Senior panellists leave an indelible mark
MOST of Ger Robinson’s career highs have been on the soccer pitch. As a youngster with Middlesbrough he trained with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Juninho. He won an FAI Cup winner’s medal with Dundalk and had spells with Kilkenny City, Longford Town, Monaghan United and Kildare County.
Now the 37-year-old is attempting to carve out another niche for himself and last Saturday in Enniscorthy he got his first taste of championship action as an intercounty GAA manager, presiding over Meath U-20s’ victory against Wexford.
As a soccer player, and indeed a Gaelic star with his club Dunboyne, Robinson would have played in all kinds of weather, but the conditions in Enniscorthy were challenging to say the least.
‘It was horrendous, I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game where conditions were so bad,’ Robinson said afterwards.
‘So you have to take your hat off to both sets of players who put in a reasonably high-quality game considering. It was a case of getting here, getting the win under our belt and getting out of here.
‘We would have taken a onepoint win here today in these conditions and in fairness to Wexford the pitch was in good condition. We are just delighted to get through.
‘We had decided earlier that if we did win the toss we were going to play against the wind in the opening half and just be disciplined, and for the most part we were that. There was a mistake for the Wexford goal, but we held them to three scores in the half and we were happy to go in a half-time just a point down.
‘Psychologically it was a great boost for the lads, with that wind to look forward to in the second half.
‘We were keen to start fast and we did. In fairness to Mathew Costello and Shane Walsh, you could see that they were involved with the senior team, because the two of them were just ruthless making the right decisions at the right time.’
Having all five senior panelists available for selection was a major boost, according to Robinson.
‘They trained with us on Tuesday night along with Jack O’Connor, Jordan Morris and Daithi McGowan and immediately you could see the intensity levels rising and it was a massive boost for us to have them today. Andy McEntee has been very accommodating and he will have been happy with the way they played.
‘Their availability has of course strengthened the squad significantly and has increased competition for places in an already strong squad.
‘Sean Ryan was injured and unable to start at full back and it was great to be able to have a player of James O’Hare’s calibre to replace him. Also having the likes of Luke Mitchell to come in, he scored two points after his introduction in the second half. He was disappointed not to start, but it is how you react and he will now be in contention for a starting place against Dublin in the semi-final.’
That semi-final clash against the Dubs is scheduled for this Saturday in Parnell Park and it is one that Robinson is yearning for.
‘I told the lads there in the dressing-room that when you get involved in football at an early age, that is what you get involved for, to have a crack at the Dubs.
‘It’s what you want, and hopefully we will be at full strength.’