Royals face tough test to end 25 year wait for Leinster crown

Reaching the Ladies Leinster SFC final at Croke Park next Sunday has been the stated aim of Meath manager Shane McCormack from the start of the season and off the back of the victory over Kildare in Newbridge it is mission accomplished.

However, just getting there will not now suffice. Meath will bid to reverse recent trends against Dublin and claim a first senior provincial title since 2000.

The majority of this present Meath side have won it all, or almost it all. The only medal missing from their vast collection is that provincial one and after a couple of haunting finals against Dublin in recent year's McCormack and his side will hope to banish those ghosts of finals past.

Before their last meeting in Navan a couple of weeks ago Meath previous three clashes with Dublin had ended with an average hammering of 14 points. That gap was narrow to seven in the Leinster SFC opener in Pairc Tailteann, but there was an obvious gulf that day.

Meath trailed by only three points heading into the closing stages of that last game against Dublin two weeks ago, but they had only managed to score one point from play.

That lethargy and lack of inventiveness in attack prompted a reaction from McCormack, his coaches and the players and there was a significant improvement against Kildare with 2-12 of the 2014 total coming from play.

"I thought we improved significantly in the attacking areas against Kildare and we will have to do that against Dublin next week again," McCormack told the Meath Chronicle.

"We saw from the last day against Dublin, that that was the area we needed to work on, we needed more attacking structure and more composure on the ball.

We brought that against Kildare and we will hope to continue to bring that against Dublin."

Meath will need to play with a similar freedom and expression next Sunday if they are to down the Dubs who are bidding for a 12th successive Leinster title.

Finding a way to get Vikki Wall away from the clutches of Grace Kos and into a more influential role could be the key because if Wall can get the upperhand then it will dramatically change Dublin's approach and mindset.

Meath have talent, ability and a willingness to work hard all over the field. Against Kildare Marion Farrelly and Megan Thynne were sublime. Along with Niamh Gallogly, Aoibhin Cleary and Mary Kate Lynch they provided the bullets for Emma Duggan to fire with such unerring accuracy.

A similar return next Sunday will see a much different outcome than recent years.

"We have a lot of work to do. We all saw Dublin in their last couple of games.

They were excellent, so we have a lot of homework to do for next weekend.

"I'm delighted the girls are getting that chance to play in Croke Park again. For the last year and a half they haven't been given much credit, there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes by these girls, so hopefully the Meath supporters will get into Croke Park early and support the girls, they can be our 16th player," concluded the manager.

Dublin have their obvious threats and will be overwhelming favourites. Hannah Tyrrell continues to threaten even the greatest defences, while bringing back Lauren Magee, Sinead Goldrick and Carlo Rowe from their bench is an indication of the embarrassment of riches Dublin enjoy.

It will be a tough ask, but Meath are more than capable of finding even more improvement and if they can maintain a strong structure and stick to an inventive attacking game plan then a shock could be on the cards.