Whisper It Quietly: Meath Are Back

To have known Meath GAA over the past two decades is to have known pain. Hurt. Dejection.

To paraphrase Kermit, 'It hasn’t been easy being green.' We slid from public enemy number one to receiving public apathy.

We’d been overtaken by counties we previously regarded with scorn. Seeing the likes of Mayo, Monaghan and on occasion Tipperary (yes, the footballers) head to the latter rounds of the All-Ireland series, when we headed to the bog was enough to test the constitution of even the most ardent Meath fan.

While there have been bright spots such as making the All-Ireland semi-finals in 2007 and 2009, winning Leinster in 2010 and earning promotion to Division 1 in 2019, there has been precious little to stick out your chest and be proud as a Meath supporter. Until now.

While 2025 has seen the revival of Gaelic Football, it has seen Meath public fall head over Harry Hogan in love with this team. The combination of new rules, new management, and a new set of players has allowed the county to rediscover its pride and, more importantly, its identity.

Like a good wedding, the Royal Revival has featured something old, new, borrowed and blue.

Donal Keogan and Brian Menton have been central to everything we’ve done this year. With a combined age of 68 and almost 330 caps, they’re playing the football of their lives and finally getting the recognition they deserve.

Keogan, in particular, has given 14 years of uninterrupted service and, having toiled through some dark days in green, has become Meath’s version of Nelson Mandela.

While there’s a sense of 'Do it for Donal' about the current run, the man himself will look to do it himself on Sunday.

With the exception of the two aforementioned lads and one or two others, the rest of the squad has an average age of about 12.

This youthful exuberance has propelled the team forward on a tidal wave of enthusiasm and old-fashioned ignorance. At the rear, Sean Rafferty looks like the love child of Mick Lyons and Hannibal Lecter at full back, and the free-wheelin' Ciaran Caulfield at wing back covers more ground than a politician dodging an honest answer.

Up front, Costello, Morris and Kinsella are the GAA equivalent of Messi, Neymar and Suarez in their pomp; balance, grace and power and like the Barca trio, if one doesn’t get you, the others will.

A Meath supporter has borrowed (and improved upon?) a tune from a little-known American artist called Chappel Roan and turned it into a banger. Hot For Meath is the anthem of the summer, and has all of Meath singing off the one hymn sheet, with its creator Richard Corbally rumoured to be headlining Slane next year.

Apart from that, this team has galvanised the county. It’s akin to a general election on the streets of Navan, Trim, Kells and beyond, with every telephone poll, signpost and gable wall adorned with green and gold. “Where are your tickets for?” has become the standard greeting, while cows across the county have been told to milk themselves on Monday morning. Simply put, the people of Meath are going all in.

There’s a tinge of blue on the line this year with Dublin-born (but Meath resident) Robbie Brennan leading the runaway train that is Meath football. Throw in former Dublin keeper Shane Supple as part of his back-room team, and things are getting too close for comfort. However, if they can keep performance levels at their current levels, they’ll be bumped to the top of the list for loyal royal green cards.