A day of high drama and great colour at Croke Park but it wasn't to be for the Royals

Meath fans travelled in their thousands to GAA HQ for two thrilling Leinster finals but were left disappointed

If the Leinster Final proved one thing on Sunday, it was that Mairead McGuinness definitely hopes to become the next President of Ireland!

The Drumconrath resident Ardee native made sure she had all angles covered on her social media posts over the weekend - decking herself out in the red and white, while making sure the other half of the house was in green and gold. (She'd have to, having a daughter who played for the Royals!) She had both flags out in the front hedge too - she couldn't lose!

And of course there were the obligatory photos posted from Croke Park – Mairead with Minister Helen McEntee, Meath East TD; and with the Tanaiste, Simon Harris, and with fans. Maybe next year, she'll be in the Ard Comhairle, presenting the big cups. But it's early days in the Aras championship yet, you'd never know who might appear off the bench!

There was no photo of Mairead with Joe Sheridan, but he was pictured everywhere else over the past week, making guest appearances in schools and public houses as his infamous goal from that Leinster final against Louth in 2010 was replayed again and again. If ever the Wee County needed a stimulus this time out, it was provided in bucketloads - maybe Joe will lie low for a while now! Bernard Flynn telling the Drogheda Independent that the rest of Ireland would be behind Louth wasn't a great look either.

The official match programme also served up another reminder of a visit to Pairc Tailteann that Louth would rather forget – the 'larceny' by Graham Geraghty when he flew in by helicopter from a wedding in Wexford to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a last second goal, revisited by Paul Keane in a piece on the 2002 All Ireland SFC Round 2 qualifier.

But now, Meath were back in their rightful place, the men joining the women in Leinster final showdowns at Croke Park, having overseen kingpins, Dublin in a game for the ages in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

But for any Dubs looking for a day out, there was always Dunderry Fair, where they could catch all the action on a big screen, or join the vintage tractor run at the former County Club in Dunshaughlin, scene of the last homecoming when Nigel Crawford lifted the Delaney Cup in 2010.

There was one Meath lad who got to lift the Delany Cup this year. Bective GFC under-13 player, Taylor Friel, the senior football team's mascot, carried the Delaney Cup onto the pitch from the tunnel underneath the Hogan Stand, along with the Louth mascot, before placing it in the presentation area. He then was taken under the wing of Ronan Jones for the pre-match warm-up and even kicked a few points into the Hill 16 goals.

Croke Park saw its biggest Leinster Final attendance since 2017, with 65,786 passing through the turnstiles to see Meath, Louth, and Dublin teams perform on the hallowed turf. Recently deceased fan Tom Lynch from Crossakiel and Louth player Marie Claire Rogers were remembered with a round of applause before Amhrán na bhFiann was belted out in full voice by all. Everyone seems to have got there in time for the second kick-off, which was a miracle, given the queues that had been waiting for buses on the way up. Clearly, the transport companies hadn't considered the fact that there was somebody other than the Dubs playing in a Leinster final.

In the end, it was Louth's day, their first Leinster championship since 1957, when they went on to win the All-Ireland, the last time they did so. Meath won the All-Ireland Minor Final on that day in 1957. As 'The Turfman from Ardee' played out over the stadium, Mairead McGuinness was surely dreaming of another double!