Mick O’Dowd puts no stock in Meath’s historical dominance

Those who partitioned Meath from Westmeath around 500 years ago didn’t do the Lake County any favours, not in Gaelic football terms at least.

Approaching the counties’ 23rd Championship meeting, the scoreboard couldn’t be any more lopsided - Meath have never been beaten.

Westmeath did famously collect a provincial title in 2004 under Páidí Ó Sé. They came mightily close in that golden era to ending the Royals’ winning streak too with Championship stalemates in 2001 and 2003. In fact, in that latter game, Westmeath’s Dessie Dolan missed a 20-metre free from in front of the posts to win the game.