The achievement of Meath qualifying for the Leinster SFC and MFC finals in the same year for the first time since 1990 was lauded at Monday night's county board meeting in Aras Tailteann.

The boot was also put into pundits who dared to knock football in the Royal County after some poor results in the spring and early summer with chairman Barney Allen remarking: "It's great to see Meath football up where it should be."

Allen paid tribute to manager Seamus McEnaney, coach John Evans and forwards coach Trevor Giles. He also praised minor manager Andy McEntee and his players and wished both teams all the best on July 22.

Under-18 chairman John Kavanagh said he was pleased with the strong support for the minor semi-final in Mullingar last Saturday and urged clubs to come out in force on Leinster final day.

The St Cuthbert's clubman also had a go at the media, remarking, "the pundits who were knocking Meath should see what is happening." Ultan Fitzpatrick also got in on the media-bashing, congratulating the teams on answering the knockers before adding, "we must be doing something right.

Meath have also qualified for the Leinster women's SFC final where they will play Dublin in Carlow and Fitzpatrick wondered why that game could not played as part of a triple-decker at Croke Park.

Barney Allen called on supporters and businesses to display flags outside homes and places of work. He reported that the name of the under-21 football manager for 2013 should be made known at the August meeting/

Pat O'Neill complained about Seamus McEnaney making "a derogatory remark" about the county chairman at a function in Armagh which was recently reported in a Sunday newspaper. Tweet

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