Dublin up to this decade were poor at underage, actually up to this decade Meath would have been more suscessful then Dublin at minor level in 00s and 90s and more sucessful at under 21 level in the 90s then Dublin. But Dublin at underage level in this decade have gone up a level. At minor and under 21 they have more become sucessful and very competitive. Kildare have also in the last 3 to 4 years had a golden age at minor level with a couple of titles. Meath have been very poor at under 21 level since early 00s and at minor level have dropped down the table in leinster since 2008, our last leinster win at that level. We did reach an All Ireland final at minor level in 2012 ,which was the only leinster team to reach a minor All Ireland final besides Dublin since laois in 2003 and Meath in 2002. But overall this decade has been poor at underage for us. We ignored the underage teams. There has been work done recently and there has been results to show that. We just need titles to really back up the work.

You might want to downplay Meath beating Dublin 3 years on the trot at underage level , but the fact that is unusual in leinster football in this decade. Even in the past beating Dublin regularly in the championship by 1 team is not very common. The fact is kerry are trying to build there next great team on All Ireland winnig minor teams, and while Meath have got no where near kerrys level. Beating Dublin teams in consecuative years has been in the past the launching pad for great Meath teams to win trophies.

Tipp and kilkenny rivalry in hurling defines both counties. Cody grew up seen Tipp teams beat kilkenny year in year out. Kilkenny were soft ,Tipp were tougher thats what they used to say. So when he became manger the one team he wanted to beat more then anyone was Tipp. He built a powerful physical team that would never be bullied by Tipp. Rivalries have a massive role in GAA, how counties respond to neighbours sucess. Kerry will never want to lose to Cork in Croker. Mayo and Galway respond to each other. In the 90s Mayo came very close , then Galway won Sam in 98. Again in this decade Mayo have come very close , Galway seem to be coming again. Its like Galway are getting to Mayos level and then using that to suceeed outside the provience.

If you look at Meath football the rivalry v Dublin is central. And for Dublin the rivalry with Meath and then kerry was central Dublin up to this decade. It wasnt that long ago that beating Meath in the championship was the highlight of the year for a Dublin footballer. Cluxton and Alan Brogan played on those teams. Of course the kerry rivalry is one sided now and the Meath rivalry is dead, but this has happenned before many times. In the ealry 30s, mid 40s, ealry 60s, mid 80s and mid 90s Dublin were just as dominant and Meath were in worst positions. Being in this position is nothing new to Meath football. Dublin have alway had the popualtion, the resources, many many times bigger then Meath.

Tipp and kilkenny are similar enough counties Cork and Kerry are similar enough counties , so are Galway and Mayo and Tyrone and Armagh. Yes there is differences but none compared to the differences that are between Meath and Dublin, Which is the most unequal rivalry in Irish sport. In soccer terms Dublin are Man Utd and Meath are leicister City, but yet for 80s years up to this decade Meath went toe to toe with the countries most populated ,most powerful , most iconic and most famous county.

So before this decade for 80 years or so Meath were going toe to toe with Dublin


In 1940s Dublin win 1 All Ireland Meath won 1 All Ireland

In 1950s Dublin win 1 All Ireland Meath win 1 All Ireland

In 1960s Dublin win 1 All Ireland Meath win 1 All Ireland

In 1970s Dublin win 3 All Ireland Meath win 0 All Irelands

In 1980s Dublin win 1 All Ireland Meath win 2 All Irelands

In 1990s Dublin win 1 All Ireland Meath win 2 All Ireland

In Noughties Dublin win 0 All Ireland Meath win 0 All Irelands

Its in this decade Dublin have gone up a level, Dublin have always been in the top 4 or 5 teams in the country, but in this decade they have replaced Kerry as the number 1 football county. Dublin were just as strong in mid 80s as now the only thing was they couldnt beat Kerry ,they can now. Dublin have won 12 of the last 13 leinster tiltes and played in 5 All Ireland finals in 13 years. In the the same kind of period of 11 years 1974 to 1985 Dublin won 9 leinster titles in 11 years and played in 9 All Ireland finals in the same period. The only difference is now they are winning them all and they can beat Kerry ,something they do couldnt in the 70s and 80s. We have been here before with a superstrong Dublin.

For Meath our sucess was built on a couple of things . For example great GAA men like Paddy O Brien Peter McDermont Jack Quinn Fr Tully Colm O Rourke and Sean Boylan to name a few. But it facing down and beating Dublin which as been so key to Meaths past sucess. And this is why beating Dublin in consecutive years is so so so important. Firstly it rarely happens. When was the last time a county defeated Dublin in 3 years 3 times and also another 1 strong performance in that period in leinster at any grade or even outside leinster, It rarely happens.

