Matthew Costello: There's something different about Meath-Dublin games

The Leinster Championship has been monopolised by one county for getting on two decades now and, amid continued debate around what feels like constant restructuring of the All-Ireland Championship, the very future of the provincial series seems in permanent peril.

But old rivalries die hard. Meath and Dublin appear to exist in two completely different orbits in the year 2024.

Dublin are the defending All-Ireland champions and winners of seven of the last nine Sam Maguires.

Meath, on the other hand, a county rich in football success and tradition, are in the process of dragging themselves up by the bootstraps after a period in the footballing doldrums. Their Tailteann Cup win in 2023 delivering some much needed silverware for a trophy cabinet than may have spent much of the last decade draped under a dust-proof sheet.

The Boys in Blue have won no less that 19 of the last 22 Leinster titles. Meath's last came in 2010 - a controversial win against Louth after a semi-final victory over Dublin. The Royals had won 20 more before that. From 1986 to 2001, Meath never went more than four seasons without a provincial title. After Dublin, the undisputed 'other’ power in Leinster.

But as Meath walk straight into what many assume will be certain defeat in their provincial quarter-final meeting with Dessie Farrell's side at Croke Park on Sunday, they’ll go there with hope in their hearts and the knowledge that history at least used to be somewhat on their side.

"We’re entering the Leinster Championship to try and win it and we’re as excited for it as we would any other championship game," Meath forward Matthew Costello told RTÉ Sport at the launch of the AIB GAA Football Championship today.

"A provincial championship is still something every