Christmas football and hurling on the menu

Christmas football and hurling is on the menu for many Meath families this weekend with the ladies taking the prime slot on Sunday when they tackle neighbours Westmeath in the All-Ireland IFC final at Croke Park, 1.15pm.

This will be the third final appearance in-a-row for the Meath women after defeats by Tipperary and Tyrone in 2019 and 2018.

They will be aiming to avoid a hat-trick of reversals in what will be a feast of football on Sunday afternoon with the senior decider between Cork and Dublin scheduled for 3.30pm and both games live on TG4.

Meath manager Eamonn Murray is optimistic about the prospects of landing the title, but he told the Meath Chronicle that there is a certain amount of pressure now after the reversals of 2018 and 2019.

"There is huge pressure on us to win it this time, maybe not on the players because they are young and will get there, but there is huge pressure on me as manager to get them over the line this time," he suggested.

"Westmeath were there before in 2011 and have been senior since 2012, they have a lot of players still involved and they will be eager," he added.

Murray's Westmeath counterpart Sean Finnegan admitted that Meath would present a serious challenge for his side.

“Any team that loses two finals will be driven to ensure it doesn’t happen a third time," stated the Westmeath boss.

"It’s going to take a monumental effort, but I would be confident that we have a great opportunity of winning,” he added.

Meath's minor footballers will get the ball rolling on Saturday when they host Laois in the Leinster MFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann, 12.30pm after they delivered a knock-out performance at the Navan venue last Saturday against Westmeath in the delayed quarter-final.

The Meath boys had qualified for the last eight with a resounding victory against Dublin at Pairc Tailteann last October, but then the most recent Covid-19 restrictions were introduced and that resulted in the cancellation of the majority of sport apart from senior adult games.

Meath produced a 13-point winning performance against Westmeath last Saturday with Trim's Ciaran Caulfield playing a crucial role in the victory.

Manager John McCarthy credited the victory to the tremendous work-rate of the players.

"I've constantly referred to the attitude and the work-rate of this group of players, it's exemplary and they can all play ball as well," said McCarthy.

Laois recorded a big win against Carlow winning by 2-14 to 0-5 and the prize for Satuday's winner is a Leinster MFC final ticket for Sunday 3rd January against Kildare or Offaly.

Meath's minor hurlers will also be in action when they tackle Down in the All-Ireland MHC B decider for the Peadar O Liathain Cup on Sunday following an impressive semi-final win against Wicklow at Aughrim last Saturday.

Managed by Tipperary native Sean Callanan, the Ulster side will provide a stern test at for the Royal County with the thow-in set for 12.30pm.

"It would be brilliant for these lads to win the Peadar O Liathain Cup," suggested Callanan.

"I just want to see these players develop as hurlers and winning a trophy would be a way of showing they are doing that," he added.