Crawford thankful for Meath's resurgence

It has all gone a bit pear-shaped since Meath won their last All-Ireland title in 1999, with the Royal County having to go through a long phase of rebuilding.

However, midfielder Nigel Crawford is thankful he has stood true to the Royals' cause - 10 years after that final win over Cork.

Obviously keen to get back to an All-Ireland final, the St Peter's Dunboyne clubman is approaching this weekend's semi-final cautiously, knowing that Kerry will be just as hungry to progress as his Meath side.

"It's a big difference between now and 1999. Back then I was a young guy and you just get caught up in it all," Crawford explained. "You don't appreciate it too much, then in 2001 another semi-final and final.

"You think: 'It's great, it's happening so often’, and then to go from 2001 to 2007 without getting anywhere near a semi-final you just realise then how much it means to you and how much you miss it.

"To be back in an All-Ireland semi-final this year is great - just the fact that I am one of the older and more experienced guys it is slightly different. However, I am probably enjoying it even more that the younger guys."

Asked his opinion on Kerry, the recent conquerors of Leinster champions Dublin, Crawford says that this Kingdom side - containing multi-All-Ireland winners - are at a level where Meath want to be.

"They have got a good mix between youth and the experienced lads like the O'Sés, who have various experience of winning All-Irelands and have been around," he added.

"They can teach and help a lot of the younger lads coming through, and it makes it easier for them.

"They have really good management structures down there as well, that would help integrate them all into the one squad.

"Consistently, over the last decade they have been the top team up there along with Tyrone. I suppose we can only aspire just to get to that kind of level ourselves, and that's what we are aiming to do over the next few years."