'We have to be at it from the start this Sunday'

Meath captain expecting a tough test against Derry

The possibility of Leah Devine captaining Meath in an All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie quarter-final looked unlikely a few weeks ago but it became a reality after that stunning turnaround in the Royals' last group game against Carlow where a late Ciara Foley goal ensured the Royals had done just enough to make it out of the group.

This Sunday, Devine will lead Meath against Derry in Iniskeen and the sky is the limit for this Meath side who are still on a fantastic buzz after that incredible game at Dr Cullen Park.

“It was an incredible way to qualify for the quarter-final. We probably like to keep people entertained and excited. We did something a bit similar a few years ago where we needed a big win against Kilkenny but I think the odds were stacked against us a bit more this time around," recalled Devine when she spoke to the Meath Chronicle at the Camogie Championship launch in Croke Park on monday afternoon.

"It was a great buzz and it was one of those occasions where you think to yourself that this is why we play sport.”

A heavy defeat against Westmeath and a two-point loss to Laois were part of a significant dip in form that Meath experienced midway through their season. Devine spoke about how the win against Carlow has restored the belief within the squad.

“Westmeath racked up a good score against us in the first round and that put us on the back foot. We only lost by two points against Laois so we put ourselves in the position of potentially not qualifying out of the group,” said Devine.

“When you are losing games constantly, it is hard to pick yourself up the whole time. Before that win over Carlow, we hadn't won a game since we beat Derry in the league.

"We needed a win regardless of whether we got through, we really needed a win anyway. So when we did get over the line and we managed to qualify, everyone was absolutely buzzing. It restored the belief that we are a good team.”

There is plenty of history between Meath and their quarter-final opponents Derry. It was the Oak Leaf county that beat Meath in an All-Ireland final replay back in 2023. The last time the two sides met, in the league back in March, it was the Royals that came out on top.

“The win we had early on in the year against them at Celtic Park was fantastic. It was one of those moments in the league where you think that something is building here for us and things are going well," recalled the Na Fianna player.

"To go up there and beat them on their home patch gave us a massive boost in confidence. Of course, it will be a different proposition this time around. They have been playing in the top group and they have improved since that game.

“We were lucky against Derry that day that our purple patch came at the right time. We didn't really start that well but Isabel O’Connor got a goal and that boosted us. That happened a few times during the league where we got on top of teams at the right times.

"We do tend to get a boost from important goals but it maybe is sometimes to our detriment. As in, we are waiting for that important goal that doesn’t always come.”

Devine stressed the point that Meath cannot wait around for an important goal or purple patch this Sunday and that they have to be on their A-game from the get-go. She also spoke about the fierce competitive nature of the championship.

“We have to be at it from the start this Sunday. We won't be able to wait around and hope that we get a purple patch. We have to be at it from the get-go.

"It is kind of a bloodbath at times and there is not a lot between the teams. Our group was intense. If you take that Laois result against Westmeath, that worked out for us but on any given day, Westmeath could have easily beaten Laois by the same margin. It is such a competitive competition.”

The old cliche goes at this stage of the competition teams have to take it game by game and not look past the next match, but for Devine and the rest of Meath panel it is hard not to dream of All-Ireland glory.

The Na Fianna woman concluded by making the point that the team have to have that belief that they can win an All-Ireland.

“It is hard not to think about what we can achieve. Especially when you know the talent that is in the group," enthused the captain.

"If you look back at 2023, before that year we had made it to a few All-Ireland semi-finals in a row. We haven’t got to one since, but the belief that we can achieve more is absolutely there.

"None of us would be playing if we didn’t think there was a chance. We wouldn’t give up and sacrifice so much if we didn’t think we could win an All-Ireland. That is where we see ourselves but whether or not we show up every day or not is a different story.”