Meath minor selectors Kevin Foley (left), Breen O'Grady, Andy McEntee, PJ Cudden and Padraig Coyle.

The statistics and the formbook suggest that Meath will only be going to make up the numbers, to act in a supporting role as Dublin continue on their way towards a predictable All-Ireland MFC title at Croke Park on Sunday?

The minor game will hardly even warrant too much attention and with a 1.15 throw-in will be well out of the way by the time the main business of the day starts between Mayo and Donegal in the SFC decider at 3.30.

Twice this year already Dublin have beaten Meath in finals. Once in the back yard of the Royals in the Leinster MFL decider at Páirc Táilteann way back in March by four points (2-10 to 1-9) and then in the Leinster MFC final at Croke Park by a massive 3-17 to 1-11.

Meath manager Andy McEntee and his selectors are well aware of the challenge facing Meath on Sunday as they once more venture into Croke Park, a venue where they manufactured a 'great escape' at the end of August with a 2-10 to 1-11 semi-final victory over Mayo.

Not unlike, perhaps, the feat achieved by this illustrious Dublin side when they engineered a 3-12 to 1-10 semi-final victory over Kerry at the beginning of September.

There were eight minutes left on the clock, Kerry squandered a goal chance that would have given them the lead, Dublin countered with a crucial point from Shane Cunningham, his only score of that game, but it was enough to steady the ship and Dublin moved on to the decider.

Midfielder Cunningham has scored 1-6 in this year's championship, his partner Shane Carthy has scored 10 points, a good return for the duo.

Dublin's full-forward line, Conor McHugh (3-21), Cormac Costello (5-21) and Niall Scully (0-7), has claimed 8-49 of an overall tally of 13-96 accumulated in wins over Carlow, Longford, Kildare, Meath, Monaghan and Kerry.

That's an impressive tally for six outings, an average of 2-16 per game, and it should leave the Meath players under no illusions about the enormity of the task they will face next Sunday.

Where can Meath hope to get an edge?

There won't be too many Dublin supporters crammed into Croke Park this time around, Meath won't be facing a blue tide on Hill 16 and it's difficult to see either Mayo or Donegal supporters shouting for Dublin. They probably won't shout for Meath either, so it could be a quiet conclusion to the minor game?

Dublin have played well all year, they have looked good, they have two titles already in the bag, the players have every reason to be confident.

Dublin manager Dessie Farrell will be anxious to keep complacency at bay - they were beaten in last year's decider and that will help to maintain their focus.

"It is difficult that, having beaten a team (Meath), we have to play then again, we have been favourites all summer and I'm sure the All-Ireland final will be no different," commented the Dublin manager.

There is also the hurling replay to factor into the equation.

Eric Lowndes, Costello and McHugh all featured for Dublin's hurlers in their 1-16 to 2-13 All-Ireland MHC final draw with Tipperary last Sunday week, the replay will take place next Sunday week, sandwiched in between that is the football final against Meath.

And this Meath team has improved since, in the words of manager Andy McEntee - "they failed to perform in the Leinster final" - a comment that was not just a convenient excuse for a poor performance.

Evidence to back up that 'improved' claim was found on the August Bank Holiday Sunday when Meath travelled to Newry and dumped Tyrone, the Ulster champions, out of the All-Ireland race.

That result was achieved against a background of some distractions.

Ruairi O Coileain was brought to hospital in Navan as the team bus departed for Newry, the loss of goalkeeper Jack Hannigan to injury midway through the Newry game and the concession of a late goal to Tyrone.

Showing real grit and determination, Meath dug out a win.

They repeated that feat in the semi-final against Mayo at Croke Park.

They failed to score for 18 minutes, missed at least four goal chances and trailed by 0-6 to 1-7 at the interval.

They were 0-6 to 1-10 adrift five minutes into the second-half, but they kept trying to play football, not once losing their concentration and they slowly clawed back the deficit.

Fiachra Ward's penalty goal tied it up at 1-10 apiece and Patrick Kennelly found the Mayo net in added time - a great escape by Meath, possibly the first of many that will be fashioned by a never-say-die attitude.

Dublin, and manager Farrell know this, they will treat Meath lightly at their peril.

Promising young players on the pitch, plenty of experience on the sideline, all the ingredients for an All-Ireland title by 2.30 next Sunday afternoon for the Royal County.

Meath manager Andy McEntee commented to meathchronicle.ie about the game - click on video link if necessary

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