THE FIRST question for Kildare’s Aindriú Mac Lochlainn was loaded. The Meath goalkeeper, David Gallagher, had just informed us the Lilywhites were raging hot favourites for Sunday’s Leinster semi-final. And they are, to the tune of a four-point handicap, which is fairly raging hot in this traditionally tight fixture.

“It’s always funny, a player’s going to say that but you can see in the last couple of years there’s been nothing between us, especially our last league game.

“They had a shot to win that came back off the post and we ended up getting a fisted point. That’s the closest it’s been between us in the last few years. I can see it being as close the next day.”

That league meeting ignited Kildare’s charge towards the Division Two title while Meath kept falling, right through the trap door. Meath are supposedly in a desperate slump while Kildare are a mere leap off winning an All-Ireland. That’s what they say. For Mac Lochlainn the Delaney cup is an important achievement.

“I think any team that’s putting in the effort and commitment that we are, you’re chasing your dreams and you’re chasing silverware. . . Meath, obviously, have the same goals so it comes down to who has the biggest will on the day, who is going to work that little bit harder, because both teams have talent.

“Meath are racking up big scores, you see against Carlow. To rack up 2-21, they are always getting goals, so we have our work cut out for us.”

The image that abides from this juncture in championship fare last summer was that of MacLochlainn roaring in frustration at referee Cormac Reilly. The Meath whistler had blown in the dying seconds of a tied game with Dublin for Mac Lochlainn’s gentle tug of Bernard Brogan’s wing. The resulting free sent Kildare into the qualifiers. An epic dance with Donegal ended their interest in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

It was alleged again that Kieran McGeeney’s impressive crew lacked scoring forwards.

“I find it a bit farcical. I don’t know what games they’re watching, to be honest with you. I can nearly say that every player, including those that don’t start, they’re the most natural, hard-working forwards.

“Lads can take frees off the ground and out of their hands, with both feet, lads who are willing to work hard, to make runs for other players so I don’t know where it comes from . . Sometimes the lads you’re marking in training can really give you a scutching and you really have to be on your game ... It really gets difficult.”

Has Seánie Johnston scutched you in training yet? “Me and Seánie would have a good old relationship over the years. We’ve had to mark each other a few times in the championship and it would have been a little bit spicy. We’ve marked each other in training; Seánie’s moving well. . .

“He’s a sound lad. And for me once he came in the door and was willing to put in the same effort I was willing to put in, that was good enough for me. In my eyes he was a Kildare man there and then, it just took a while longer for other people to catch onto it.”

Tyrone full-back Justin McMahon has been ruled out of Sunday’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Donegal due to a hamstring injury. Wing forward Ronan McNabb is also a doubt for the Clones clash.