"You need to be satisfied [with the result] from a Dublin man's perspective. A 10 point win over Meath any day is a good day in the office."

It was business as usual for Jim Gavin and the Dubs.

"When you're the challenger to the champions, you have to be really, really clinical and we weren't. We put our hands up, we got a bit of a lesson from them in the second half."

Meath's challenge faded in the second-half and Mick O'Dowd was left to rue a couple of missed scoring opportunities.

"When you're two points down going into injury-time you are always on the back-foot a wee bit but in fairness, knowing the boys and having seen them before when we've been in them positions they never give in."

Monaghan's late, late show against Donegal came as no surprise to Malachy O'Rourke.

"We'd be disappointed we didn't see it out, there's no doubt about it. We were in a good position, but Monaghan are a great team and the likes of Conor (McManus) can kick them savage scores, and fair play to them."

Rory Gallagher and his Donegal team will renew their rivalry with the Farney County next Saturday.

"I did find it difficult. I didn't sleep the last two nights to be honest with those thoughts in my head."

Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin sent his native county Kildare packing from the Leinster SFC.

"When we went six points up, I don't think anyone was saying, 'Jeez, there's a Croke Park issue'. The game just went away from us."

The Lilywhites have only themselves to blame, says Cian O'Neill.

"We need improvement. Our first-half display was indifferent to say the least but I think once we upped the tempo of the game in the closing 25 minutes we dominated."

It's Mayo next for Pete McGrath and the Ernesiders.

"We certainly improved on our League form - but it was still not good enough."

The curtain came down on championship 2016 for David Power and the Wexford footballers.

"We're not going to make knee-jerk reaction. We'll contemplate it over the next week or two and see where we go. It's been a difficult year for Down."

Eamonn Burns won't be rushed into making a decision about his future as Down senior football manager.

"It was a fantastic result for us."

Denis Connerton savoured Longford's win over the Mourne County.

"It's been very difficult to pick the boys up since the game in Mullingar. All we could do was get over the game, in my experience any team will be very flat after losing a Championship match."

It was very much a case of mission accomplished for Offaly boss Pat Flanagan against London.

"There's a lot of good work going on in London underage - these guys are English men, they support England in the Euros and we have them out playing in the Championship."

Exiles manager Ciaran Deeley is doing his best to promote London-born players.

"We expected a tough, close battle and we got it but we are into the second round of the qualifiers."

John Brudair steered his Limerick footballers to a qualifier success over Antrim.

"I hope to God none of ye lot are ringing me tomorrow!"

There was no controversy this time around as Martin Ennis and Meath lifted the Christy Ring Cup.

"For all the bad slagging that was going on, people shouting in and so on, I think our players performed manly enough."

Dominic McKinley couldn't fault his Antrim players for effort.

 

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