Meath come into this afternoon's Leinster football final as the highest two-point scorers in the country, but they'll need to find their range without any significant wind at their backs this afternoon.
The Royals have converted more times from outside of the arc than any other team so far in this championship, raising an orange flag on 14 occasions in three games. In total this year they've scored 35 two-pointers in 10 games, improving upon their league form moving into the Leinster campaign.
In those championship matches they have provided three consecutive masterclasses in how to exploit a wind advantage through the new rules.
Ultimately, Meath are averaging 0-21 per half with the wind behind them so far in this year's championship. Within that, they are attempting an average of 10 two-pointers per half with the wind, and scoring almost half of them.
Meaning 52% of their total scores with the wind have come from two-pointers. In 105 minutes of wind-assisted football they've shot 30 times or once every three and a half minutes from outside of the arc.
Meath enter today's Leinster final as the highest two-point scorers in the championship
While 48% of their scores with the wind have originated from claiming the opposition's kickout, which accounts for an average of 0-10 per half. That's the amount they scored off Stephen Cluxton's kickout in the first half at O'Moore Park, which was a major factor in their shock victory over Dublin.
Of course most club and county teams nationwide will score more with a wind advantage as opposed to playing into the elements - however Meath have particularly thrived with the wind at their backs as they have a number of quality point scorers from distance, as well as committing to an aggressive, intentional and well drilled press on opposition restarts.
Both require an element of risk, but the wind increases the odds in their favour for 35 minutes. Their opposition in the three games so far have each lacked the courage, commitment and quality to take advantage of the conditions in the same way.
The average points tally of their opposition playing with the wind advantage is 0-14 per half, seven points less than the Meath average.
It was much the same for their biggest win by far of a mixed league campaign, when Meath scored a second half 2-11 including a crucial trio of two-pointers to come from behind after the change-of-ends to blow Roscommon away.
With Met Eireann forecasting a gentle breeze in Croke Park this afternoon, and wind speeds of less than 10km/h, the elements are not set to make this a game of two halves as has been the case so far for Robbie Brennan's team.
Nevertheless - Meath look set to continue to back their shooters and attack the opposing kickout.
The new Gaelic football rules introduced this year are clearly complimenting Meath's young squad, with the standout element in their attack en route to the final being their ability to convert and confidence to let loose from outside the traditional scoring zone.
To go with that, Meath have won exactly half of their opposition's total kickouts so far in this Leinster campaign, generally by forcing a long option and committing numbers to fiercely contest the breaks. Against Dublin, Meath won 15 of Cluxton's 27 restarts.
However in the likely scenario where the wind will not have a similar bearing on their chance to win a first provincial title since 2010 - they will also be looking to the inside brilliance of James Conlon to deliver the crucial scores via regular one pointers.
Particularly if Louth look to push out on their two-point shooters or commit more numbers to the breaks on kickouts, leaving additional space inside for Conlon to potentially exploit.
Despite starting just one of Meath's three championship matches along with one substitute appearance which came in the 61st minute - Conlon comes into the Leinster final as Meath's top scorer from play with 1-07. He's also scored more from play than any Louth player on their way to a third consecutive final.
Since making his debut in 2019 as a 21-year-old - the St Colmcilles attacker delivered on the promise of his five points from play as the Meath minors beat Dublin in 2016 when scoring 0-05 from play against Laois in his first senior championship start - Conlon has only started 13 more games league and championship in seven seasons.
Still scoring an average of 0-03 per game (from play) from those starts, fitness and a lack of consistency has meant most of Conlon's involvements have come as a late replacement.
He did that off the bench against Offaly, scoring 1-02, while against Dublin he showed the full extent of his potential with an involvement in 12 of Meath's 23 points. Scoring five from play and assisting another score.
With 28 touches so far this championship he has either taken on a shot himself, assisted or been fouled for a scoring chance, or provided the penultimate pass for a scoring opportunity with 18 of them. While being involved in the build-up for a further three, showcasing his impressive efficiency.
Regardless of the wind, Conlon and his Meath team have brought great excitement to the championship, playing on the front foot and backing their skill-set.
If they can find the right attacking balance of shooting from distance, pressing kickouts, and finding Conlon inside they'll be in a great position to lift the Delaney Cup for a 22nd time.
Watch the Leinster Football Championship final, Meath v Louth, on Sunday from 3.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
