No new injury concerns for Meath ahead of Donegal clash

Meath manager Robbie Brennan has no new injury concerns following Sunday's All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final win over Galway.

The Royals are preparing for a penultimate round clash with Donegal at Croke Park on July 13.

At a press briefing on Wednesday evening, Brennan confirmed that Ronan Jones, James Conlon, Jack Kinlough, and Jack Flynn, who all missed the Galway triumph, won't feature in the upcoming clash.

"Ronan Jones had the surgery, James Conlon had surgery, Jack Kinlough had the surgery, Jack Flynn had surgery. So no, we're expecting nobody back.

"What we have is, I know I heard a few people saying, ‘oh you could have this guy back,’ but they definitely won't be. They're all in rehab for next season."

Conlon and Ronan Jones are dealing with serious hamstring issues. "Both hamstrings, both the same grade, I think they were both a 3C or a 4, whatever the highest grade you could get," Brennan added.

"So, the surgeon basically just looked at them and said, you've no option here but to do it.

Jack Kinlough was cruciate and Jack Flynn tore his pec against Cork. So he's had the surgery as well, so he's only, whatever that is, a few weeks into that surgery.

"Jack is next year as well, he won't be back. In fact he won't play for the club either, so it's four big guys missing."

Brennan acknowledged the value and importance of squad depth. "We have certainly said all year, next man up," Brennan remarked.

"The great Rory O’Carroll in Kilmacud taught me that lesson early in my days in Crokes.

"It's just about the next man up and that's what we've installed and luckily we have some really good players there and still more that haven't even been used yet. So, we'd be quite happy with the squad we have."

Jim McGuinness' well organised Donegal outfit will be a significant test according to Brennan. "We were up in Ballybofey the previous week watching them against Louth, and possibly with the potential that we were getting them in the next round, obviously that's what happened with the draw," Brennan says.

"So, we were up there doing our homework I suppose and listen, they're a phenomenal team, the athleticism, particularly in Croke Park, should really suit them.

"Probably looked a little tired, I would have thought in the first half against Monaghan, even though Monaghan were exceptional. So yeah, plenty of work to do.

"They're one of those teams where you, I’m not saying you absolutely know what they're going to do, but you have a fair idea of what they're going to do, but whether you can stop them or not.

"Their running game is exceptional, the loops they run and the forwards attack etc. So plenty to have to work on, but look, that gives us two weeks. We've been able to start looking at it already.

"Again, there's a huge amount of experience in it and also sprinkled in some of the youth as well when you look at what they have at the back.

"But they're so structured, like I'd say you could take out 10 of them and put in another 10 and the game plan doesn't change, the athleticism doesn't change."

Michael Murphy's enduring excellence impresses Brennan. "You've got Michael Murphy up there ready to grab a hold of the game, he's such an inspirational leader," Brennan says.

"Again, I'm probably watching him closely. We have a lot of Donegal connections up in Ardara and stuff like that with family and you're always watching them from the outside.

"When you really start to focus in on that and see what Michael does, it is inspirational for them as a group."