But Meath have been doing this for generations, beating Dublin teams. What has happenned in leinster football down the ages is Dublin for 6 or 7 years defeats Meath 4 or 5 o r 6 times in a row in consecuative years and then Meath come from nowhere knock Dublin from their perch and in a 6 or 7 year period Meath defeat Dublin year after year, 4 or 5 or 6 times in the leinster championship. The greatest example of this was in the 80s and 90s in 15 years when Meath defeated Dublin 9 times ( in 7 leinster finals , 1 league div 1 national final) and 3 draws. Beating Dublin in consecuative years in 40s 50s 60s 80s and 90s meant when Meath came out of leinster they had belief and were afraid of noone, kerry Cork Mayo or northern teams. Beating Dublin in a leinster final is the closest thing to an All Ireland final. And whenever a team beat Dublin in any era you are beating one of the top teams in the country, but also one of the most difficult opponents in gaelic football, a Dublin footballer in front of packed Hill 16.


Meath beating Dublin teams in the past was the launching pad for Meath teams to win Sam. After beating Dublin in 1947 1964 1975 1986 1996 2010 Meath went from outsiders to genuinie All Ireland contenders over night. And those victories have led most of them to Meath winning Sam in the following years. When you beat Dublin at any grade year after year its a massive boost and gives a massive belief to any county. Look at how Dublin didnt win Sam between 1996 and 2010, yet most of the teams that beat Dublin in that era went on to win Sam eg meath 96, 99, Armagh in 02 and Tyrone and Kerry in the 00s. So its important at senior level to beat Dublin. But beating Dublin at underage level particularly in this golden age for Dublin football, it can be so important for those young footballers when they become senior.

Yes Dublin have been poor at underage level up to this decade. But they have become very strong recently at underage. And its very rare for a county to beat Dublin a few times in a short period at any level. It doesnt matter how anyone downplays beating Dublin at underage level , for any county it is a massive help and advatange.

Meath need to keep the players on board, not lose them to Auzzie rules etc. Something Dublin dont have a problem with. And yes Meath need to win trophies also and start to beat kildare at underage also, And maybe it a false dawn, who knows, but it could also be a beginning. Meaths fight back v the Dubs starts here and it might take time and years to topple Dublin. But no one knows whats around the corner. But maybe just maybe when people look at Meath hammering Dublin in 2016, and Meath beating Dublin in 2017 in a leinster final and Meath beating Dublin again this year all at underage in leinster championship, they will say this was when Meath football turned the corner and rose up from ashes and did what we have done for generations and generations, topple the Dubs, knock the Dublin from their perch. To see 16 and 17 years old playing with such passion and fire v the Dubs last night and last year and in 2016, it gives me hope that Meath football has not gone way, there life in the old county yet, and as long as there is a leinster championship and a hill 16 and Dublin GAA, Meath will keep coming and keep coming and keep coming and keep trying to knock Dublin from their perch. It might not happen soon or maybe in a while.. Dublin have to stay at the top all the time. We the underdogs, the boggers, the culchies, only have to beat the jackeens, the Dubs once and then twice or three times and then its game on.

So congratulations to the young footballers of Meath last night. You have done what Meath footballers have done for decades ,bring the determination guts and bravey and beat the Dubs. Well done, your Meath footballers now. You can only be called a true Meath gael when you beat Dublin in leinster. No one knows what the football lanscape will be in 5 or 6 years times. If you say Meath beating Dublin at underage is irrevelant, maybe u r right , but u also could be wrong. We might lose to longford on Sunday or be hammered v Dublin in the semi final. But in the coming years , its doesnt matter what agenda you have, if your a Dublin member of ABM brigade, the fact is results like last nights and in 2017 and 2016 are definalty not an hinderance, its definatly not a negative, it surely can only be a positive for the future of Meath football. Come on the Da Royals .

