Meath fly to Portugal to prepare for Kildare

MEATH are the latest team heading on a warm weather training camp.

The newly crowned NFL Division Two champions depart for Portugal next week as they count down to their Leinster championship opener against Kildare.

Acting manager Dudley Farrell revealed: “We are heading to Portugal next Monday for three days. It’s a sort of holiday come training venture. We’ll train twice a day and enjoy the nights.”

Farrell, who is on the sidelines in the place of the suspended Colm Coyle, was commenting on the Royal’s title success over Roscommon at the weekend.

“We are a long way from the glory days of the 1980s, but it’s unfair to be making comparisons. The present side are working every bit as hard and the result on Sunday will do wonders for morale.

“The team got a lot of knocking and criticism following the defeat by Wexford a couple of weeks ago and rightly so, but they took it on the chin, knuckled down, beat Monaghan and Roscommon to win the title.

“On Sunday I was looking at the names on the base of the cup and I saw Kerry won it back in 2000, so we are in good company.

“We’ve had a very good league campaign winning all our games bar one. Winning becomes a habit and it’s one we don’t want to lose now with the championship against Kildare on May 20 looming.”

Meath were at their very best on Sunday and ran Roscommon ragged. Two goals, scored by Brian Farrell, Dudley’s son, knocked the heart out of Connacht side’s challenge and the Royal County finished eight points in front.

“Despite the final score line Roscommon proved difficult opponents. There was little between the teams in the first half but Brian’s two goals gate us the necessary heart to drive on and we finished strongly.

“Next season we’ll play in Division 1A with teams of the caliber of Armagh, Roscommon, Cork, and Westmeath which should make for an interesting league.

“It’s where Meath want to be, in among the best teams which can only be good for a team. However right now we are focusing all our attention on the Leinster championship against Kildare in three weeks time.”

Asked about Graham Geraghty’s involvement now that the general election has been called, Dudley said if Graham wants to be part of the set up he’ll have to make himself available for training just like the rest of the lads.

“We need him every bit as much as Fine Gael do.”