drawing with already relegated Westmeath, the Royals would have went up with a draw against Louth.

However, for the second time in nine months Inniskeen proved to be a graveyeard for Meath ambitions and in almost an exact replicate of what went so badly wrong in last year's All-Ireland series loss to Louth at the same venue it was a dreadful first-half display that proved to be Meath's undoing.

Despite playing against the stiff wind and conceding five two-pointers and a sloppy goal, Meath had their chances in the opening half to be very much in contention with 13 scoring chances squandered by either kicking wide or dropping short.

That first-half profligacy came back to haunt Meath and left Brennan frustrated and disappointed.

"That's bang on. We missed an opportunity in the opening half with our wides and the ones we dropped short and that has cost us," reflected the Meath manager.

"I'll have to watch it back but I don't know if that's absolutely accurate (a lack of edge). That wind was really tricky in the first-half. Sometimes we turned down chances that might have been on, while we went for others that weren't (on).

"Even when we dropped shots short it's about what comes off them and they (Louth) got a few off those chances as well. That's probably the real story of the game.

"It did (time ran out), but again we had the opportunities there in the second-half, but we missed them.

"We spoke about the efficiency rate not being good enough against Cork and it hasn't been good enough again today and ultimately that is why we are not in Div 1 and it is up to us to suck it up.

"That (results elsewhere went Meath's way) is the real, real disappointment. We weren't really watching the other results. The key for us was the performance and that is what we went after today hoping that it would be good enough to take us where we needed to be, but when you miss those chance you don't tend to win games."

One of the many possible reasons for Meath's dip in performances in recent weeks is their huge injury list and a lack of experience in the panel.

When Meath needed cool, composed heads in attack in the opening half they often rushed their options and made poor decisions.

Poor execution of shots from outside of range against a strong wind led to multiple turnovers and Brennan admitted that while some lads did have off days the injuries and lack of experience also took its toll.

"Experience is a big thing at this level. There is one or two things that we didn't do in the first-half that we would have liked to have done," he said.

"Louth sat in that low block and we had to ask questions of them, but it was difficult, particularly against that breeze because you had to get in closer to them to get your shots.

"Credit to Louth, but there is definitely learnings in it for us.

"They are brilliant lads. The reason were came here today with a chance to go to Div 1 is because of those lads, so hopefully we'll get that opportunity again.

"No finger of blame pointed at anyone today. They stood up to take their chances, but it just didn't click for them. Unfortunately that happens."

To compound Meath's misery it now looks like Jordan Morris will miss the rest of the year with a suspected dislocated knee and fractured tibula.

Brennan was also clearly frustrated with some of the many confusing refereeing decisions, but he bit his tongue and accepted that the new rules are making it difficult for everyone involved to keep up with everything that is happening.

"Looks like he (Jordan Morris) has done his knee, so I'd say that's probably his season over, judging by how bad it was.

"I didn't see it (the incident), but I know he has a couple of questions around it, we will watch it back on tape. Our thoughts are with him, he's gone off in the ambulance there, that's a double whammy.

"No comment your Honour!," was the response when asked about the referee. "I'm not going there, I'll get everybody in trouble so I'll decline to answer that.

"Despite my frustrations and annoyance today I appreciate referees do have a horrendous job to do and we have to be mindful of that as well.

"Obviously there were things out there that we weren't exactly happy with, but we don't get to pick the refs and who ever is there we just have to deal with it, it could be the same going forward, so we just have to be on top of it.

"I better not say anything because it looks like it's me that's on about it (the new rules) all the time, but maybe that is one scenario (when Meath had to keep three up in attack even though they were down to 14 men following Morris' injury and not a disciplinary reason) that they haven't fully looked at.

"It is so hard (to police) because you are looking up and down the pitch to see who is up and who is down, so it is very difficult for everybody including players and officials, but it is what it is unfortunately."

Despite the disappointment of missing out on promotion, when the dust settles Brennan can reflect on a hugely positive NFL Div 2 campaign.

Seven very competitive games have tested the strength of the Royal's panel and Brennan is looking forward to the start of the championship with Carlow coming to Navan on Sunday 6th April.

"It's not (all doom and gloom). When we took over at the start of the year some people had us as favourites to be relegated, but we avoided that," said Brennan.

"However, when we were that close to getting to Div 1 it is disappointing. I don't buy into everybody saying next year will be harder. It will be a brilliant breeding ground to be in.

"It's not a bad place to be playing football next year either, so we'll look forward to that when it does come again, but all eyes on Carlow now.

"One of the real big disappointment for the lads and us is that we have had big crowds out to support us for the games and we are gutted that we were not able to deliver for the fans.

"Hopefully we'll get them (the supporters) into Navan for a big game against Carlow. Our minds will switch to Carlow now and it is important we hit our straps for that match.

"We probably have a good few coming back over the next week or two, but then we have lost Jordy today and we have a few lads who we took a gamble with over the last two games because of tears and we've had to manage them through games.

"We pushed the boat out in the last few weeks, but we probably need to bring it back in a little bit now.

"It wasn't a gamble with Matty (Costello) today. Sean Rafferty had a calf injury, Jack and Jordy had hamstring injuries, so they were walking wounded and they deserve huge credit for getting out there and playing to the level they did.

"Jonesy probably felt he was ready to play the day after he pulled his hamstring, but hopefully he'll be back in a few weeks and he'll certainly be eyeing up being back for the championship," concluded the manager.