Even by the legendary standards of Meath full-back play, Darren Fay is set for a career of impressive longevity. Having ended his debut season in 1996 as an All-Ireland medallist, Players' All Star and the GAA Writers' Young Footballer of the Year - all at the age of 20 - there looked to be plenty of years ahead.

There still does. Despite indifferent years in 1997 and '98, Fay's status as one of the leading full backs in football hasn't really been altered. At 23, he's homing in on another All Star and next weekend - saving an All-Ireland replay - he will depart for Melbourne with the Ireland travelling party for the International Rules series against Australia.

Assuming his career maintains its current trajectory, Fay is on course to emulate such eminent predecessors as Mick Lyons, Jack Quinn and Paddy O'Brien.

Although an imposing height, Fay is not in the mould of the traditional Meath full back - shoulder-to-shoulder-rock-steady-under-the-dropping-ball - and his success is based on his greater aptitude for the modern game.

Whereas in the past the role of full forward largely concerned the ability to play as a target man in attack and break ball for the corner forwards, nowadays a full forward is more likely to be quick out to ball and elusive once in possession.

In his inaugural championship, Fay exhibited all the traits necessary. In the surprise Leinster final win over Dublin three years ago, he marked Jason Sherlock - then a prime example of the modern full forward - efficiently and went on to play outstandingly in the All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone.

Peter Canavan - the exemplar of modern full forwards - was injured from an early stage in the match but Fay's contribution to general play - tidying up and intercepting - was immense. His pace and physique are a formidable combination and he uses both to chase down and win ball in a wide sphere of operations.

He has the attributes to play centre back as he did in the 1993 All-Ireland minor final defeat by Cork but by now is so established on the edge of the square that he is unlikely to make any career changes in the foreseeable future.

His club, Trim, frequently deploy him at centrefield but the effect isn't markedly successful according to at least one observer of the Meath football scene.

Fay's down years in 1997 and '98 were critical to Meath's failure in both championships. He picked up a suspension, for getting sent off in the semi-final against Kildare, before the Leinster final two years ago and in his absence, Offaly's full forward Roy Malone scored two goals as his county won the title.

Last year, it was Fay who was caught in no-man's land between Kildare's Martin Lynch and Brian Murphy just before the latter slotted home the winning goal in the 69th minute of the Leinster final.

"He probably became a little cautious," according to Leinster coach Matt Kerrigan who coached Fay as an under-age player. "I think this year he has reverted to using his speed off the mark to get out after ball rather than trying to hang back."

From this perspective this year's Leinster final was his most frustrating match. He only handled the ball once and looked vulnerable to Dublin's Ian Robertson in the first half but in the absence of a decent supply, the threat was never realised.

The 12 months up to this summer wasn't, however, a total write-off and Fay played a significant role in the International Rules series at Croke Park in October. His athleticism and pace was used to good effect although the failure to rest him at any stage of the first Test led to his fade-out in the closing quarter. The second day, the inter-change was operated more effectively and Fay had a stormer in the last quarter.

Now he faces into his second All-Ireland final against a deep-lying opponent in Don Davis. The semi-final against Armagh will have been a valuable lesson. John McEntee started full forward for the Ulster champions and dragged Fay out the field. In his absence Meath's defence struggled but once the full back was restored, the whole unit was steadied.

A lesson presumably well learned.