Perception of Meath hasn’t changed Brennan’s expectation

This time last year Meath were being touted as one of the serious contenders for relegation from NFL Div 2, but what a difference 12 months can make with expectations very different for the Royals in 2026.

In 2025 all those prophets of doom came from outside the camp. The basis of their pessimism was understandable following a disappointing end to Colm O'Rourke's tenure, the appointment of a new manager with no inter-county experience and the need to develop some new talent.

Fast forward three months and Robbie Brennan's already high regarded stock rose significantly as he guided Meath to within two kicks of the ball of promotion from NFL Div 2 and then followed that in the summer with a run to the All-Ireland SFC semi-final that saw the Royals claim the scalps of Dublin, for the first time in 15 years, Kerry and Galway.

The fall at the penultimate hurdle was a difficult one to stomach, but nevertheless Meath are viewed in a very different light for 2026.

No longer are they hiding in the long grass, their heads are well and truly in the picture and for many they are expected to be the closest challenger to Derry and Tyrone for promotion to Div 1.

However, Brennan insists that that is easier said than done and while he insists promotion is always the aim for the league he will continue to take it one game at a time and see where it takes his side.

"Just because we are playing in Div 2 doesn't mean it is going to be easy, it most certainly is not," Brennan reminded the Meath Chronicle.

"We played Donegal in a challenge match recently and I did say to the other lads on the management team that it would be great to be prepping for this type of opposition every game because Div 1 is the level that you want to be pitching yourselves against.

"Div 2 is incredibly strong. Derry were Div 1 champs back in 2024, and they predominantly have the same team.

"Tyrone had a pretty decent run last year and we know everybody else inside out in the division, so we are well aware just how difficult it is going to be.

"I find it funny that we go from relegation favorites last year to now we're meant to be heading to Div 1, but that's not how it works. There'll be very few teams with full points at the end of Div 2 you can be sure of that.

"For us all eyes are on Derry and nothing else and we'll see how that goes and hopefully if it goes well enough then we can start looking to Cavan but it's going to be incredibly difficult.

"At the same time I do understand the expectation and why it's there because we shouldn't probably shy away from the fact that the lads produced some good days last year to create that expectation which is what everybody wants.

"We have to deal with that but it doesn't really change us from what we're trying to do. Everyone might get bored when I keep saying it, and the lads are looking at me with 10 heads, when I say we take it session by session. we'll train tomorrow night and we'd better be on it, that's how we kind of work.

"Div 2 is so competitive, we have to be on it every single week. Some of the teams in Div 1 don't have to be on it every week because if they reach enough points maybe they're happy then and they can spend a little bit of time or even use some of the league games to to work on things.

"When you're in Div 2 you don't get that opportunity unless you've got points on the board to make sure you're safe. That threat of relegation is there for everybody.

People will say it's not there for Derry or Tyrone but it only takes one or two results to go against you and you could be in that position so we'll be going out to try and win every single game.

"In one way I'm glad for us where we are in our development. Ironically obviously we would have rather have beaten Louth last year up in Inniskeen and go up but when it didn't happen I still think where we're sitting now it is another magnificent prep particularly for anybody new that's coming in.

"Div 2 is a hotbed of a an environment to be learning your trade at senior level, we're happy enough where we are and let's see how it goes."

As has already been mention Meath will not be able to fly under the radar this year. The wins over Dublin, Galway and eventual All-Ireland champions Kerry has put the country on Royal alert.

There is a danger that if Meath stand still they will be quickly swallowed up, so Brennan is aware that his team need to evolve and he sees the All-Ireland SFC semi-final loss to Donegal as a tremendous learning opportunity.

"Our approach to this year has been a little bit different to be fair. There's certain areas obviously defensively that would have shown up against Donegal that we're trying to improve.

"Then, obviously we are pre-empting this, but you're assuming the scoring rates will probably go up this season, so um we're trying to see how and where that might happen. We are trying to create more of those two-point and three-point opportunities and then also the other side is how do you defend (1:06) them.

"It's that and then the constant Rubik's cube of kickouts both ours and the oppositions, so it's slightly different prep this year.

"Donegal were very good on the day there's no doubt. They never looked like they were going to lose, but at 0-14 to 0-10 I felt we were very much in the game.

"There were certain things definitely in attack and defence that have shown us we can improve in those areas. It's great to be able to identify those and then have a few weeks to at least try and improve them ahead of the league.

"The problems (against Donegal) more around our setup. To be honest, Donegal are so good they throw a thousand loops at you before you even blink and you don't get a second to switch off in your defensive patterns against them.

