A summer saga no one is likely to forget

Twenty-one years on, the extraordinary four match saga involving Dublin and Meath in the first round of the Leinster senior football championship occupies an honoured place in GAA folklore.

The games — the middle two going to extra time — were watched by a live audience of almost a quarter of a million people and produced gate receipts of £1.1m (punts) — leading to the Council allocating £60,000 towards a holiday fund for both squads and a ‘dividend’ of £20,000 for every county.

The teams were accorded a civic reception by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and, uniquely, the Central Council presented Meath players and officials with a special set of medals following their (losing) appearance in the All-Ireland final against Down. In total, they played eight games in their provincial campaign (also being taken to a replay by Wicklow in the last eight).