Leinster final heartbreak a distant memory for Frayne

Eoghan Frayne has expressed delight with Meath’s response to their Leinster SFC final defeat to Louth.

The rejuvenated Royals have bounced back in the best possible fashion by qualifying directly for the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals as winners of a group that included Kerry, Cork and Roscommon. Last Saturday’s sensational nine-point victory over Kerry was another high in a season that also saw Robbie Brennan’s charges end Dublin’s long reign as Leinster champions.

“We’re really happy about that. It was a tough week after the Leinster final,” the Meath captain and sharpshooter told the media after the Kingdom were humbled in Tullamore.

“There’s a good few young lads in the squad luckily so you don’t really think too much about it.

“Maybe the older lads took it a bit tougher. They might have thought it might be their last chance. But we gathered the troops, put the heads down, got back to work and it’s showing now.

“There’s great competition within the squad. You can see, it’s just the next man in. You have to back the depth in your squad to come through and everyone coming on has to know their role as best they can. That showed again so credit to the lads on the bench.

“It’s very exciting now for Meath football. It was great to see so many kids on the pitch after the game and hopefully we can keep going.”