Depleted Royals focus on Carlow

ANYBODY with even a passing interest in Gaelic games would find it amusing to hear Meath talk about their ‘hopes’ of beating Carlow in tomorrow’s opening round of the GAA Leinster football championship in Croke Park were they unaware of the fall-out from their stormy League meeting with Dublin in Parnell Park almost a month ago.

The direct consequence is that they will be missing five first-choice players, four of whom played in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork last year.

On the positive side, the four-week terms imposed on defenders Darren Fay, Caoimhín King and forward Peadar Byrne, end at midnight tonight.