SÉAMUS LAVIN thought his Meath journey was over when he left for Canada four years ago — but he is back with a bang.
Lavin had feared the Royals’ 2021 Leinster SFC semi-final loss to Dublin was his last game for his county once Toronto called.
He took his chance to take flight and work as a chartered accountant abroad, looking on as his county won the 2023 Tailteann Cup.
Lavin loved his life in Canada but home beckoned last year.
Getting to grips with the game all over again took time but his club form with Dunboyne earned him a recall from new Meath boss Robbie Brennan and he has started all five of the Royals’ NFL Division 2 games so far — winning four ahead of a crunch promotion battle against Monaghan this Sunday.
Lavin said: “My last game for Meath was against Dublin in Croke Park in the Leinster semi-final. We lost by six points.
“I knew I was going to travel at that time. So yeah, I guess a part of me was kind of wondering whether that was going to be my last game for Meath.
“Thankfully it didn’t pan out that way.
“So I’m glad I decided to come back, I’m back over a year now, I came back at the start of last year and just ran the course of my two-year visa.
“I played with Dunboyne, really enjoyed that and then tried coming back in at the end of last year but I picked up a bit of a virus so it didn’t necessarily work out.
“I don’t know if unfinished business is the way to describe it but I think there was a part of me that missed it.”
Brennan’s presence as manager and football’s new dawn under the FRC rules made his return an easy choice.
But the Meath boss is no fan of the changes and insisted the current game ‘is not Gaelic football’.
Lavin can feel Brennan’s frustration but he is relishing it all as a defender and insists it will get better with time as the Championship approaches next month. He said: “Yeah, look, I think everyone’s going to have their own opinion. I think everyone’s probably a little bit biased as well, whether they know it or not.
“For me, I like a lot of the rules. They’re not perfect but I think kind of taking a step back and looking at it, are they a step in the right direction in terms of the game evolving and being in a better place? I would say yeah.
“I feel Robbie’s frustration, and managers alike. There’s been a lot of maybe ambiguity and uncertainty. But the more we get accustomed to them, I think they will be better.
“You have to kind of think of the bigger picture. Sports evolve, that’s nothing new and it’s kind of what we’re seeing with the game now.
“But by and large I’m in favour of them.”
Lavin feels grateful towards Brennan, who gave him his second chance.
The ex-Kilmacud Crokes boss has shown huge trust in his defender after nearly four years away from inter-county football.
Lavin wants to repay that faith with performances, not least in Sunday’s vital clash with the Farney — or he could lose his spot in a flash.
He said: “Robbie’s an honest guy. I think whoever’s putting their hand up, whoever’s playing well is going to get the jersey.
“And I think if you were to ask any of the guys there how they’re settled in their jerseys, they’d probably say no, because lads are biting and kind of nipping at your toes the whole time.
“You’re only really one kind of bad performance away from losing that jersey. That’s probably the way it’s got to be if you want to be that kind of high-performing unit.
“By no means am I thinking I’m settled and I’m going to have it for the year. I think you’ve got to turn up to train and be at your best and prove and show your worth as well.”
l MEATH defender Séamus Lavin was speaking at Bective Stud in his home county ahead of the Royals’ Allianz FL Division 2 match against Monaghan at Páirc Tailteann on Sunday at 2pm.
