Duggan hopeful Meath have got past transitional spring

Meath forward Emma Duggan admits that their league form was "not good enough" but said they could use it as motivation for their three-in-a-row tilt in the championship.

There was upheaval in Meath in the off-season, with wildly successful manager Eamonn Murray departing, replaced by former Meath men's U21 boss Davy Nelson. As with most high-level inter-county sides, they had players down under, with Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally both playing AFLW over the winter and spring.

The back-to-back All-Ireland champions have endured a rocky start to 2023, registering only one win from six in a wretched league campaign.

Their championship campaign also began on a bum note, with a loss to Dublin in Páirc Tailteann in Navan. That result, at least, is of limited consequence, with Meath facing into a game against Division 2 outfit Laois to secure another crack at the Dubs in a Leinster final.

"We were probably going to have a lot of expectation on us coming into the league this year, in terms of coming off the back of three very successful years," Duggan told RTÉ Sport on Tuesday.

"Not that we're using it as an excuse anymore - we're well over that at this stage - but you do have new management, you've new players. We gave a lot of new players game-time. We tried new things in the league as well.

"We weren't happy with our showing at all. We're not happy to finish second last, only winning one game. It's not good enough from us.

"I suppose there's a lot of mileage in a lot of players legs over the last few years as well and you have to manage that, although you never disregard the league.

"There was a lot of new girls that put up their hand. And there's a lot of girls getting used to the way we play. Although results didn't go our way and