Grimes is expecting a red-hot atmosphere
HE grew up within a stone’s throw of Louth/Meath border and went to school in the Royal County, so Conor Grimes probably knows what he’s taking about when he says the atmosphere at Parnell Park will be red-hot on Sunday.
‘It’s Louth and Meath and it’s a tight venue so the atmosphere will be intense,’ insists the big full forward. ‘It’s going to be a great occasion to be involved in and we’re really looking forward to the challenge. Our supporters have been amazing all year. In the league final all we could hear was Louth fans cheering us on and coming off the back of two tough years that was a great boost. Hopefully they’ll be there again to cheer us to victory.’
Conor knows that won’t be as easy as it sounds, however, and even apart from the higher calibre opposition, he insists Louth have to improve too on their opening round win over Carlow.
‘The Carlow performance wouldn’t be good enough. It got us through on the day, but that was against a Division 4 team who struggled all year and we made hard work of it.
‘It wasn’t an easy game at all and we know we’ll have to up for it big time for Meath who are a Division 2 team and will be an awful lot stronger than Carlow.
‘We’ve been working hard together and there’s a strong bond in the squad, but if we concede goals like we did against Carlow we’ll be in real bother. So it will be about getting our concentration right and keeping our intensity high and not concede goals like that because we know Meath have the players and talent to cause us real trouble.
‘The momentum we’ve built up is great, especially for a young group of players who thrive on confidence. We’re coming off the back of a good league campaign, but in the back of our minds we know it was only Division 4 and Meath held their own in Division 2, which a big feat for them too. So we’re not getting ahead of ourselves at all.’
Grimes revealed there has been a real championship feel around Darver since the win over Carlow allowed the Reds to turn their attentions to their Royal neighbours.
He insists the current squad have nothing to fear against Meath and that the past means nothing to them.
‘This kind of weather makes it a lot easier coming down to Darver and playing Meath is a little bit of a bonus too. We’re looking forward to it.
‘We’re not interested in what happened in the past, we’re concentrating on what we have and what this group can achieve and we’re in a position now where we can achieve something. It’s going to be tough, it’s a big game but we’re definitely not looking at the past. It’s a young group of players and very few of us were involved in 2010. But it is good to have the experience of those guys who were involved too.’
Grimes did beat Meath in 2011 in the Leinster Championship and the Reds took them to a replay in the U-21 grade the following year.
None of that will count for much on Sunday, however, and the Glen Emmets man feels that what has happened this season is a lot more relevant.
‘Players feed off each other and at the minute confidence is high throughout the squad. But it’s easy when things are running smooth, it’s when things start to go wrong that you are really tested and you have to be ready for that too.
‘It’s going to be a tough battle and we’re expecting big hits, but you prepare as best you can and concentrate on your own game and make sure you get there in the best possible shape. Then you have to deal with whatever you get on the day.’
With the advantage of two extra competitive games in the league final and against Carlow, Louth fans will be hoping their team can catch Meath cold at Parnell Park, but Grimes isn’t so sure that will be a factor.
‘Game time is good and that is what you want to be doing and that should work in our favour, but I’m sure Meath have been preparing properly and training hard and all teams start to peak at this time of year, so it probably won’t make a big difference,’ he concluded.