This match was played under lights in O Mahoney's side pitch in Navan.It must be one of the finest pitches in Ireland and the hurling wall beside it is something else.The Navan men manning the gate are among the most civil in the county,fair dues to them.Our own Phil Fay Junior is coaching the underage girls in football .His own daughter plays there.They tell me that the variety and excellence of his drills is something to behold.Our loss is Navan's gain.Maybe he would come to take over the Intermediate football in Dunderry next year.He might be THE MAN.
Ned Howley is coaching underage there as well.Another gain to Navan and loss to us.Maybe he would add to our coaching efforts here also.He is a good man.
With our Inter Football Team gone out of the Championship there was good support for the team ,including Club Director of Coaching Sean Kelly ,who was keeping absolutely schtum on his position vis a vis the Meath job.My own view is that if he is ever going to take it ,now is the time.Assuming the County Board wants him that is.
Bligh ,Hickey and Keaveney selected the following team.
James Mitchell
Kenny Fay Kevin Slattery Owen Dempsey
Davy Stephens Gary Newman J.P.Kenneally
Conor Farrell Liam Dempsey
Thomas Doherty Paul Bartley Alan Watters
Jordan Martin Trevor Conaty Paul Govern.
Sub used .Killian Minogue,Davy Gilkinson ,Paddy Gorey. Chris Fitzgerald
We hoped that this team would continue to entertain and surprise as they have done for the year to date and we opened with a miracle point from distance by Martin.Despite being marginally outplayed for the rest of the half we were unlucky to go in four points down at half time.
Rocked by the concession of a soft goal our spirits sagged and the writing looked to be on the wall. Luckily the players didn't share this view and commenced a spirited fightback making a compelling ding dong battle of it and hauling back a five point lead to two with minutes to go.
We had our chances to draw level but careless and lazy passing gave away hard earned possession on a number of occasions and must have broke the hearts of those players who put it on the line for the year ,not to mention the management team who also gave their all.
The concession of a penalty at the stroke of full time put the hat on it and we were beat by 2-12 to 2-7.
Goalkeeper backs and midfield were adequate and gave all they had.Slattery's experience stood him in good stead.Fay's speed and guts were somewhat diminished by the concession of frees but he remains pound for pound one of the classiest players in the Club.Dempsey was caught for pace a few times ,Stephens continued his good form despite the deployment of the Mill full forward to blunten his effectiveness,Newman was efficient and Kenneally had a good outing ,some stray passes excepted.
Farrell was the better of the midfielders with Dempsey'lack of participation on the training field glimpsing through at times, one miracle long distance foot pass excepted.He has vision however but needs to up his fitness level to enable execution of his potential.
Despite glimpses of potential the forwards ,with the honourable exception of Bartley ,who ran till his legs gave way.cannot have been satisfied with their contributions.Bugle is an example to all who aspire to realise football potential.
I am not going to belittle them but they must know that effort must be matched by some element of carefulness when in possession.Carelessness in passing is not acceptable in any circumstances and the simple pass has no trump when all is said and done.
All in all this voyage was an interesting one and I was sad to see it come to an end.I wish the Mill all the best in the competition and would concede that they were the better team on the night.
As one whose football days are but a memory every single body who played for us on the night can up their games in the future and owe it to themselves to do so.
This should be their aim from this moment forth.Time stands still for no man and before ye know it the clock will have consigned ye to the sidelines of sporting life.
Make the best of it while time is on your side.
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