Big assignment for Meath

All the preparations are complete and this time around there is doubt that the game will go ahead. Meath and Cork will renew rivalries when the NFL Div 2 opens with what promises to be an intriguing test at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday, 2.30. The counties were due to meet in the opening round of the same competition this time last year, but a players" dispute in the Rebel County forced a cancellation of the game and Meath were awarded the points. Two points will not be as easily garnered this time around as Cork are coming off the high of a relatively successful 2008 where they claimed the Munster SFC before losing out to Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final after a replay. Last weekend they recorded their third successive win to lift the McGrath Cup for the third time in four years by defeating University of Limerick by 1-13 to 0-6. So any aspirations Meath hold of a handy trip south should be dispelled immediately. The Cork hurlers ongoing dispute with their Co Committee prompted suggestions that the footballers would withdraw their services in solidarity, but those fears never materialised and the game will go ahead. Since Meath last faced Cork there have been a lot of changes. That disappointing end to a wonderful 2007 prompted a collapse of mammoth proportions. During 2007 Meath leapt back to the fore of football, but the 10-point drubbing by Cork in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final cut a wound so deep that the Royal County never recovered during a disastrous 2008. Since the halcyon days of two years ago a couple of Meath"s greatest players, Graham Geraghty and Darren Fay, have retired and the manager Colm Coyle also stepped down following the humiliation of the All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier defeat by Limerick last July. With confidence at an all-time low, Meath football was in danger of slumping back into the doldrums. The procrastination and embarrassing handling of appointing a new manager further damaged Meath"s stock and doubts were raised if we could return to the top table. However, a new regime is now in place under the guidance of Eamonn O"Brien and matters are on the rise again. O"Brien has brought in former players Robbie O"Malley, Donal Curtis and Colm Brady and the players have responded positively. The pride in the jersey was questioned following last year"s disappointment, but the few games played under O"Brien"s leadership have shown that the hunger to win remains and if Meath can continue to improve then a return to the top is on the cards. Most of the big star names have committed themselves to O"Brien, with last year"s captain Brendan Murphy the only exception. Currently there are 46 players involved in training and the management team will have to disappoint 16 of those when they reduce their panel to 30 for the NFL. However, that is the type of situation the manager would rather be facing. Winning games will always be the focus for O"Brien, but he will also be looking at the performances and hoping to improve every week with the championship game against Dublin the main thing occupying minds. There will be some experimentation during the league. Successors to Fay and Geraghty have to be found and while Kevin Reilly is the obvious choice to fill in at full-back, O"Brien may look at a few other options. Geraghty"s brilliance and inspiration can never be replaced, but the management will be hoping that their team will play with the same hunger, passion and desire and if they do then the results will follow. There will be very few surprise names on O"Brien"s panel. Players like Eoin Reilly, Graham Reilly, Paddy O"Rourke and Chris O"Connor will continue to get chances while stalwarts like Caoimhin King, Anthony Moyles and Nigel Crawford may find themselves deployed in different roles. It promises to be an interesting league campaign. Supporters need to be patient and allow O"Brien imprint his stamp on the team. There are many exceptional players available to O"Brien and all have their sights firmly fixed on Dublin in May. FORMGUIDE Last five games - Meath (LWLLW) O"Byrne Cup - Meath 1-8, Kildare 1-10; Meath 1-17, Westmeath 0-7; All-Ireland SFC qualifier - Meath 4-3, Limerick 4-12; Leinster SFC - Meath 2-13, Wexford 2-14; Meath 1-25, Carlow 0-8. Cork (WWWLD) McGrath Cup - Cork 1-13, University of Limerick 0-6; Cork 0-18, UCC 0-8; Cork 1-15, CIT 2-8; All-Ireland SFC - Cork 2-13, Kerry 3-14; Cork 3-7, Kerry 1-13.