This Meath team could win a Leinster
The first match employing the new rules and handpass guidelines ought to be the most problematic for both referees and players.
To be fair to both, I would expect less problems with the new rules and greater consistency in their interpretation as the Championship progresses.
The referees body will review their performance and learn from it, while teams will spend more time in training on coaching and eliminating illegal handpasses.
Looking yesterday, I think the new rule actually may encourage more kicking, particularly coming out of defence, as players may not risk a handpass which may be called a foul and lead to a consequent score for the opposition.
Ultimately, and at least in the short term, I’d say if you use the closed fist, you can’t go wrong.
Meanwhile, Meath will be happy with yesterday’s Leinster first round victory. Firstly, Offaly have a good recent Championship record against Meath and secondly, during the National League, Meath struggled when they were expected to beat the so-called weaker teams. Meath won three of their four games in the league by a single point and the other one by four points, so a 10-point victory will help confidence.
Traditionally Meath like to play the long ball and the supporters favour it. It worked well when beating Mayo in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final, but looked very one-dimensional when losing to Kerry in the semi-final.
Since then, they have had difficulty in trying to get the balance right between using the long-ball and a short possession game.
I feel with the forwards Meath have, the long-ball suits best, but you need good kickers in the midfield and half-back areas and against Kerry last year, on a very greasy surface, Meath kicked poorly.
Although Meath have reached two of the last three All-Ireland semi-finals, they have finished fourth or fifth in Division 2 of the league for the past few seasons which would rank them about 12th in the country.
However, I would rate Meath a better Championship than league team, as summer wins over Tyrone, Galway and Mayo in the last three years would indicate. This would give Meath a rank of about eighth or ninth at present in the country and, subsequent to yesterday’s display, I think Meath are contenders for a Leinster title.
They defeated Offaly because they had the better midfield, forward line and free-taker.
Nigel Crawford decorated his 50th championship performance with five beautiful catches from kick-outs and a point from play. Cian Ward kicked seven frees from seven attempts, including three sweet strikes from distance off the ground. Cian had an Achilles tendon problem during the league and his free-taking suffered, but yesterday will greatly help to restore his confidence.
Meath were able to share the scoring up front with Joe Sheridan, Stephen Bray and Shane O’Rourke all kicking fine scores.
Joe remains Meath’s greatest goal threat: he scored one, could have had another that came off the post to him, and had one disallowed.
Shane O’Rourke will be happy also with his contribution of three points, in what was his first start in three injury-plagued seasons – and managed this despite getting five stitches in his leg from an accident at work last week.
Offaly, on the other hand, were unable to win enough possession at midfield and this worsened after John Coughlan was sent off. They also missed five scoreable frees when the game was a real contest.
Furthermore, they presented Meath with two early points from misplaced passes from a line-ball and the goalkeeper.
I was surprised Ciaran McManus did not take over the free-taking duties as he has proved himself well capable in the past. I was sorry to see a great servant like him being replaced but at 34 years of age he should not be expected to carry the team.
The ideal template for a player of 34 is Darragh O’Se, playing last year with a very good Kerry team around him, and just having to worry about his own job.
John Reynolds tried hard and Niall McNamee showed his class in setting up both goals. In particular, his patience and vision in setting up Brian Connor for the first Offaly goal was brilliant.
Offaly needed another goal, but after the sending off, Meath did the right thing by playing Anthony Moyles as the spare man in the full back line, where Meath had looked a little vulnerable under the high ball. This cut out any further goal threat.
Meath move on to play Laois and will be pleased to have kicked 20 points. Graham Reilly and, particularly Gary O’Brien, made good championship debuts and possibly Kevin Reilly and Cormac McGuinness will be recovered from their hamstring injuries by the time they’re in action again.
