Could it get any worse for Meath? Actually, the answer is yes. Had the Royals lost to bottom side Wicklow this time last month, it would have been Meath rooted to the foot of Division 3 of the National Football League with a zero in the points collected column of the table. As it stands, the men from Leinster are second bottom, although only two points separate them from the final promotion place.
It is a stark contrast to expectations at the start of the campaign. Unexpectedly relegated from Division 2 last year, the seven time All Ireland champions were one of the firm favourites for promotion.
But if they cannot pull themselves together quickly in the four games left in the campaign, Mick O’Dowd’s men may be consigned to another year languishing in the third tier or worse.
Meath’s league form collapsed very suddenly in Division 2 last year. After winning their first two games against Monaghan and Westmeath, they fell away badly losing their next five games, meekly slipping out of the division.
On the slide
Long-term injuries to the likes of captain Kevin Reilly, Alan Forde and Shane McAnarney have beset the 2013 campaign but in truth, the Royals have been on the slide for the past decade.
With Dublin dominating and other counties catching up, only one Leinster title has been attained in the past 12 years – and that came in highly contentious circumstances against neighbours Louth in 2010.
The era of dominance under Sean Boylan which yielded four All Ireland titles and eight Leinster crowns from the mid-80s to the early 2000s has been firmly consigned to the past.
Boylan has yet to be replaced effectively while successors to the likes of Graham Geraghty, Darren Fay and Trevor Giles have not been unearthed.
The Royals' last All Ireland title at U21 or minor level came 20 years ago, while the last provincial title at underage level arrived in 2008, although there is young talent coming through in the shape of Conor Gillespie and Paddy Gilsenan who both started the disappointing six point defeat to Cavan last Saturday.
It was always going to be a tricky start considering that four of Meath’s first six games of this league season are away from home but due to that poor start the pressure ramps up as they must face Roscommon away and an in form Fermanagh before the end of the campaign – which may well be must win games.
©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
