Belief the big difference as Meath come from nowhere to make semi-final

Meath players Conor Gray, right, and Seán Coffey celebrate after the quarter-final victory. Picture: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

The sweat is still colonising Robbie Brennan’s forehead as he sits and surveys Meath’s All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Galway. Hands up anyone who saw that coming at the start of this most unpredictable and historic of Championships.

Brennan started his summation by describing all this as “part of the plan”, and reiterating the one training sessions and one game at a time mantra that has seen them take down the Dubs and Kerry and make a first All-Ireland semi since 2009.