Meath draw the short straw
Either this game, or the Dublin/Derry tie, was going to be played in Clones this afternoon because of the unavailability of Croke Park, which is the venue for the Special Olympics opening ceremonies. In the end, Dublin got the longer break which, on the basis of their form against Laois, they could well do with.
It's not known how the GAC reached their decision about which of the games should be delayed, but, the Meath manager isn't surprised they lost out. "It's a long time since we got any favours," he remarked ruefully.
Rumour has it that Meath aren't overly keen either about the appointment of Cork referee Michael Collins for the game. However, this was one question that Boylan steered clear of.
On the other hand, he feels strongly that the current system is unfair on players, particularly since Meath will be playing for the fourth consecutive weekend. They came together on Monday night and again on Wednesday, but the strain has been showing.
"There were a lot of sore bodies and lads are mentally tired. They have to get up and go to work during the day as well and that makes it a bit difficult, a bit awkward. You need a rest period and it's hard to get it.
"If you think of the amount of effort these lads have put in 85 training sessions so far. That's a lot of sacrifices, a lot of giving of their time. You like to see fellows getting a reward. Over the last 16 or 17 years we were in seven All-Ireland finals and we had two draws and two defeats. And it's the defeats you always think about, not the ones you will win."
After the latest defeat, in last Saturday's Leinster semi-final against Kildare, Boylan talked with the players for about 15 minutes in the dressingroom area. When he was asked about it later typically, he apologised to the waiting media for the delay he revealed they had been discussing the qualifier game and what it would entail.
"It was important to realise we were still in the All-Ireland series. It was something we had to sit down and talk about," he explained.
"We lost to a team that played great football on the day. It's very important for us to realise that we're still maybe as good as most of the teams that are there."
The pairing with Monaghan is intriguing for the reason that they are managed by Colm Coyle, one of the players who prospered under Boylan's reign and served with him as a selector for two years before jumping ship.
Boylan felt he was always 'headed' for management and says he understood his reasons for taking up the position.
He makes the obvious point that no other manager around knows the Meath players as well.
"It will be awkward, to an extent," adds Boylan. "We soldiered a long time together. Colm is an incredibly competitive man and he has a job to do . He will do it and that is the way it is. I'd like to think we have huge respect for each other. And, Monaghan knows a lot about us. We'd know a little about them but not as much as they'd know about us really."
The counties met in a challenge early in the year. Monaghan won the game and, apparently, the physical challenge. Last season they clashed in the League in Scottstown and it was a draw. Boylan remembers it as 'a hell of a game.'
Against Kildare, Meath laboured under the handicap of a weakened midfield but it might have been a different result if they had availed of early goal chances. Ollie Murphy's absence from the attack has been felt, but he is back in the panel after shoulder injury and it's more than a possibility that he will have some part to play in the game.
On the other hand, Boylan argues that the like of Daithi Regan have done well and that it has been good for the team.
It shows that the conveyor belt of talent is still running, although some of the more established players may be losing a bit of their sheen.
Boylan will be looking for an improvement from last weekend, but he says it's all about hoping for the best.
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