Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Magnificent Meath are finally free of their blue masters

Meath have suffered tough losses to Dublin, occasionally embarrassing ones. On Sunday they found out that rock bottom has a basement. Now they are free.

Ruairí Kinsella of Meath celebrates after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Dublin and Meath at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

After another weekend of super entertainment in the football championships, magnificent Meath stole the show. Wow! What a win for Meath football. A short few weeks ago, conventional wisdom had them in turmoil following the coaching departures. Robbie Brennan, Conor Gillespie and Shane Supple deserve massive credit for steadying the ship. They circled the wagons and did the most important thing in football, they won matches. They disposed of Carlow, Offaly and now Dublin. 

They faced down adversity. They were ten points down against Offaly at half-time and won by seven. They have lost key players to injury but they still persisted and got results. They now have a strong, united and confident group moving forward. They did something yesterday that they haven’t done in 15 years, they beat Dublin. In the intervening years, they have suffered tough losses, occasionally embarrassing ones. A proud footballing county had been reduced to a role of servitude by their blue masters. Apathy had set in and belief was non-existent. They found out that rock bottom has a basement. Now they are free.