Meath out to prove last year was no fluke

Meath will have the opportunity to claim the last trophy that currently sits in the cabinet at Parnell Park this weekend.

Last September the Royals landed a first senior All-Ireland title, denying their city neighbours the five-in-a-row in the process, before taking the Dubs' Lidl League crown with a victory over Donegal last month.

Dublin were the last county to win what was ostensibly the Leinster championship back in 2019, although in reality that was a one-off game rather than a true knockout competition.

The provincial championship wasn't played during the last two Covid years, but it's back now and Meath midfielder Orlagh Lally says they want to get their hands on the trophy.

"It means a lot," says the Clann na nGael clubwoman at the launch of the TG4 All-Ireland football championships.

"We've done the league and we've won the All-Ireland. This is another thing to challenge ourselves on and we want to be able to rise up the challenge.

"You don't want to look too far ahead and you just want to take each game as it comes. We'll look forward to this Saturday and hopefully getting a Leinster title to our name.

"There's always a bit of a bizz when you hear Meath and Dublin are playing. It's great to be playing the top teams, like them, and we're looking forward to the challenge ahead."

While the Royals had targets to aim for last summer and in the spring, and still have a final one with the Leinster final on Saturday, they will then move into a more defensive mindset.

From going after the trophies of other counties, they will move into a 'what we have, we hold' mentality.

How different was the challenge of knowing they were the team with the target on their backs?

"The publicity after the All-Ireland final was extremely busy,"