It's never over until it's over?

On a hot Sunday afternoon in the summer of 2008 Paddy Gilsenan was at home listening to the radio. He was tuned in to how events were unfolding in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow as Meath were on the way to demolishing Wexford in the Leinster SFC.

The Royal County was so dominant (they led by 10 points at the break) that Gilesnan went off understandably thinking that the job was done and Meath were safely through to the provincial final - and he wasn’t the only one.

It was with more than a element of surprise that he learned later Wexford had done a 'Meath’ on Meath and staged a remarkable comeback. They ended up winning by a point, 2-14 to 2-13.

“I listened to the first-half and I said that’s fine now, I’ll tip off here and do something but I came back and I heard we had lost. I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe it,” he said as he recalled that game at the Meath media night at Aras Tailteann last Friday night.

Gilsenan was a member of the Meath minor team that year but since then he has graduated onto the senior panel and is seen as a strong contender for one of the forward positions on Sunday.

With his all-action, hard-working style Gilsenan has shown that he is more than capable of making an impact at the top flight however his progress has been hampered by a troublesome hamstrings.

Now he’s hoping for a run without any extended spells on the treatment table. He did manage to get on the field against Wicklow popping the ball over the bar soon after entering the fray.

The Wicklow game proved a sturdy test for Meath now, he feels, a considerably bigger challenge awaits.

“It’s going to be a massive task (against Wexford) they are a good team, Meath could struggle. They have good forwards but if we can get hold of their forwards and just play our own game we’ll be fine.”

Employed in sales with C&D Foods in Edworthstown Gilsenan is aiming to change direction and embark on a teacher training course in the Autumn.

He would be delighted if Meath are still involved in the hunt for the Sam Maguire at that stage.

Right now he’s more interested in helping the Royals overcome Wexford on Sunday - and he would love to get a opportunity to start and show what he can on the Croke Park stage.

Whether he’s on the bench or the pitch when the ball is thrown in the Oldcastle man hopes Meath can defeat Wexford and exact some revenge for that shock defeat five years ago.

Jimmy Geoghegan.