Meath hoping to make it a clean sweep

At last Friday's civic rreception to honour their remarkable Ladies All-Ireland SFC success in 2021, Meath captain Shauna Ennis insisted that the story is not finished yet and next Sunday in Croke Park they bid to write another chapter when they take on Donegal in the NFL Div 1 decider.

Since Eamonn Murray has taken over as manager and brought in his high quality coaching team of Paul Garrigan, Mark Brennan, Shane Wall, Paddy Dowling and strength and Conditioning coach Eugene Eivers, Meath have scaled heights never reached before.

Dowling has stepped away as goalkeeping coach and is replaced by Irene Munnelly and next Sunday represents another opportunity to create more history as Murray's side go in search of a first NFL Div 1 title to add to the first All-Ireland SFC crown they claimed last year.

In 2021 Meath also won the NFL Div 2 title and after winning the All-Ireland IFC crown in 2020 and the NFL Div 3 title in 2019 the last three years have been nothing short of remarkable.

"Yes, we have been on an unbelievable journey, but this group are not finished yet," remarked Eamonn Murray as he looks ahead to another high profile game in Croke Park.

"When we took over towards the end of 2016 the only way anyone though we would be going to Croke Park was on a tour, but since then we have played there in three All-Ireland IFC finals, one National League final and of course last year's senior semi-final and final, it has become like a second home to us.

"However, we never take these big game in Croke Park for granted. We are acutely aware of how difficult it is to get there, so when we do make it there we always want to enjoy the occasion and make it a worthwhile one.

"Next Sunday will be no different. We are looking forward to getting back to playing up there, but we are also aware of just how tough the game will be and we cannot let the occasion get to us."

When Meath were denied top spot in their group by Dublin's late, late winner in their final game of the group stages of NFL Div 1 everyone expected that the two sides would inevitably meet again in next Sunday's final, but Donegal had other ideas.

Meath upheld their end of that particular bargain with a hugely impressive second-half display to get the better of Group A table-toppers Mayo in the semi-final, but in the opening game on that Clones double-bill Donegal stunned Mick Bohan's Dublin side.

Their tenacity, hunger and determination to stick with the Dubs reaped rewards as late goals from Emma McCrory and Yvonne Bonner gave Maxi Curran's side the shock win and Donegal will look to dig deep into those reserves when they face Meath on Sunday - and Murray wouldn't expect anything less from the Ulster side.

"Every one assumes that we are the favourites for this game, but any side that beats Dublin in a semi-final cannot be taken for granted," warned Murray.

"Just because you might be considered favourites doesn't mean anything. Cork and Dublin were red-hot favourites against us last year and look what happened. There is very little between all the top teams in the country and on any given day we are all capable of beating each other.

"We know we will have to be tuned in and focused. We cannot afford to be at anything less than 100% if we are to win the game and that is what we are aiming for.

"Our girls have worked ferociously hard in the last few months. Their hunger to succeed is remarkable. They could have been forgiven for taking the foot off the gas after last year's heroics, but they haven't. In fact if anything they have worked harder this year and are more determined than ever to back up their success.

"They are a credit to their families and their clubs and they have never let us down. They all come to training with a smile on their faces and a willingness to work hard. So long as they continue to do that then I believe that Shauna is right, there is more to write in their story yet," concluded Murray.