By Seamus Leonard - @RTESundayGame
Meath face Kildare at Croke Park on Sunday in a game that could decide the fate of manager Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney.
The former Monaghan boss was already under extreme pressure after the Royals just about managed to avoid relegation to Allianz League Division 3.
But that was just a taster to the scrutiny he came under after selectors Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan resigned in the wake of the decision to recall 38-year-old Graham Geraghty to the squad.
The upshot of it all is that if Meath surrender their Leinster title at the first hurdle, the knives will be out regardless of how Banty’s boys perform.
Paul Grimley - the only selector who stood by McEnaney – has backed the Corduff clubman’s decision, and has hit out at the ‘begrudgery’ of former Meath players who have baulked at the return of two-time All-Star Geraghty.
There’s no doubting Geraghty’s experience, but only time will tell what impact he will have on Meath’s fortunes.
McEnaney has intimated that three players at the other end of the age scale, most probably Ciaran Lenehan, Mark O'Sullivan and Brian Menton, will make their Championship debuts.
Kildare put Mick O’Dwyer’s Wicklow to the sword a fortnight ago but managed to hit 17 wides and drop six shots short in the process.
The evergreen John Doyle predicted that if the Lilywhites could find their shooting boots then they would be in with a great chance of provincial success.
However profligacy has long been the Achilles heel of Kildare under the stewardship of manager Kieran McGeeney. They regularly create a wealth of chances, but their conversion is rarely that impressive.
Such wastefulness will only get Kildare so far, and unless McGeeney can find a remedy then his outfit will remain nearly men.
The form book would suggest Kildare will get the better of their neighbours to the north. But if any county can make a virtue out of adversity then it is the Royals. However there’s no way of knowing how they will react to the recent upheaval.
Verdict: Kildare