"Even in attack we didn't set up the way we needed to, but it's very hard prepping for a team like Donegal in less than two weeks.

"If you have three darts you have to know which ones do you hit and what do you go after, so it's good to have a bit of time now to try and rectify (2:56) some of what went wrong against Donegal.

"It's interesting to see different teams and how they set up. Some will be zonal and others will be man-to-man cover and some will be a hybrid between the two, so you have to you have to at least try and prepare for all of them and have the answers and be able to switch.

"The greatest teams have the ability to be able to switch mid-game without there being a stop or a change or (3:51) a half-time break. They're able to switch from this system to that system and sometimes you wouldn't even see it. If you get to that stage I think you're well covered, but we're not there yet.

"I can only reference my seven years at Kilmacud Crokes, it didn't happen day one or day two. It was definitely the third or fourth year by the time you're able to look at and go all right today we'll do this and half-time we might do this and then the next day do something different.

"It's just repping it as often as you possibly can with a lot of familiar faces because you know it's very difficult if you're changing all the time to get those patterns right.

"The way the game has gone with the new rules you're trying to look at a profile of someone who will fit what you're trying to do and have as many boxes ticked in all the different areas that you need.

"Whether that's pace, do you defend and attack, all that kind of stuff and then having the game smarts to be able to switch from one to the other.

"It can be hard to see can new players do that until you and test them, but we've been lucky we've been able to do that over the last few weeks in training and the O'Byrne Cup.

"The buy-in has been incredible since day one really. The energy is great and from the tactical side of things it takes time. We're only there on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, that's the reality you're not out seven days a wee, that's the difference between the professional stuff and our stuff.

"You get a limited time with them and you have to go back to the three darts thing you. What do we need to work on and how often can we rep it, and then once the season gets up and running your time is even more limited because you're reviewing what's gone.

"The time to get the work done is really pre-season and these last couple of sessions to build up to the first round have been great."

Brennan has used his preseason wisely. He gave up to 30 new players their chance in the O'Byrne Cup and played challenge matches against Mayo, Wexford, Donegal and Limerick to fine tune preparations.

It has been pretty intense, but Brennan insists there is always room for new players to break into what has been a successful side.

"It has definitely been intense, we've got an incredible amount of work done. It is messy though with lads coming back from club, injuries and rehab.

"We wanted to have Daithi (McGowan) but he was still with the Ratoath hurlers, then you've lads coming back from rehab and injury. Then you throw in the Sigerson Cup and it's all very squashed.

"We're not the only ones, everybody's in that boat, but it is definitely hard. I often find that once the season gets up and running it nearly just runs a little bit smoother

"No matter how things are going you don't get a break, you're just going from game to game, whereas now it's a constant headache of who's available to train and who isn't and who's working and who's in college, it's tricky.

"I do always throw out the line that Keogie (Donal Keogan) is the only one guaranteed to be on the team bus, and I say that tongue-in-cheek because he's one of our greatest ever, but there are definitely positions up for grabs.

"If there weren't positions up for grabs then I'd say we're in trouble that's the reality. The key for us for us to try and strengthen the squad and make the strongest Meath squad that's been around for a while.

"I think we're heading that way which is great and it puts everybody on their toes."

Losing his father last October was a tough time for Robbie Brennan and his family. Although he wasn't a young man, he was a constant in Robbie's life and their linked love of the GAA drew them closer than many fathers and sons.

Seeing his son as Meath manager brought Robbie's father Patrick plenty of pride and while there are tough days in the job Robbie acknowledged that the GAA is a great community and real rock in difficult times.

"I am still enjoying it (being Meath manager). After the auld fella passed I found it hard. In one way it was great to be able to jump back in and another way it's left a bit of a void there, but look the lads have been brilliant. They've definitely helped whether they knew it or not, just picking me up and getting me around this and that.

"Sometimes people don't even realize they're doing it, but they're just there to support. The GAA is great for that, it has its flaws, but it's a wonderful organisation and it's times like that you (14:38) really see it.

"I'm buzzing now. There's a few of us heading up to the Derry tonight (last Wednesday for the McKenna Cup game between Derry and Donegal), it's nearly like we're heading off to Tenerife on our holidays.

"The one part of the job I don't like, and I've always been like this, I hate letting guys down.

"I hate whether it's letting them off the panel or telling them they're not making the match day 26, I find that incredibly tough. It's just not part of my personality.

"It has to be done unfortunately, but that's the bit I've always disliked. Unfortunately it has to be done if you want to have a competitive squad, but every other inch of it I really do adore," concluded the manager.