Sheridan not getting carried away with Meath's start

AMONG THOSE demanding our attention even at this early stage of the Allianz Football League are Meath, sitting in the driving seat of Division Two and apparently cruising, with an air of confidence that can often define their season.

Indeed Sunday’s second-round win bodes particularly well as it proved the county’s first league victory on the road in nearly three years – and a convincing one at that, as Séamus McEnaney’s men displayed far too much class and experience for once close rivals Westmeath, who went down on a 0-17 to 0-5 score line.

And having beaten Monaghan in the first round, who went on to defeat Kildare last Sunday, there is further reason to believe Meath have found their legs again, at least in the league, when in recent years they have failed to make much of a lasting impact.

Scoring 17 points in February would be enough to satisfy any manager, yet Meath may well have scored a goal late on thanks to some old legs, when almost veteran forward Joe Sheridan combined with true veteran Graham Geraghty, a fellow second-half replacement, only for Westmeath goalkeeper Gary Connaughton to make a spectacular save.

Yet Sheridan admits Meath still have a long way to go towards their bigger ambitions for the year and that Sunday’s victory was still part of the work in progress.

“In the first half we got off to a good start but in the last 10 minutes we got a bit scrappy,” he says, “dropping the ball into the keeper’s hands and maybe we just took our foot off the pedal.

“We were comfortable enough with 15 minutes to go. It was a good performance but there’s still a lot to work on. But we have made the point that we need to put in a performance in every game and take them one at a time, trying to keep slowly improving, working hard during the week, and setting goals for the next game. Lads are putting in a great effort and we just have to keep upping our game because a lot of people would have expected us to beat Monaghan and Westmeath.

“We’ve four points going into the break and we’ll just have to pick it up again for Kildare in three weeks’ time. Kildare are a massive bogey team; they’ve beaten us the last four times we’ve played. We need to work hard, keep the head down and not get carried away.”

No one in Meath will need much reminding that Kildare took their scalp in the championship last summer, and Sheridan suggests that’s where Meath will ultimately be judged.

“When you look back at last year people say we could have won it but Kildare were probably the better side on the day. They’re probably in the top five or six teams so it shows we’re probably top 10 at the minute and you have to be realistic about that.”

Meanwhile the four All-Ireland club football championship semi-finalists got a timely boast ahead of this weekend’s showdowns when they each picked up AIB provincial player of the year awards.

Frankie Dolan of St Brigids and Colm Cooper Dr Crokes are each receiving the award for the second time. Dessie Dolan of Garrycastle and Jamie Clarke of Crossmaglen Rangers are each being honoured for the first time.

It is the first time in the history of the awards that two close relations have been honoured with Dessie Dolan, making his first appearance in an All-Ireland club semi-final with his club Garrycastle honoured alongside cousin and club rival Frankie Dolan.

Both men will put their blood relationship to one side in Pearse Park this Sunday as they aim to secure a place in the 2012 final, on St Patrick’s Day.

Dr Crokes play reigning All-Ireland champions Crossmaglen in the other semi-final.