Potential still there despite huge loss of players for Meath

It is hard to believe that one of last year's All-Ireland SFC finalists will go into an opening round clash of this year's campaign as such overwhelming underdogs, but that is exactly the scenario facing Meath ahead of their All-Ireland SFC opener against Galway in Stamullen on Sunday, 2pm.

In fact Meath are considered outsiders of the three teams in the group to advance to the knockout stages with Ulster runners-up Tyrone expected to claim second spot behind the Connacht champions.

However, Meath have defied expectations before and it is when so little is expected of them that the Royals are capable of delivering knockout blows.

Another change of management, the loss of key players to injuries, retirements and an exodus to Australian Rules has deprived Meath of many of their top players. A similar scenario would be totally unsustainable in other counties, but the Royals keep going to the well and finding more players of high quality.

Once those new players are sourced the issue then is getting them up to speed with the intricacies and intensity of the inter-county game and that is where Meath have struggled on occasions this year.

Despite a decent start to NFL Div 1, Meath only held on to their top flight status with other results kindly falling their way on the last day.

They endured a difficult Leinster campaign, losing both games to Kildare and Dublin without ever seriously raising a significant challenge.

The transition period is a difficult one and not one that can be rushed, but the nature of top flight Ladies football is that the other contenters don't take pity on teams in transition and if Meath don't hit the ground running at a considerable pace they will find life very difficult in senior football this time around.

Of the 15 players that started that famous All-Ireland win over Dublin 2021 only one, Emma Duggan, is likely to start against Galway next Sunday - that is a huge turnaround of players.

Megan Thynne and Niamh Gallogly both came on in the closing quarter of that final, so that means 16 of the 19 players used that day are no longer involved.

Monica McGuirk, Emma Troy, Katie Newe, Aoibheann Leahy, Shauna Ennis, Maire O'Shaughnessy, Orla Byrne, Stacey Grimes, Niamh O'Sullivan and Bridgetta Lynch all left either because of injury, retirement or travels, while Mary Kate Lynch, Aoibhin Cleary, Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally have left to play AFLW in Australia.

From the '22 team that retained the Brendan Martin Cup with victory over Kerry only Thynne and Duggan featured in the 20 players that played that day.

Even from just 12 months ago only Robyn Murray, Karla Kealy, Aine Sheridan, Orlaith Sheehy, Tynne, Gallogly, Ciara Smyth and Duggan from the starting 15 that lost out to Dublin in the All-Ireland final are likely to start with Marion Farrelly likely to miss out through injury and Kerrie Cole not expected to start.

Such a turn around of players ,and not to mention that Meath are now onto their fourth manager since Eamonn Murray departed at the end of 2022, it is remarkable that they have managed to remain serious contenders for All-Ireland honours over the last few years.

The reason why Meath have remained as contenders is because they still have some exceptional players and that could ensure they have another potential shock in them.

Duggan has been inflicted with niggling injuries all year, but on form she is still in the top five forwards in the country. Add in the pace and power of Meabhdh Byrne, the goal threat of Orla Finnegan, the creativity and skills of Ciara Smyth, the accuracy of Rachel Casserly, the drive and leadership of Niamh Gallogly and Meath still appear very potent going forward.

Defensively they have lost huge players in Mary Kate Lynch, Aoibhin Cleary and Sarah Wall, but Aine Sheridan, Karla Kealy, Orlaith Sheehy, Katie Bermingham and Megan Thynne provide a work rate and energy in front of All-Star goalkeeper Robyn Murray that it is impossible to rule out Meath if they can devise a game plan and execute it.

Galway reached this year's league final and were unlucky to miss out on last year's All-Ireland final, losing to Dublin after extra-time. They are a side littered with quality including Tracey and Roisin Leonard, Louise and Nicola Ward and Megan Glynn, but on their day Meath are capable of beating anyone, let's hope that next Sunday they will be on their day.