Meath will be back in the Sam Maguire in 2024 after claiming an emphatic 2-13 to 0-14 win over Down in the Tailteann Cup final. Meath were the superior side throughout, despite what some have previously labelled as 'caveman' tactics from Colm O'Rourke.
However, Peter Canavan would make an impassioned defence of O'Rourke and his tactics following today's win.
Meath rounded out the 75 or so minutes of action as five-point winners, with a goal in the dying moments of injury time ensuring of the victory. The twams were level on five occasions throughout the game and with only minutes left in regular time only two separated the sides, but barring the occasional scare, Meath held on to their lead relatively comfortably and claimed their first Tailteann Cup.
While it was an emphatic win for the Royals, their viewing today and throughout the season has often been considered less than emphatic.
The style of football, defined by a traditional 15-on-15 approach and long kick passes which are rarely relied on in today's game has led some of O'Rourke's critics to label his football 'dinosaur' like with the former RTE panellist biting back at those claims just last week.
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Peter Canavan dismissed notion of 'dinosaur' Meath tactics
While some will say Colm O'Rourke's tactics cost Meath dearly earlier on in the season, specifically against Offaly when they were knocked out of the Leinster championship, today's result certainly vindicates his approach.
Speaking on RTÉ after Meath's win on the Saturday Game, Peter Canavan gave an impassioned defence of what O'Rourke has done for Meath, rubbishing the 'dinosaur' claims made by some over the course of the season.
The majority of those lads haven't played championship football, he has introduced a lot of newcomers to it.
The word 'dinosaur' was mentioned there. In some quarters, that's what Colm O'Rourke was labelled as at the start of the National League. But he was able to marry the old fashioned qualities of Meath with modern football.They had 15 men behind the ball and defended in numbers. When they needed to hold onto the ball, they were well able to do that. It didn't make for great viewing, but they did it. When you talk about Meath and their traditional qualities, you expect passion, you expect steel, you expect staying power and finishing games strong. That's exactly what we got today.
Against Antrim in the third quarter (in the semi-final), I think they outscored Antrim 1-6 to 0-1. Today, after three or four minutes of the second half, they outscored Down 1-10 to 0-6...There was a fix (in the second half). We criticised them at halftime for giving the ball away, kicking it into a full forward line when the kick pass wasn't on. In the second half they were patient on the ball, probing, and when the space was there they attacked it and kicked it over the bar...There was a marked improvement in the second half.
While even Canavan recognises that the viewing was poor, as a Tyrone man he's well aware that often the team who takes the trophy home aren't the most glamorous to watch.
Meath's win today will hopefully spur on another chapter of greatness in the County's rich history but at the very least will guarantee them their spot in the group stages of the All-Ireland championship next season.
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