By Michael McMullan

AARON Kernan felt Meath’s game management improved since their defeat to Cork and that it made the difference in Saturday’s All-Ireland Round 2B win over Derry.

The former Crossmaglen and Armagh star is part of Robbie Brennan’s management team in the Royal County.

After securing promotion to Division One, Meath were hit with four goals against Westmeath in an early Leinster Championship exit.

They had a five-week layoff before getting themselves into a commanding position against Cork in the All-Ireland opener.

However, despite having an extra man following the dismissal of Colm O’Callaghan, Meath were beaten in Páirc Uí Rinn. It left them in the last chance saloon in Derry last Saturday night.

“We obviously knew it (Derry) was going to be a difficult place to come to,” Kernan told Gaelic Life.

“While we were very close in the two championship games to date, ultimately we lost them and we were in a knockout situation.”

Kernan admits there were nerves in the camp but felt they gave a “brilliant account” of themselves in their 1-24 to 1-20 win.

Ahead of their to Derry, Meath had to find the balance between digging into their championship defeats and moving on.

“I don’t think you can park it because, ultimately, if you’ve lost two in a row, there’s something there’s going wrong there,” Kernan said.

“There is stuff that you have to address and it probably is difficult. There was a five-week lay-off from the Westmeath game and you’re trying to deal with that as well. You learn very quickly what went wrong and you try and analyse it.”

Kernan wasn’t offering that as excuse for defeat to the Rebels but they did fail to deal with the extra man after having worked themselves into a strong position.

“Maybe the few mistakes that we had the day were critical. We thought we were trying to force twos (two-point shots) too much against Cork,” Kernan pointed out.

“We did something similar maybe here (in Derry) in the first half.”

Week on week

Having two games in eight weeks was a marked contrast from the week-on-week nature of the league campaign.

“I enjoyed the league even more because you’re making mistakes, learning from them, but acting on them a week later,” he added.

“Having a long wait before the All-Ireland series you hope that you’re in a good place.

“I felt all week heading into the Derry match that we were in a good place, but the reality is you don’t know until you’re in the middle of a championship game.

“Particularly the second half (against Derry), whenever you’re playing under a bit of a breeze, now it died a bit, I just thought the game-management was superb and that was the aspect that we felt let us down against Cork.”

Despite winning 20 of the 26 kick-outs in the first-half against the Oakleafers, Meath went in level after squandering chances.

They led by three points before Derry dug their way back into contention to tie the game at the break.

“That’s a huge amount of ball to be getting your hands on and we still went in level at half-time,” Kernan added of their midfield dominance.

Before knowing they were going to be reduced to 13 players, with black cards shown to Cian McBride and Ronan Ryan, Meath needed to iron out the creases in their performance.

Derry would also begin the second half with 13 players but Meath had to delve into the areas for improvement. There was a need to use their possession better.

“When you’re trying to force a two (two-pointer), it ends up a slow game around the arc,” Kernan said of the first half.

“They (Meath in the second half) kept a bit of pace in it and were happy to clip simple ones. You’re keeping scoreboard momentum the whole time and that is the most pleasing thing for us.

“To get so much ball, but that get reward for it. The ball goes dead and then you get a chance to go and compete for the next one.

“At times in the first half, it was forced. A wide drains you, or a turnover even worse.”

Kernan was referring to a turnover in their inside forward line that ended up with James Sargent surging forward to nail a Derry goal seconds later.

“That is a killer,” Kernan said. “You can give them all the information. It’s up to them to act on it.

“I think the second half, that is the bit that you’re chuffed with there – the boys acted on it and went out and delivered, so you’re delighted for them.”