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 24/05/2018 23:53:26    2103710

ClonardGael (Meath) - Posts: 75 - 25/05/2018 00:31:17    2103712

Yet another fantastic win. Again I couldn't get to game. But was on the auld Twitter machine and kept up to date. Well done to one and all.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 30/05/2018 20:50:35    2105746

Great win today from the lads

WhyTheLongFace (Meath) - Posts: 876 - 30/05/2018 21:21:28    2105759

well done lads great win. it was not as easy as the score board suggest. looking forward to a long summer with this team

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 30/05/2018 21:39:54    2105763

Very well done to the minors, doing us proud.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/05/2018 23:34:20    2105793

Well done to Meath a very good team.. no 11 Costello a classy footballer

SM_HG (Louth) - Posts: 46 - 31/05/2018 00:09:06    2105810

I'm very impressed by this team in the last two games I saw them, particularly against Dublin but there was a great class about them against Louth. It was closer and tougher than the scoreline would make you believe but the gulf in class and speed created the last two goals in a brace of minutes in the second half that gave Meath a lot of breathing space, even though their opposition was hardy and had a lot of possession. They have a lot of potential if they back themselves and play quick football, which they didnt do in large parts of the first half vs. Louth and it showed. They also were more intense in the second half and upped their physical game, which paid off. They have great potential. Up the Royals!

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 31/05/2018 00:34:19    2105814

Very impressed by the manner of victory last night, even if it was slightly flattering given the first 20 minutes. Costello and Mitchell were very good when we were on top, and the way we went about scoring goals at key times to kill the game off was fantastic... something the seniors could learn a thing or two about.

4-13 is a savage return for a 40 minute performance, that is in no way being critical of the lads in any way. It's just that we struggled with Louths blanket early on.

On an individual level, Cian McBride was very good again, as was Cathal Hickey. Mitchell and Costello kicked vital scores and Luke Kelly worked really hard, I think we need to get more ball into him. Conor Harford is as hard as nails at centre back too. Let's keep it up and guarantee top spot.

royalfan4life (Meath) - Posts: 76 - 31/05/2018 23:02:49    2106127

Listening to LMFM having a beer on holidays in Dungarvan and nearly spilt my pint on numerous occasions but well done lads that was a hard fought win but shows the qualities of these young men, 4 wins from 4 is some going in this championship and ling may it continue........and Wicklow beating the Dubs..........in Parnell Park, the blue wave has hit the rocks lads, I'll enjoy these pints all the more tonight.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 27/06/2018 21:11:56    2116145

Fair from a vintage performance tonight but missing Matt Costello and their goalkeeper were massive losses and we showed great fight to get the goal with 14 men. We are 4/4 and through top of the group already with a game to go. The only concern would be Wicklow hammered Dublin so perhaps the Dublin minors aren't the benchmark. Kildare have won their 3 games awful easy and will top their group. So we should avoid Kildare and get to a final (unless the Leinster council do what they done at the 20's) and in a final you always have a good shot

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1458 - 27/06/2018 22:09:55    2116180

Poor crowd at the game compared to other minor games. We looked flat in the first half and it seemed that maybe the lads might have thought they hadthis won before playing. Offaly are a good team and to be honest probably deserved the win tonight even though we led for a large part of the game, they kicked a lot of wides and were really up for this game.

We seemed to missing a few but it was a good win to get. We have plenty of talent but tonight showed a bit of steel which is great to see. Wicklow will be a tough test next week considering their result tonight but hopefully we end the group unbeaten and then onto the semi final.

Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 27/06/2018 22:27:44    2116192

Great to get the win and for the lads to dig deep to get it even if they're not playing well. Wicklow will be a big test but these lads will be growing in confidence. Hopefully a bigger crowd comes out

LoyalRoyal (None) - Posts: 452 - 28/06/2018 00:52:25    2116254

why are all these so called Meath supporters most of them on here won't come out and support our minor team and u20 team disgraceful

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 28/06/2018 13:13:49    2116399

Brownepat (Meath) - Posts: 532 - 28/06/2018 14:35:01    2116426

Am I correct in saying that we are already assured of top spot? having max points from the 4 games, and if Wicklow were to beat us next week they would join us in advancing to the semi final? Kildare look very strong in the other pool but if we can get to the Leinster final you are in the All Ireland QF and anything can happen

longroadback (Meath) - Posts: 325 - 28/06/2018 15:08:37    2116434

Fantastic result. If my maths are right we are top regardless, so not sure what lads to play next day. Wicklow would seem to be no ordinary Wicklow team, so might be a good test prior to semis. Anyway well done to all. Fantastic for county.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/06/2018 15:46:47    2116442

royalfan4life (Meath) - Posts: 76 - 28/06/2018 16:34:24    2116461

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1063 - 29/06/2018 22:43:12    2116800

Ok when is next game?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/07/2018 19:31:50    2118608