It's a new day in Leinster football – and Meath may be poised to become the team of the future after their massive win over perennial champions Dublin last Sunday, according to former Westmeath ace Dessie Dolan.
Dublin had annexed every Leinster crown since 2011, but there will be a fresh name on the Delaney Cup in 2025 as the Royal County’s famous win over their long-time tormentors saw them set up a provincial decider with Louth, who nudged out Kildare in Tullamore in their own semi-final.
Dublin’s up-and-down league form along with the high-profile retirements of many of their six-in-a-row golden generation had suggested the Boys in Blue may be vulnerable this term. And their neighbours smelled blood.
Dolan feels Sunday’s seismic shock could signal a new dawn for the much maligned province – and Meath are the side to follow.
"You’re looking at Meath going 'they’ve quality all over the pitch, they’ve very good finishers, they’ve big men around the middle’. It looks, all of a sudden, like the landscape is changing very quickly in Leinster," Dolan told the RTÉ GAA podcast.
"Meath now look, realistically, like a team that are going to be around for a while and are going to be competing at the top level."
With Dublin’s stranglehold on the competition beginning to feel interminable, Robbie Brennan’s side’s win felt like a victory for all of Leinster also-rans. Dolan feels Sunday’s result will have positive repercussions throughout the province.
"All of a sudden, everybody has got a shot in the arm. Leinster is wide open again - there’s life in it, there’s opportunity there," Dolan beamed.
"Brian Flanagan will do a good job in Kildare. Louth are improving, Westmeath, competing at that level.
"Meath had that doggedness to win and resilience. And that kind of left them for the last 10 years – but Jesus, last Sunday, it was back big time."
Watch a provincial football final double-header, Kerry v Clare (1.45pm) and Mayo v Galway (4pm) on Sunday from 1.15pm. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
