'There’d be no fear in terms of playing Kerry'

Former Meath goalkeeper Monica McGuirk is grateful for the success she enjoyed and is hopeful there is more to come for the Royals with new players on board.

Monica McGuirk of Meath, who played in the first Lidl National League Finals to be held in Croke Park in 2021, is presented to the crowd during a special presentation to celebrate key milestones in 50 years of the LGFA at half-time of the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Final match between Galway and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

It has become a familiar trip for the county in recent years, but former goalkeeper Monica McGuirk believes a youthful Meath side will be relishing taking on Kerry at Tralee’s Austin Stack Park in the TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-finals this evening (throw-in 5.15pm).

When home advantage was first introduced for the last eight of the Brendan Martin Cup in 2023, McGuirk was part of a Meath team that lost out by 2-8 to 0-10 to the Kingdom in Tralee. History repeated itself 12 months later when Kerry again overcame the Royals in Austin Stack Park on their way to first All-Ireland SFC title in 31 years.

Finishing top of Group 2 this year ensured Kerry will kick-start their latest knockout campaign on home turf and it is Group 4 runners-up Meath who provide quarter-final opposition for a third time in just four seasons. 

This looks like a tricky assignment on paper for Meath, but they can take confidence from the impressive All-Ireland semi-final win over Kerry at Glenisk O’Connor Park in the 2025 championship.

“The girls, they’ve had a massive transition from obviously a lot of new girls coming in, a young squad coming in. There’d be no fear in terms of playing Kerry, we’ve done it now for many years. We’ve got Kerry either in a quarter-final or a semi-final for the last I don’t know how many years,” McGuirk remarked.

“They’d be very familiar with playing them and I’m sure they’re all really excited and looking forward to the opportunity on Saturday.” 

Last year’s TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-final against Tipperary on home turf of Páirc Tailteann in Navan looks set to be McGuirk’s closing appearance in a Meath jersey.

Although she never officially announced her retirement, McGuirk stepped away from the Royal panel following the conclusion of the 2025 season and acknowledges her time on the inter-county scene has likely come to an end.

While it wasn’t an easy decision to move on, she believes her position has been left in safe hands. That outing against Tipperary on July 6 of last year was as a 53rd minute substitute for Robyn Murray – who was subsequently selected on the TG4 All Star team for 2025.

“I kind of knew going into that game, it was probably the last time I was going to be playing in a Meath jersey. I remember the stand was pretty full that day, to be fair. To get on and have those couple of minutes with the girls was special.

“I didn’t officially come out and say ‘I have retired’, but it is something I more or less have done. I’m obviously still going to be playing a bit of club and stuff like that, but in terms of inter-county football, I’m pretty much retired from that now. I can’t see myself coming back there at any stage in the future.

“Obviously Robyn and Aoibheann [Corcoran] have been there over the last couple of years. Robyn came in a couple of years ago and I knew it was going to be her. She was going to be the next number one. She is a top class goalkeeper. Leaving the position with regards to having strong goalkeepers coming into it, it’s massive for the county.” 

Monica McGuirk of Meath in action against Aoife McCoy of Armagh. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Even though she was the substitute goalkeeper when Meath lost last year’s TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship final to Dublin in Croke Park, McGuirk departed the inter-county game with lasting memories.

In addition to winning back-to-back All-Ireland SFC titles in 2021 and 2022, the Duleek/Bellewstown netminder was also part of Meath sides that won finals in the top three divisions of the Lidl National Football League and collected three TG4 All Star awards.

“I sit in my house now and I see the All-Ireland medals I have or the All Stars and I think back. I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without the team that was with me or the coaches that were with me over the couple of years. I wouldn’t have changed it for the world and all I do now is wish the girls the very best of luck in the years ahead,” McGuirk added.

"I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I loved every minute of it.”