Winter hadn't even been put to bed when a Meath team that carried significant hopes of glory fell at the first provincial hurdle. Nobody could possibly have predicted the happenings at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday, 23rd February last when a side that was regarded as heavily-laden with talent under-performed alarmingly and left so many Royal County supporters dejected, disillusioned and worrying about the future. By Paul Clarke. The senior management team of coach Colm Coyle and selectors Dudley Farrell and Tommy Dowd were in charge of the Meath under-21 footballers for 2008 and as they prepared to face Kildare in the first round of the Leinster Championship at the Navan venue all the indications were positive following a supposedly satisfactory build up. Many of the players on both teams were familiar with each other from their minor days and while Kildare were expected to give Meath a good run for their money, it certainly wasn't anticipated that they would dish out a 12-point (1-14 to 0-5) hammering that was as comprehensive as it was deserved. The atmosphere in the home dressing room in the aftermath of the debacle was depressing, as one and all struggled to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. It has to be stated that the absence of that outstanding young talent Shane O'Rourke, as well as David Donegan and Phelim O'Reilly, didn't help, but it is highly unlikely that the presence of any or all of them would have made enough difference to turn the tide on a day when Kildare were totally dominant and exploited Meath weaknesses in many departments. The full-back line looked vulnerable throughout, with that young star of Seneschalstown's surprise 2007 Senior Championship success Andrew Collins having a real struggle in the No. 3 shirt as full-forward Alan Smith proved a hugely influential figure for the Lilywhites, contributing an impressive 1-7 to their tally. Midfield was another area where Meath struggled to come to terms with Kildare's dominance as the Donaghmore/Ashbourne combination of Eoin Reilly and Rory O'Connor played second fiddle to Mark Watters and Neil Higgins. However, in fairness to the hard working O'Connor, he was probably his team's best player overall. And what can you say about the forwards when they managed only five points in over an hour of football? That was surely the most disappointing and utterly puzzling aspect to the entire sad occasion. It has to be appreciated that the supply of possession to the attack was erratic and generally poor, but such a dreadfully small tally from a forward division that included the likes of Graham Reilly, Alan Nestor, Brian Sheridan and David Morgan was, nonetheless, a huge failing The usual pre-match talk among Meath supporters at the rear of the Pairc Tailteann stand was generally optimistic. Young O'Rourke, in particular, would be a big loss, especially given the very favourable impression he had made with the seniors in the previous year's championship. But the general opinion was that these were a talented bunch of players under the guidance of the senior management who would win and qualify for a mouth-watering match against Dublin next time out. How wrong they all were. When Westmeath referee Sean Carroll sounded his final whistle on that February evening he brought an end to a disastrous day for Meath football which did little to bolster enthusiasm, optimism or confidence for the future. When the Royal County faltered badly against Westmeath in the National League at Cusack Park, Mullingar, eight days later the feeling of doom and gloom among supporters only intensified. However, it was still only early March by that stage. Only Reilly, Sheridan and Morgan managed to trouble the umpire with the white flag at the hospital end in the first half of the under-21 match as wind-assisted Kildare, who were managed by former outstanding player Glenn Ryan, moved into a 0-8 to 0-3 interval advantage. The only possible grounds for optimism that Meath could generate at that stage was the fact that they had the advantage of the elements to come in the second period. There had been nothing in the performance in the opening half-hour to suggest that they were capable of raising their game about the very ordinary. If they were to have any chance of turning things around a good start to the second half was absolutely vital. Sheridan offered some hope when he fired over off the crossbar in the fourth minute, but that most certainly wasn't a sign of better things to come. Amazingly, Meath's only other score was another Sheridan point three minutes from the end when Kildare were out of sight with an 11-point cushion. The score that had really enabled the Lilywhites to move into an unassailable lead came at the three-quarter stage when a calamitous mix-up in the home defence enabled Smith to fist to the net. The visitors' advantage stood at nine points after that score and there was never going to be any way back for Meath as both sides simply went through the motions. It was a sad sight to see so many Royal County supporters heading for the exits with several minutes still to play, but who could blame them. Meath's display had been alarmingly flat and completely devoid of confidence and self-belief - not what you wanted to see with an eye cast to the future and with the knowledge that several of the players in action that day are central to the county's hopes for the years ahead. That said, it is certain that this team was capable of so much better. It contained far too many players of undoubted talent for anything else to be the case. Coach Colm Coyle, the man who guided the seniors to an All-Ireland semi-final via the back door a matter of months earlier, appeared to be as puzzled as anybody to explain what had happened. "I didn't see it (the display) coming," he commented afterwards. "We spoke about it. We had a game plan and a way of playing, hitting the ball into space, but we just ballooned high balls in. "I feel sorry for the lads because I know they are better than they showed out there. I was happy enough at half time when we were 0-3 to 0-8 behind. It could have been 0-3 to 0-6 because we gave two easy frees away. "But in the second half they just lost their way. Kildare got their tails up and I think they scored 1-6. We got just two points in the second half, so that tells its own story." One of the most disappointing aspects of Meath's performance was the manner in which they surrendered possession so easily and handed the advantage back to a very hungry and motivated Kildare side. "We attacked and we gave the ball away and on such things games swing," Coyle added. "We were attacking, gave the ball away and they went up and got scores. We were always chasing the game and I suppose when they got the goal it really put the tin hat on the whole thing." One of the reasons for so much optimism ahead of the game centred on the realisation that the team contained so many senior panelists. However, they under-performed on the day which represented a major blow to the hopes of victory. "I suppose that happens," the coach said. "I can't explain it. That was a very good Kildare team, a big strong team. We could make excuses because we were missing Shane O'Rourke, Phelim O'Reilly and Davy Donegan, but I am not even going to attempt to. "It was disappointing, but that's the way games go. We were in it at half time and I was very happy with them, but in the second half it slowly started eroding away and confidence fell." A tally of only five points from a team that appeared to possess such a potent attack was puzzling in the extreme. "Kildare won the midfield battle, so they had the supply line," Coyle added. "Any time we had the ball we just started ballooning it high into the forwards." While he was bitterly disappointed, Coyle was quick to acknowledge that Kildare were a superior team on the day. "Kildare were by far the better team." he said. "All I will add is that our lads are better than that. They are talented lads, but just didn't perform. It is as simple as that. It is small things that turn games. I would be disappointed that the margin was 12 points. During the last 10 minutes the lads were just going through the motions. It is disappointing." The Meath team that lost to Kildare was - M Ahearn (Dunshaughlin); C O'Connor (Ballinabrackey), A Collins (Seneschalstown), S Carr (Simonstown Gaels); T Skelly (Drumconrath), S Sheppard (Wolfe Tones), P Howard (Duleek/Bellewstown); E Reilly (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), R O'Connor (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); S Sheridan (Seneschalstown), G Reilly(St Colmcille's, 0-1), A Nestor(Blackhall Gaels); C Lynch (St Michael's), B Sheridan (Seneschalstown, 0-3), D Morgan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne, 0-1). Subs - C Kelly (St Colmcille's) for S Sheridan, C Mallon (Ballinlough) for Howard, C Staunton (Dunshaughlin) for Morgan, D Bailey (Na Fianna) for Lynch, C Lynch (St Ultan's) for E Reilly. Not used - P O'Rourke (Skryne), S Hanney (Gaeil Colmcille), B Hanlon (Gaeil Colmcille). Tweet

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