BOYLAN TALKS SPORT: A week is a very long time

At the outset here, let it be made abundantly clear, I have no intention of getting into the nuts and bolts of matters which cropped up over the weekend. Anybody thinking otherwise must be either clueless or heartless. The only comment which shall emanate from this keyboard in relation to same as is follows:

I would merely plead with anybody who may have heard God knows what to let the fullness of time play out before jumping to judgement of anything or anybody. Every story has two sides. What’s more, nobody, I repeat, nobody takes on any role in any walk of life with any intentions other than the best for the role itself and their time therein.

Additionally, regardless of what status the role is taken on in, those who do so are ordinary people with families, friends and other people close to them.

So, what might seem like a throwaway remark to you can have devastating ripple effect on the lives of those around those about whom the dross is being spread.

Anyway, before all that blew up, the difference a week can make in a sporting or any other facet of life is beyond calculable.

Thus, whereas last week ambitions were dented on a number of fronts, this time around, most recent events have imbued people with hope and cautious optimism for the immediate to medium term prospects for Meath GAA.

Whereas as last week the county was downtrodden after our men and lady footballers, hurlers and camogie teams all missed out on places in National League finals.

In contrast, it could be said that six of the seven days brought occurrences which have given Meath supporters reason for hope, optimism and a little bit of excitement.

Ashbourne on Wednesday night being the first port of call. As Meath’s u-20 footballers began the defence of their provincial title when the Dubs made a relatively short spin up the road. They had the best of the early exchanges too, chiseling out a lead of 0-4 to 0-1 with Senan Ryan and Joe Quigley carrying most of their fight. Mind you, once the impish Ben Corkery cut through the sky blue defences like a slalom skier to point it turned into a good old fashioned shootout.

The imperious Jamie Murphy then thundered into the action, scoring successive two pointers Cathal O Bric’s side edged into a 0-9 to 0-6 lead approaching the midway point.

But again the pendulum swung as Quigley got on the end of a brilliant Dublin move and finished low past Matthew Kealy. Level at half time? Not quite. Dunboyne’s John Harkin driving over a wonderful double to leave the locals 0-11 to 1-7 to the good after 30+ minutes.

The late Noel Coogan often spoke of the two great rivals having spells of dominance over each other and when those who had former Ratoath and Skryne manager Davy Byrne in their entourage pointed twice within 90 seconds of the restart it appeared momentum had swung again.

However, these talented, spirit young Royals had other ideas as Eamonn Armstrong, his midfield accomplice Michael McIvor, Rian Stafford and mesmeric Murphy always had a riposte for the best their opponents could throw at them.

Ultimately the latest battle between the GAA’s greatest rivals was decided by a rule I genuinely never saw implemented before as Rian Stafford was fouled and adjudged to have been denied a goalscoring opportunity.

Hence Wicklow official Darragh Byrne awarded a penalty which Murphy converted with the ferocity of an RPG. That put the locals back in front by 1-16 to 1-15 though the sides did trade points thereafter, another double-double from the Pat’s man – the second of which was a complete monster of an effort from near the half way line – saw the hosts home to a fully deserved and highly encouraging victory.

Right, so it was only a first round tie and there’s still no guarantee our lads will make the knockout stages, but it’s better to be looking at two points on the table than looking for them. Moreover, a first win over Dublin at this grade in 11 years.

You know you’re getting old when your best friend not only has a young lad old enough to play Minor football but the gifted, admirable youngster has made the cut for the county panel.

But so it was as Charlie Gallagher lined out at centre field as Meath got their 2025 campaign in the grade underway at Pairc Tailteann against Westmeath.

It doesn’t seem like all that long ago since the same queazy excitement abounded when David made his own debut in goal against Longford. Scarily, it’s all of 28 years ago.

To say the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree would be akin to observing that JFK being shot was headline news. Though the shooting is considerably straighter, his father’s ‘agricultural’ tackling methodology may have remained in the mix!

Charlie being responsible for three of the home sides early scores, before a cracking goal from Adam McEvoy of Navan O’Mahonys and some wonderful points from team captain Eoghan McBrearty and the outstanding Nathan Reilly of Simonstown Gaels saw Joe Cowley’s side go in with a 1-9 to 0-2 half time buffer.

However, this fact requires the asterisk that the home side were after playing with the aid of a considerable breeze and even having been facing into same, Westmeath’s Will Scahill was classy enough to suggest he would be more the handful with the wind at his back.

Still, Meath went in with a lead and, while the spirited Scahill did edge the maroon and white a bit closer for a time in the second half, a sumptuous finish from Reilly, two further goals (one pen) from Robbie Johnson and some magnificent link play by Dunsany’s Stephen Cahill set up a late flurry of points which ensured the locals repeated their victory of last year and can justifiably look forward to tackling Kildare with quiet confidence.