Victory over Kerry always lifts the heart of a Meathman. For John McDermott, his county's National League quarter-final victory over Kerry in Limerick last Sunday week gave him particular pleasure. It represented relief from a period of personal torment which effectively kept him out of the game since last October. Representing Ireland in the first game of the International Rules series, he aggravated an old shoulder injury and although he had the satisfaction of captaining Ireland when they won the two-match aggregate series, he missed most of the round robin stages of the league.

He did manage a brief appearance against Down earlier this year, but was far from happy with his performance. Although still not fully fit against Kerry, he played well enough to believe he has overcome his problems.

"I am not 100 per cent fit right now," says McDermott, "but I'm getting there. I'm not rushing it, but I certainly intend to go all out on Sunday against Cork." Commenting on recent criticism of the league, he disagrees with the notion that the league should be scrapped, but sees problems with current structures.

"The situation is far from ideal, but I believe that things can be improved. Certainly the idea of playing the leagues in winter conditions is wrong.

"Quite honestly, if I wasn't playing I would be very slow about going out to watch a match on a wintry afternoon such as we faced in Limerick in that match against Kerry. I can see no reason why the leagues and the championship cannot both be played in the months when the weather is more dependable. Matches could be played in midweek under lights, for instance, while the championship is going on as well. "It seems odd to me that more emphasis is put on league competition."

This season's league structure didn't best please McDermott either. "Louth won promotion a year or so ago and yet did not reap the benefit of their efforts. The GAA should put a league system in place which would reward successful teams and encourage them to develop the idea that the league is a valuable way of developing the games at all levels.

"The present system or systems aren't fair. They need to be revamped and a way should be devised to make the leagues more competitive and more attractive for players and supporters alike"

He is far from confident of victory over Cork on Sunday. "We are told that they are playing well at the moment and that their attack is said to be playing very well at the moment.

"In spite of what some people are saying, I don't know of any team which would go out to lose in a national semi-final at Croke Park. We know that Cork will take the same view," he said.

Nor is McDermott complacent about Meath's task in the first round of the Leinster Championship on June 6th.

"Billy Morgan has put a new style and determination on the Wicklow team. The Leinster Championship has become like the Ulster Championship in recent years. As many as six teams must now be treated with respect.

"We will have to treat Wicklow with great respect. Nothing can be taken for granted. We are not training very hard at the moment, but we will be building up from now on and Sunday's match will give us a chance to assess the situation and, hopefully, we will reach the final," he says.