Eamonn Murray's Meath embracing both the fun and the pressure as they seek back-to-back All-Irelands

Maybe in Meath they didn't see it as a shock, but it certainly was a surprise when the Royal County got the better of Dublin to win a first TG4 All-Ireland SFC title in 2021.

A year previously Eamonn Murray's side were crowned Intermediate champions; very few expected them to scale even greater heights against opposition who were aiming for five-in-a-row. But scale the heights they did when running out two-point winners over Mick Bohan's side.

On Sunday next at Croke Park (throw-in 4pm) Meath put their title on the line against Kerry. It's a novel pairing, with the more defensively minded champions up against an outfit who certainly know their way to goal.

Murray's charges had to dig it out to reach another final, first against Galway at the quarter-final stage and then coming good in the second half to see off Donegal the last day. The margin of victory was one point and two points respectively. Kerry's aggregate score across their last two matches was 13 points.

No surprises then from the Meath boss as to what kind of game we'll get on Sunday, with Murray telling RTÉ Sport: "Kerry have scored 13 goals in their last four games. That's a big thing, if we stop the goals we'll win the game. It's that simple. It could be an outstanding game of football, with one attack-minded team and the other a bit more defensive.

"It could be a shootout between Emma Duggan and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh."

No doubt the holders will be keeping an eye on the latter. "She's as good a player as you'll ever see," said Murray. "We compare her to Emma Duggan and Vikki Wall, but she is, in her own way, a different player. I'm looking forward to this shootout."

Of course with success comes the pressure of maintaining that winning thread. Murray admits the