Manager opts not to face the media

There have been many bleak days for Meath football over the years, but few left such a sense of despair as Sunday's horror show in Pearse Stadium as Galway inflicted a heavy NFL Div 2 loss - even manager Andy McEntee couldn't bring himself to explain the performance to the media.

In over 24 years of covering Meath football never before has a member of management not come out to talk to the media. There have been occasions when the manager didn't want to talk for one reason or another, but someone always spoke after a game to offer some type of explanation for disappointment.

Requests to the Co Board PRO Ciaran Flynn for someone to talk to the press proved fruitless. The manager was approached as he left the dressing room, but he walked on, declining the request for 'a few words'.

McEntee's frustrations were understandable. He had just watched his side produce one of the most abject, underwhelming, barren performances in years and he undoubtedly would have been at a loss to explain the display away.

Undeniably Meath's preparations were hampered by Covid, injuries, Sigerson Cup etc, etc. The manager didn't have a full deck to play with on Sunday, but it was still a strong, creative team that was selected - they just didn't play that way.

Failing to score in the opening half was one thing, but struggling to produce any type of quality when backed by a near gale force wind in the second period is inexcusable.

It's unclear who won the toss, but it was Meath who had to batten down the hatches for the opening period and for the most part they did that quite well as they restricted Galway to just three points in the opening 23 minutes.

However, then the defensive concentration slipped and Meath got pulled apart. Galway, and the magnificent Shane Walsh, turned the screw and led by 12 points at the break with Meath failing to raise a flag in the first period of a match for as long as I remember.

Not scoring in the opening 35 minutes was so disappointing, but what was even more frustrating was that they hardly even looked like registering.

It took 17 minutes before Meath managed to work the ball into a position to shoot, but James Conlon fired wide. Joey Wallace repeated that act minutes later and they went on to register two more wides before the break - all the while Galway scored 1-9 and also kicked four wides. They were also denied two goals by a superb save from Harry Hogan and a clearance off the line by Shane McEntee.

The large band of travelling Meath fans grew more and more frustrated. Leaving out some of the more flowery language, they roared at the players to 'at least put a tackle in'.

Time and again passes failed to go to hand. Foot passes went astray. Balls were dropped under little pressure. Runs weren't made.

In the second-half when Meath had more of the ball, they often tried to be too clever. It was almost as if they played with a fear of making a mistake and then seeing their number go up on the board.

That was the fate that befell Cillian O'Sullivan 13 minutes into the second-half. Sure, the Moynalvey man made mistakes - who didn't - but he tried to be creative. His efforts were in vain and one last mistake saw Galway turnover possession, again, McEntee saw enough and took him off.

Going into Sunday's game Meath supporters were hoping to see their team build on the promise shown in last year's Leinster SFC semi-final against Dublin.

On that occasion Meath proved that they can play with a flair and a purpose when they cut loose, but cutting loose is the problem.

Meath's default seems to be to play within themselves, always looking for a better option instead of taking a chance. If you don't chance your arm, you'll never break it, but Meath only ever come out of their shell when their backs are against the wall.

Why is that?

Is it the fear of being hooked? Is it playing the percentages, the safe game? Is it a lack of ability?

One thing is for certain it isn't the latter.

Meath have quality footballers in abundance.

Every one of Sunday's starting 15, and the five subs who came on, are excellent footballers, far better than the team performance suggested on Sunday.

There is no doubting that, for the most part and there are a couple of exceptions, that the best 30-35 footballers in the county are on the Meath panel.

So why are we not seeing the best of them?

We'll have to wait until another day to find out the answer to that question.