Take the Wicklow side of four or five years ago and give them this fixture and maybe there'd be a shock on the cards. Such is the depth of Meath's injury-list calamity that a side containing Leighton Glynn, James Stafford, Seanie Furlong and Paul Earls would be sharpening their knives for a serious cut. But none of them are available to Johnny Magee and Meath will surely come through this unscathed.
Still, it’s hard to see where an 11-point handicap comes from. Meath have six debutants here. They aren’t missing fringe players either – Kevin Reilly, Bryan Menton, Conor Gillespie, Shane O’Rourke and Mickey Newman would be just about the first five names on the teamsheet. Eamonn Wallace still isn’t deemed fit enough to start.
Are Meath – the team that lost last year's Leinster final by 16 points – really so superior that you can take those six out and still be confident of a double-digit mauling?
Unlike his former teammate Jack Sheedy, word is Magee does at least intend to employ some sort of defensive strategy here. Having managed in the Meath county championship, he will have a feel for what he is up against. They should keep it in single figures.
Last meeting: June 15th 2013, Leinster SFC quarter-final, Aughrim – Meath 1-17 Wicklow 1-12.
Match odds: Meath 1/14, Wicklow 14/1, Draw 28/1.
Injuries: Meath are missing Shane O'Rourke, Bryan Menton, Mickey Newman (all hand), Kevin Reilly (hip), Conor Gillsepie (knee).
Just the ticket: Stand €15; Terrace €10; Student & Seniors can get a €5 rebate.
Verdict: Meath
MEATH: Paddy O'Rourke; James McEntee, Donncha Tobin, David Dalton; Nicky Judge, Donal Keogan, Brian Power: Harry Rooney, Adam Flanagan; Graham Reilly, Padraic Harnan, Andrew Tormey; Joseph Wallace, Stephen Bray, Brian McMahon.
WICKLOW: Tba
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
