Royals can take nothing for granted on long trip to Tipp
Eoghan Harrington, is challenged by Tommy Warburton during Saturday's clash in Pairc Tailteann
Related Articles
IT might not be a long way to Tipperary but it will certainly be an early start for Meath this Sunday as their NFL division 2 tie against the Premier County in Semple Stadium has a throw-in time of 12.45.
The game is the curtainraiser to the NHL division 1 tie between Tipp and Galway.
Meath manager Eamonn O'Brien has described the early start as, 'awkward' but has probably more pressing matters on his mind following the dreadful display against Westmeath.
'I suppose we are accommodating the television. It's a very early start for some of the lads, but it's something we have to cope with,' O'Brien said.
The manager was nonpleased with the display in the narrow victory over Westmeath and after Tipp travelled to Newry last Saturday and forced a draw with table-toppers Down, Meath cannot say they haven't been warned.
It was the first point of the campaign for John Evans men following defeats to Laois and Kildare and on home territory they will likely be buoyed up by that display over the Mourne men.
Meath will hope that Cian Ward has recovered from injury and is fit to take his place, especially as Jamie Queeney and David Bray came up short in the free-taking stakes against Westmeath.
Cormac McGuinness should also be back in the frame and Brian Sheridan could also see action following his fine displays with DCU in the O'Byrne and Sigerson Cup campaigns.
It will be interesting to see if O'Brien and his selectors persist with the Navan O'Mahonys duo of Niall McKeigue and Barry Regan following less than inspiring displays against Westmeath.
James Macken though will likely continue at full back after O'Brien said the aim was to get him acclimatised to this level of football.
Shane O'Rourke
who missed all of last year with injury has rejoined the panel and could make his longawaited return at some stage on Sunday.
'Shane is back training with us after being with DCU and we will have to access that,' O'Brien said. 'He is not fit enough to last 70 minutes but maybe to make some contribution to the team.'
O'Brien said after the Westmeath match that Meath sometimes struggle against what some people might perceive as lesser opposition.
'At this level you can take no one for granted. The standard has levelled off and we need to take everyone serious, I hope we took Westmeath serious, you cannot take anything for granted.' IN a typical first round affair both sides looked out of sorts at times at four points of Rathkenny's tally came from defenders.
Rathkenny had the better of the opening half exchanges and led 0-4 to 0-3 at the break. Simonstown upped the tempo somewhat on the restart and Rathkenny failed to respond.
Both of the losers' second half points came from corner back Jason Gore.
The all important score, a Simonstown goal came at the mid-point of the half.
- Sean WALL
