And so for the first time in 15 years the Leinster football final will not feature Dublin. Meath and Louth will contest this year's decider on 11 May and it was the same two counties that featured in 2010, a game where Joe Sheridan's controversial goal gave the Royals a narrow victory.
Now under the stewardship of Robbie Brennan, Meath caused a surprise when getting the better of Dessie Farrell's men in Sunday's provincial semi-final in Portlaoise. And while not wanting to gloat after the Dubs' defeat, Enda McGinley, speaking on The Sunday Game, said: "Dublin will be disappointed with the result tonight but everybody else in the country will be delighted and that's a Tyrone man saying they're delighted with the Meath win."
It's not just Meath fans celebrating after the Royals dethroned Dublin in spectacular fashion in the Leinster SFC, according to Enda McGinley
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 27, 2025
📺 Watch on @rte2 and @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/OSgl2ZsBMC
The Tyrone All-Ireland winner, no doubt echoing the views of many, feels that Dublin are not the force they once were. That said, he gave credit to Meath for they way they closed out the game at Laois Hire O'Moore Park.
"Meath were fantastic but Dublin are not the team they were," he remarked.
"They obviously lost key men over the winter and their performances have been hit and miss, crucially they have been a hit in Croke Park this year but a miss outside of Croke Park.
"I think that fed into Meath believing in themselves this year. We've been used to teams giving Dublin a good fight, maybe in a winning position, and then Dublin grinding it down and seeing it out. There was an air of inevitability and that game felt like that today. Up in the room where we were watching it we were saying 'this isn't the normal Dublin team' and sure enough Meath got the critical scores at the end."
Louth and Meath will head into the Leinster SFC final full of belief that they can be crowned provincial champions, but it's the Wee County that Paul Flynn fancies at Croke Park
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 27, 2025
📺 Watch on @rte2 and @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/zyi8NPW8Qm
Fellow analyst Paul Flynn is now looking forward to the provincial showdown in a fortnight's time and fancies Louth, this after the Wee County saw off Kildare in Sunday's other semi-final.
"Meath will probably go in as favourites after toppling the Dubs but if you were to ask me I think Louth will be the fancied team, " he said.
"Louth got over the hoodoo when beating Meath in the group stage of the championship in Inniskeen last year.
"They have leaders who stepped up today and Craig Lennon got two goals in that game last year. It's so exciting and it's about who can manage the occasion the best.
For Louth it's their third Leinster final in a row which is really impressive. It shows their consistency at provincial level and where their trajectory is at. But now there are no more moral victories, they have to go and win it. That's what will be on their minds and they have to manage that occasion."
