Preview: Leinster SFC Replay - Meath v Carlow
Sat 16 June 2012
Carlow's Brendan Murphy and Sean Gannon tackle Graham Reilly of Meath
And if they'd brought their scoring boots, they might even have pulled off a famous victory.
With no disrespect to Carlow who showed no fear and were the better team in the second half, last Sunday's result was a new low for Meath and their beleaguered manager Seamus McEnaney, who professed to being "delighted" to have come away with a draw.
They are clearly a team in crisis and it would seem only a matter of time before they are put out their misery as far as this season is concerned. Next year, they will begin life in Division 3 and that is an unthinkable prospect for supporters who were reared on a diet of success in the 1980s and 1990s.
For all their problems, though, they should still have enough to see off an injury- and suspension-hit Carlow at the second time of asking. Already planning without Daniel St. Ledger, Paul Reid and Derek Hayden, Luke Dempsey also concerns over the fitness of the Murphy brothers, Brendan and Brian. The Barrowsiders don't have the resources to absorb such losses, and if Meath can get more from the likes of Joe Sheridan - who was virtually anonymous last weekend - they should pull through.
Verdict: Meath
Meath - D Gallagher, D Keoghan, K Reilly, B Menton, D Tobin, S McAnarney, M Burke, C Gillespie, B Meade, A Forde, D Carroll, G Reilly, B Farrell, J Sheridan, C Ward.
Carlow - TBC
Odds: Meath 1/9, Draw 12/1, Carlow 7/1
Match Details: Leinster SFC quarter-final replay, Tullamore, Saturday 16 June, 7pm
http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=171285
Dempsey slams Carlow critics
Sat 16 June 2012
Carlow manager Luke Dempsey celebrates with goalscorer JJ Smith after the game ©INPHO
Carlow came in for some stern criticism after a disappointing Division Four campaign but showed against Meath last weekend that they are not as bad as the cynics had suggested:
"We have been severely criticised since the end of the league without the general public knowing we had to replace a lot of players," the manager told The Nationalist.
"The players certainly feel that in Carlow they are not given due recognition and the general media don't study Division Four and see how competitive it is.
"Already, you see Clare beating Limerick and our match against Clare was only a point in the difference. There is tough competition down there."
http://www.hoganstand.com/Carlow/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=171195
Carroll included for Meath
Sat 16 June 2012
Meath's Damien Carroll
The Ballinabrackey man replaces the injured Paddy Gilsenan in the only change to te side. He is the sixth player to make their champuonship debut for Séamus McEnaney's side this year.
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