Farrell insists Royals are making progress

THE margin was 10 points against Cork two years ago.

It was only four yesterday but the feeling persists that Meath are that few percent short of what it takes to make the final step from being a good team to one capable of claiming an All-Ireland title.

They aren’t alone. Mayo and Dublin are counties that inhabit the same universe, better than the vast majority, inferior to the crucial minority. It was an inflammatory theory with which to approach any Meath player just half an hour after this latest disappointment and Brian Farrell wasn’t long in shooting it down.

“That’s not a fair reflection,” said the full-forward from Nobber. “You couldn’t say that about us. We have a great bunch of lads there. Before this, ye were all saying that we wouldn’t beat Mayo and everyone tipped Limerick to beat us.

“We have got to the last four twice in the last three years. That’s a reflection on the team and I’m not going to say we can’t get beyond that. We can get beyond that. Of course we can. We’ll get there some day.”

Their priority for 2010 is obvious. It is eight years since Meath last claimed a senior provincial title and they haven’t even reached a decider since. That will have to change.

“If you had told anybody in this stadium that we would have been in the All-Ireland semi-final at the end of August, no-one would have believed you. We're making progress. Those defeats knock you back a bit and it is a long road back but hopefully we can get a long run in the Leinster championship next year.”

You could tell this wasn’t going to be Meath’s day before 10 minutes had passed. By then, they had conceded a goal from a Darran O’Sullivan penalty and their captain, Stephen Bray, had been chaperoned off to hospital with a shoulder injury.

“It just didn’t happen today,” said Farrell. “We were up against quality opposition and when you go down a man like Stephen you are always going to be up against it.”

Maybe, but Farrell was honest enough to admit that it was their own errors and not any external influences that cost them yesterday, even if he was a tad peeved by the award of that third-minute penalty.

“I didn’t see the replay but I thought it was harsh. When you go three points behind like that straight away it is like a kick in the backside. It’s very hard to deal with.”