There's something a little bit warped about the almost-macabre focus on Meath this weekend. It feels as if a lot of people are waiting on them to fail.
Then they’ll start spouting off about the Dublin/Meath rivalry, saying how the Royals have dropped the ball, almost taking personal offence and making it all about themselves.
All the usual stuff that's gone on for the last decade around these two.
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If Colm O’Rourke’s side lose to Offaly this weekend, or in a Leinster semi-final, they’re in the Tailteann Cup.
There will be some sneering then — and a lot of it from the capital.
The Meath/Dublin rivalry may be dead, but for any harbouring old grudges it is never far beneath the surface.
Clare’s Munster quarter-final victory over Cork ensured that either the Banner, or their provincial semi-final opponents this weekend, Limerick, take Meath’s place in the All-Ireland.
That is, unless the Royals make the Leinster final.
More worryingly, there doesn’t seem to be any massive concern in the GAA at the demise of Meath and Kildare — Dublin’s main rivals.
There was certainly no urgency to help avert what is a complex issue that has been coming down the line for a long time.
The lack of hype about this weekend’s four Leinster quarter-finals will tell you all you need to know about the state of football in the province.
There’s also little doubt that there are plenty waiting for Colm O’Rourke to fail.
They’ll say he had all the answers as a commentator, but can’t do it on the line, even though he’s only been at this for just over six months.
You’ll make sporting enemies spending over three decades as one of RTE’s main pundits, speaking your mind — and he generally did.
This could be the weekend for Meath to use a bit of ‘us-against-the-world’ speak to go with the usual performance talk.
The other side that plenty are waiting on to fail is Kildare.
In fact, there may be even more apathy there in general than there is towards Meath.
Is it any coincidence that these are the sides that were once Dublin’s greatest rivals, but have been cowed down by a decade of beatings as the capital side got their house in order and went on to dominate Gaelic football with as near-to-perfect football as we've ever seen?
Kildare and Meath’s borderlands have also had a huge influx of Dublin people over the past two decades, who are still Dublin fans — and understandably so.
If they changed colours and loyalty overnight, what would people think of them?
They don’t become Meath and Kildare people all of a sudden, so is that real passion for the county there among those who cross the border?
It’s only when their kids’ kids go into Meath or Kildare underage development squads that they will truly become natives.
That passion for a county can’t be created overnight.
It takes a generation.
Both these counties have also been hit hard by Leinster rugby and the private rugby schools hoovering up so much talent.
Leinster rugby is a well-oiled machine.
When you’re in the private schools you are rugby property, training multiple times a week in school.
And if you show any interest and talent, and aren’t in a private school you’re into a development squad.
Competition is fierce for young talent in Dublin and the Dublin hinterland.
Dublin football has the population and numbers to lose a cohort of their best players to soccer, hurling and rugby.
Meath and Kildare not so much.
Kildare are getting their act together with Naas CBS, a key link between county Under-17 and county Under-20.
Meath not so much at schools level with St. Patrick’s Navan fading in recent years, although the 2021 All-Ireland minor success was a green shoot.
But this has to happen consistently over years.
Sustaining that requires massive passion — that word again — commitment, expertise and some joined up thinking.
Derry is a small county compared to Meath or Kildare, but they have two top level schools, St. Patrick’s Maghera and St. Mary’s Magherafelt, feeding their county teams.
Look at Summerhill College's role in Sligo's recent revival.
Kerry have numerous schools, including Dingle, ‘the Sem’ and more competing hard at the top.
You don’t suddenly end up with a flagship team that’s struggling and players who haven’t got the skill set, be it at adult club or inter-county level.
The right work generally hasn't been done.
When you have a big population and do the work at underage, then you have a chance, but that’s only a starting point.
Now we’ve arrived at a place where Meath are seeking to avoid the Tailteann Cup and Kildare will probably stay out of it.
The prize for Meath would most likely be a thumping by Dublin at Croke Park and an All-Ireland round robin where they might gain the exposure they require, but it will only be a positive experience if they’re ready for it.
Gloat at O’Rourke and Meath, or Kildare and Glenn Ryan, if you like, but where the Lilywhites and Royals find themselves is not good for the game.
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