Meath champions set for provincial action
Four Royal winners to get Leinster campaigns underway
Onward they go with hope in their hearts. Fresh from their heroics on the domestic front Meath hurling clubs, and the first of the football champions Curraha, will embark on various provincial adventures this weekend.
Fresh from their achievement in claiming their 30th senior crown by recently defeating Kiltale, Kilmessan kick start their Leinster Club IHC campaign with a game against Laois side Castletown looking to secure a victory and perhaps recreate the glories of the past.
In 2008 Kilmessan went all the way to the Leinster Club IHC title when they defeated Kilkenny side Erin's Own,1-7 to 1-6 at Nowlan Park.
They have experienced contrasting fortunes since then winning Meath senior titles in 2013 and this year but in between those two triumphs they endured a long spell in the wilderness - certainly for them.
Now Chucky Keena's side are back on the provincial campaign once more and they will be looking to players such as Sean Power, Shane Brennan, Lorcan Byrne, Darragh Horan and captain Mark Horan to help them make an impact.
The benefit of 'home' advantage in Trim on Saturday at 1.30pm should give Kilmessan the edge, but as Ratoath found out two years the first hurdle of the provincial campaign can often be the trickiest.
Laois clubs haven't featured too prominently in the Leinster IHC and it is 2018 since they last contested the final when Portlaoise lost out to Graigue-Ballycallan.
The Kilkenny champions tend to win the Leinster IHC as they have done on 13 occasions, but Meath clubs have contested four finals and only the Cats, Kildare and Wexford have had more appearances in finals, so Kilmessan will be hoping to maintain a decent run for the Meath champions.
In the Leinster Club JHC it will be Dunderry who will be looking to gain some glory for the Royal County. They take on Dublin side Clann na nGael Fontenoy in Dunganny on Saturday at 1.30pm.
Dunderry were defeated in the Meath SHC B final by Kilskyre/Moylagh but because amalgamated clubs are not allowed to participate in Leinster competitions it falls on the shoulders of their vanquished rivals to carry the hopes of the Royal County in the competition.
That consolation prize might not have meant so much to Dunderry had they to go straight into provincial action, but with a month passing since losing that SHC B final they could well have refound their hunger and will fancy their chances against the Dublin Junior A winners who beat Louth senior champions St Fechin's in round one.
Ratoath, Rathmolyon and Boardsmill all reached the final in previous editions of the Leinster Club JHC but none proved successful and if Dunderry were to overcome the Wicklow side they will take on Gusserane O'Rahillys from Wexford or Slieve Bloom from Laois in the semi-final.
In the Leinster Club Special HC Meath will be represented by county IHC winners Rathmolyon. Brian Gilsenan sends his side out to face Arklow Rock Parnell in Arklow on Saturday (1.30pm) in the four team competition.
This will be Rathmolyon's second tilt at this competition having represented Meath in place of Kilskyre/Moylagh last year, but suffering a loss to Amsterdam in Ashbourne.
An expected win for Rathmolyon would see them take on the winners of Longford Slashers and Amsterdam who meet in the other semi-final.
Duleek-Bellewstown will finally get their Leinster Club IFC campaign up and running when they travel to Callan on Sunday for a 1.30pm start against Kilkenny senior champions Mullinavat.
The Kilkenny men won their SFC back in May, so it is unclear how focused or prepared they will be for the visit of the Meath men, but one thing is for certain and that is that Duleek-Bellewstown will be ready and they are more than capable of following in the footsteps of Trim, St Colmcille's, Ratoath and Wolfe Tones and lifting provincial honours at intermediate level.