Meehan an inspiration for Galway young guns

When Michael Meehan burst on the Galway senior football scene 10 years ago, it wasn’t a surprise.

People within the county had heard tales of a talented Caltra youngster setting the world alight for St Jarlath’s and the county U21 side. He was going to be their next Sean Purcell, their next genius forward.

Fast forward to today and his tale is a cautionary one. His early days were littered with All-Irelands at U21 and club level while the Connacht title was a regular.

But now, aged 29, when we should have seen him reach his prime, his story is one of woe. The last three years have been spent battling a recurring ankle injury that threatened his career.

When Alan Mulholland was appointed manager last year it would have been easy to cast Meehan adrift. He didn’t. In Meehan he saw a player who could help guide the current crop on to deliver on their potential.

Training sessions were adapted and he made sporadic appearances last season. This year he’s back, maybe not to his best, but back all the same.

“Mike is a model footballer, he is the heart and soul of our panel and he is the role model for all the young fellas coming through,” said Mulholland.

“The longer we can keep Michael Meehan playing in Galway football the better it is for the whole culture of the senior panel. He has adapted his training schedule to suit his body. Where we would be on the pitch three or four times a week, he is not there. But that does not mean he is not training. He is getting work done in a different way so I am hoping Mike is going to be able to produce his best form this season. I never doubted his commitment, his dedication, so no I am not surprised Mike is still playing. A lesser human being wouldn’t be playing.”

That’s why his role this weekend will be as much an inspiration and leader as it will be score gatherer. A young Galway side struggling to find its feet needs to learn fast to survive at senior inter-county level.

Expectations have risen given the All-Ireland U21 success against Cork but Mulholland wants fans to be realistic. “It’s a different competition, a whole different age group and what you take from that is a general positivity towards Galway football. Hopefully, we will reap the rewards of that in the years to come.

“As regards Mayo, which comes just two weeks after that All-Ireland final, we are not going to change our plan because of that win over Cork. Our plans are pretty much set before the U21 campaign.”