Royals: It's now or never says Trevor

TREVOR Giles is urging Robbie Brennan’s Meath to seize the moment as they fight for a place in the All-Ireland SFC final.

- BY MICHAEL SCULLY

Giles left Croke Park with bittersweet feelings after Meath's 25th year jubilee team celebrations last July.

Delighted to have been reunited with his 1999 All-Ireland winning teammates, the two-time Celtic Cross winner's spirits were dampened by the consensus that the Royals’ barren championship run since then looked no closer to ending.

“It was a little bit sad, leaving that day, because it's so long since we'd won the All-Ireland,” said Giles.

“It looked like it was going to be a while before we'd be even competing for it”

The 50 year old was still part of Colm O'Rourke's backroom team that put an emphasis on youth and a long-term plan to get Meath back into championship contention.

But Robbie Brennan replaced O'Rourke in September and Giles is made up by the squad reaching the All-Ireland semifinals for the first time in 16 years.

Now they've made it to the last four, the Skryne man hopes the Royals will produce the performance of a red-letter summer that has already yielded victories over Dublin, Kerry and Galway.