
2010 hero/villain Joe Sheridan in call to fans ahead of Meath v Louth rematch
Sheridan's late goal in the 2010 decider, a score which clearly shouldn't have stood, broke Louth hearts and secured Meath's most recent provincial title in what is arguably the most controversial moment in the GAA's modern history.
The Seneschelstown man is hoping to attend Sunday's final, on the proviso that he can secure a babysitter for his nine month old son Josh, he told LMFM.
He said: 'We should be at Croke Park and I'll be expecting the craic but I've nothing to do with this game and fans should concentrate on the players of both teams who will put their heart into everything they do on the pitch on the day.
"Louth are probably the favourites I'd imagine but I think we might be able to do it. Whatever happens, it is good that Dublin isn't playing.'
Sheridan explained how as soon as Meath scored their shock win over Dublin to set up the final with Louth, his phone started buzzing.
"I didn't get to the Dublin-Meath match but I was watching it on the TV and it was hardly over and the messages started coming through. It's amazing how fast memes can be created and shared around.
"Some of the messages were from lads I hadn't heard from in three or four years. I suppose it is all a natural reaction."
Back in 2010, he received some nasty correspondence during the fallout from the whole affair but says it didn't knock him off his stride.
"I got anonymous letters to the house saying some shocking stuff but to be honest the fact that they didn't take the time to bother to spell the words correctly meant I didn't take it seriously.
"Some of those so-called fans who said they were out to get me anyway were people who had never been to a match before that and probably haven't been to one since.
"I also had a chat at the time with the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA) on how to deal with things but I'm pretty easy going anyway with things like that. I always got a bit of slagging after that even from other teams so I'm well used to it by now, 15 years later."
There was pressure from the GAA's top brass on Meath to offer Louth a replay 15 years ago given the circumstances, with no provision in the rulebook for one, but ultimately the result stood. Meath's Joe Sheridan lifts the trophy (Image: ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan)
Sheridan added: "We shouldn't have had anything to do with it and yet it was all pushed back on us and then it dragged on. We (players) voted that the county board needed to take the responsibility, not us.
"Meath faced heartache too because of decisions in matches but we always said that what happens on the pitch doesn't come off the pitch."
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