Meath must throw off shackles to upset Donegal

Meath have been the surprise packet of an enthralling football championship so far this season. But if they're to continue their steep upward trajectory and finish the season as more than just a feel-good story, they need to attack Sunday’s semi-final meeting with Donegal as if they’ve nothing to lose.

That’s according to former Donegal star Kevin Cassidy who has warned the Royal County that, if they don’t throw the shackles off and go after the ball against Jim McGuinness’ experienced side, they might spend much of a stiflingly warm afternoon chasing after it.

Donegal, on the other hand, must beware the team who are already playing with house money.

"Meath are dangerous because they've nothing to lose," Cassidy told RTÉ Sport’s Damian Lawlor this week.

"They're gonna come in and throw the shackles off. That works both ways. Donegal are so good. Once they’re in possession, it’s so hard to get it back off them.

"Meath are really strong around that middle sector. Although it was funny, I was chatting to Trevor Giles and I was saying Meath are a big physical side, and he says, 'you think that, but our men aren't that really big. It's just that they're so aggressive in terms of how they attack the ball and how they attack the breaks’.

"For me, to have a chance, they have to get on top of midfield and get a hold of the ball without Donegal getting it. That takes repetition, repetition. Once Donegal have the ball, you very rarely get it back off them. It ends up in a score or a win."

Donegal came into this campaign bolstered by the return of Michael Murphy from retirement. Even the most optimistic Donegal fan, however, could not have foreseen the three-time All Star looking as influential as ever at 35 years of age.

Michael Murphy (L) has taken as much marking as ever since his return

Murphy is one of the main reasons the Ulster champions are looking a good bet to snatch a first All-Ireland title since 2012.

"I've been impressed by him. He started the league very well, so he obviously had a lot of work done pre-season," Cassidy said of his former team-mate. "Donegal were in good shape in terms of where other teams were at."

A one-point win after extra time in an epic provincial final with Armagh was followed by a slight lull in the Tír Chonaill men’s performances. An opening loss in Tyrone in the round-robin stage was followed by a win away to Cavan before they ended their group stage with a one-point home victory over Mayo.

Not exactly All-Ireland-winning form, according to Cassidy. But the former county half-back also feels any Donegal dip in form will have been seized upon by McGuinness for motivational purposes as he prepares to pit his wits against Robbie Brennan's midas touch on the opposite sideline.

"Jim puts a lot emphasis on the Ulster championship, so that was the first goal, to get there," Cassidy explained. "It was tough for the players, it was taxing on the players. But they got their just rewards by winning Ulster.

"After that, it's only natural that there would be a small drop off. We're seeing that in the defeat to Tyrone. I didn't think the first half against Cavan was good. First half wasn't great against Monaghan. So there’s a lot of stuff to work on.

"If I was Jim, I'd be happy with that, because if they were trailblazing through everybody, somebody's going to catch them somewhere.

"He's got leverage there to bring the players back down to earth. And that's what he'd probably done in the last two weeks."

Watch the Tailteann Cup final, Limerick v Kildare, on Saturday from 2.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-finals with RTÉ Sport. Kerry v Tyrone on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and Meath v Donegal on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow live blogs on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

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