Bray opts to play on with Meath

Former All Star attacker Stephen Bray has given Meath a major boost by confirming he will continue his inter-county career.

Bray, 32, stated after helping Navan O’Mahonys to county final success he was undecided about returning with the county in 2015.

The ex-captain is Meath’s oldest panel member following the retirement of Seamus Kenny while experienced duo Brian Meade and Eoghan Harrington have also departed.

But goalkeeper Paddy O’Rourke confirmed Bray will be back after a break and could feature in their opening league game away to Galway.

“Because O’Mahonys went so far in the championship he’s been given a bit of a break, he’s got young kids as well,” said O’Rourke. “I think it would be a bit unfair to go back into the heavy load of pre-season straight away. When you have a lad who looks after himself as well as Stephen and is so professional in his approach to games and training, there’ll be no gun put to his head on when to be back for pre-season. But his body will be right for the right time of the year. He’ll probably be eyeing Galway in the first round of the league. Oh yeah, he’ll definitely be there again.”

Defender Donal Keogan looks set to take the Meath captaincy in the absence of another O’Mahonys player, Kevin Reilly.

Long serving full-back Reilly has undergone hip surgery and could miss the entire league, placing his Championship status in jeopardy.

“I don’t see it being any problem to Kevin to make it back for the business end of the year,” maintained O’Rourke.