Moving stories remind Meath and Donegal of what's at stake in Division 1 league final

Three weeks ago, two goals in the space of 23 seconds buried Dublin's hopes of reaching a Division 1 league final and the conversation of Donegal being real All-Ireland contenders began to grow again.

Maxi Curran’s side will travel to headquarters this Sunday afternoon to battle it out against Meath for a Division 1 League title for the first time since 2017. A headquarters which in recent times has become a happy hunting ground for Meath's All-Ireland winning manager, Eamonn Murray.

Captain Shauna Ennis climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand on 5 September last year to collect the Brendan Martin Cup and with her she brought the hopes and beliefs of many other players and supporters of the game to a higher level.

"I think apart from football and apart from GAA, it was such a brilliant story to come from Division 2 and down in intermediate in the space of a couple of years to win the big prize is a great story," acknowledged Curran.

"I don’t think anyone that close to the game was that surprised because of the quality of player they have had and the continuity they have had and they have built so steadily. That is a lesson for everyone in terms of sticking with the process and sticking with the individuals.

"Eamonn and Paul (Garrigan) have been there now for three or four years and have had a really consistent trajectory upwards. A lot of people and teams chop and change a lot but it is a great story and it opens the door for teams at intermediate level or at the lower reaches of senior that the gap can be bridged with the right structures and group of players that buy in and do everything they are asked to do."

Speaking at the same media event during the week, Murray recalled the messages of thanks and praise he and his team