‘Boylan’s teams won All-Irelands - now it’s time for us to stand up’

LISTEN to Matthew Costello for about 30 seconds and it is very easy to understand why he is the captain of a Meath team that is just one step away from an All-Ireland final.

It may be a cliche, but for one so young the Dunshaughlin Community College student speaks with a maturity way beyond his years. He is the essence of calmness heading into an All-Ireland semi-final and seems ready to take on all obstacles in his stride.

‘I suppose there is pressure ahead of this game, but we are going into it like every other game. We are going to forget that it is Croke Park,’ Matthew said in the build-up to Saturday’s encounter.

‘Obviously it’s where we all want to play, dreaming about playing in All-Ireland finals. We are going into it with the attitude that we have to beat Galway and get to All-Ireland final day.

‘We feel that we can beat anyone, but obviously we have to give Galway the respect they deserve. They are Connacht champions, they are unbeaten this year in the championship and any team that gets to an All-Ireland semi-final is going to be a very tough competitor, so we will have to approach it with the right mindset.’

Matthew has played in Croke Park previously, but that was back as a seven-year-old in a mini games series with his club Dunshaughlin.

As well as captaining the team to the provincial title, Matthew also tasted success last year as he was part of the Under-17 side that won the Leinster title before going under to Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Matthew believes his stint with the U-17s has stood to him.

‘It was great experience playing with the Under-17s last year and winning a Leinster title and it has given me the hunger and desire to do it again.

‘I have been with this team at Under-14 and 15 level, so this is my third year with this group of lads and its just brilliant. I love playing with these guys. There is great spirit in the squad and the lads are buzzing.’

Matthew is grateful for the support that his club Dunshaughlin has given him since he started playing and he will also have Tipperary and Mayo support on Sunday!

‘My dad Paul played minor and senior football for Tipperary. He has always been there to help me from the time I started out. My mam Sheila is from Mayo and would have been in Croke Park regularly over the last number of years because of Mayo. It’s nice she is coming to support Meath now that Mayo are not there.’

The near collapse in the quarter-final against Derry could be a blessing in disguise, according to Costello, who was nevertheless confident that Meath would eventually come out the right side of the result.

‘We were on the ropes, but like the team always does we fought our way back into the game. I was always confident we would get back into it. We just needed something, a spark, someone to win the ball in the half forward line and get a score and luckily that happened.

‘It could be the best thing to have happened this team. It happened in Pairc Tailteann against Offaly and we pulled through. We know the spirit is there and we can get the job done in the last 10 minutes.

‘You can never tell how the game will pan out. We are going there to give it our all. It’s our only time playing in Croke Park and we are not going to let it slip out of our hands easily.

‘As regards falling asleep in games, I just think that won’t happen because it is such a big game. The lads are going to be tuned in for 60 minutes or for however long it takes to get to an All-Ireland final.’

Regarding the traditional Meath fighting spirit and neversay-die attitude, and the comparision with teams of former years, Matthew puts it into perspective.

‘Sean Boylan’s teams won All-Irelands, so it’s time for new Meath teams to stand up. We are responsible for Meath football and the future of Meath football, so it is up to us to bring home an All-Ireland.’