TREVOR GILES admits Meath are ahead of schedule going into Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
But the former Royals star has urged the current crop to seize their last-four chance against Donegal as it may not come again.
In an extraordinary season that has already yielded Championship wins over Dublin, Kerry and Galway, Meath have reached the semi- finals for the first time since 2009.
The campaign has been beyond the wildest dreams of supporters, whose team were preparing to play in the Tailteann Cup final this time two years ago.
Giles said: “We could say we’ll be here for the next few years because it’s a young team.
“But it’s very hard to get to another semi-final.
“You couldn’t guarantee you’d be there next year or the year after.
“It’s grand saying this is bonus territory but you have to make the most of the opportunity.”
Robbie Brennan was appointed last September to succeed Colm O’Rourke as Meath boss.
Giles, who was part of O’Rourke’s backroom staff, is full of praise for the new gaffer.
The two-time Footballer of the Year said: “We felt the lads would be a bit better this year.
“The young lads would be a year older, so I was expecting improvement this year with the team.
“But it’s been an unbelievable improvement since, so great credit to Robbie Brennan and Conor Gillespie and to the coaches and to the players.
“The county in Meath, everyone is happy. Everyone’s talking about the game. There are cars being spray-painted.
“There are double-decker buses going to Croke Park on the weekend full up.
“When it’s that little bit unexpected, it’s that bit more enjoyable.”
Giles, who is now coaching Meath’s Under-16 team, added: “For those fellas to see fellas maybe five years older than them playing in front of a full house in Croke Park, winning big games, is just massive for the future of Meath football.
“Those lads realise now, I could be there in five years’ time if I knuckle down and commit myself to the game.
“We’re hoping Sunday goes well but we feel we have a young team that will be competitive for the next few years.
“And then the second wave coming in a few years from the lads being inspired by this, so we feel we’re in a good place at the moment.”
In recognition of their achievements of 1999, when Meath recorded their most recent Sam Maguire triumph, Giles was part of the jubilee team introduced to the Croke Park crowd before last year’s final clash of Armagh and Galway.
And he would not have been bold enough to predict that his county would find themselves just one step away from contesting the following year’s showpiece.
He recalled: “It was a little bit sad leaving that day because it has been so long since we had won the All-Ireland.
“At that time, it looked like it was going to be a while before we’d even be competing for it.
“We’re a little bit ahead of expectation but I think — and the Meath lads would know this — that it’s a massive opportunity on Sunday.
“In the Championship this year, games have been so close.
“Really good teams just have not gotten this far because they have lost narrowly.
“I think in the next few years, the Championship is going to be equally competitive and tight so you just have to make the best of your opportunity when you’re there.”
