Big Royal contingent on Tailteann Cup Team of the Year

Eight Meath players selected

The fact that Meath players dominate the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year underlines just how good a year it was for the Royals in that competition - and the hope among their supporters is that the achievement is the start of a sustained run of success.

Meath, of course, won the they trophy when they defeated Down at Croke Park, 2-13 to 0-14 at Croke Park last July.

Now Donal Keogan, Padriac Harnan, Sean Brennan, Adam O'Neill, Conor Gray, Jack Flynn, Mathew Costello and Jordan Morris have been selected on the team.

The Mourne County are next in line with four players in the team while Cavan defender Padraig Faulkner has achieved a truly unique double as he has been named on a Tailteann Cup Team of the Year AND PwC All-Star Football Team of the Year.

Players from the Tailteann Cup were asked to nominate outstanding performers in the competition, with an independent selection committee adjudicating on the final team based on player performances, supported by video footage and county nominations.

The awards will be presented at a gala black-tie function in Croke Park this Friday night. The show will be streamed live on gaa.ie from 7pm and will also feature the awards for the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Champion 15 Team of the Year and the Joe McDonagh Team of the Year - as well as the presentation of the overall Players of the Year in these championships.

Winning a trophy is something the Meath footballers will, no doubt, have greatly enjoyed and they will be highly motivated the repeat the feat. Trophy-winning can become a habit.

One of the big challenges facing Meath next year is to make an impact in Leinster.

They haven't won a Leinster SFC title since 2010. Will winning the Tailteann Cup help them to finally end the drought in the provincial championship?

Meath start their Leinster campaign with a game against Longford with the winners due to face Dublin.

Another question that arises is who will be around next year? Will players such as Padraic Harnan and Donal Keogan, who captained Meath to their Tailteann Cup victory, give it go for another year?

For now they can savour the fact that they are among Meath's big eight selected on the Tailteann Team of the Year.

Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2023

1 Seán Brennan (Meath)

2 Adam O’Neill (Meath)

3 Pierce Laverty (Down)

4 Padraig Faulkner (Cavan)

5 Donal Keogan (Meath)

6 Padraic Harnan (Meath)

7 Danny Magill (Down)

8 Odhran Murdock (Down)

9 Conor Gray (Meath)

10 Jack Flynn (Meath)

11 Ross Dunphy (Carlow)

12 Liam Kerr (Down)

13 Jordan Morris (Meath)

14 Mathew Costello (Meath)

15 Ruairí McCann – (Antrim).