Royal ladies bidding to regain Leinster crown

The first of a potential trifecta of Meath - Dublin provincial finals will be held at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday when Paula Cunningham's Royal charges will bid to attain Ladies Leinster SFC glory for the first time since 2000 when they take on 2010 All-Ireland champions Dublin. With the county's minor and senior men's teams awaiting their fate in their respective Leinster finals on Sunday 22nd July it is down to the ladies to get the three-game saga off to the perfect start. Like their male colleagues Meath will go into Sunday's game as massive underdogs, but with enough armoury to suggest a shock could be on the cards. When Meath and Dublin met in last year's Leinster championship semi-final nobody gave the Royal visitors to Portmarnock that day any hope, but Meath produced the shock of the year to stun the then All-Ireland champions and claim their spot in the provincial decider. Ultimately Leinster glory evaded Meath when their hopes of victory were dashed by Sinead Doogue as her late score handed Laois a shock and widely perceived undeserved win. Next Sunday Meath will seek to make amends for that heartbreak, but it won't be easy. Dublin have not managed to reach the same heights they attained when claiming national honours in 2010, but that could be due to the re-emergence of Cork and Monaghan as major superpowers. However, they are still the third ranked side in the country and they will cause Meath problems. Meath's progress during Cunningham's first year in charge was remarkable, but this year the Monaghan woman has had to rely on youth with several influential players not involved through the league or championship. Gone from last year's side are Louise McKeever, Grainne Nulty and Caitriona O'Shaughnessy while this year Cunningham has had to do without the services of the injured Ger Doherty, although the St Ultan's girl will be back in the reckoning for Sunday. Meath's development through the league saw them give experience to several of the All-Ireland winning u-16 side from three years ago and despite losing four games in the league, including the semi-final to Cork, they managed to produce several impressive performances. In the group stages of the NFL Meath finished within one score of Monaghan (0-8 to 1-8), Cork (2-8 to 3-8) and more significantly Dublin (0-7 to 0-10). Those performances will give Meath hope. The Leinster semi-final test against IFC champions Westmeath proved to be a tough affair, but even without the injured Doherty, Kellie Allen and Aoife Thompson, Meath still managed to prove too strong with the combination of youth and experience earning a 2-7 to 0-8 win. Those three injured players are expected to be back in contention and along with others like Mary Sheridan, Katie O'Brien, Shauna Bennett, Jenny Rispin, Eileen Rahill, Orla Sheridan, Aedin Murray and Allstar goalkeeper Irene Munnelly, Meath certainly have the experience to rise to the occasion. Despite that huge depth of experience, it may be the youthful exuberance and fearlessness of the likes of Bridgetta Lynch, Allen, Emma Troy, Vivienne McCormack, Laura Dempsey and Helen Regan that could see Meath through. Most of the younger players on the Meath panel have experienced success at provincial and national levels and are used to winning. Facing Dublin will not cause them many sleepless nights and if they can hit top form then Meath's long wait for a Leinster SFC crown might well be over by 5.0 on Sunday evening. Cunningham's charges won't be the only people expecting Leinster glory on Sunday. Seneschalstown man Paddy Curtis will be hoping he can inspire Louth to glory when they take on Offaly in the Ladies Leinster JFC final, also in Dr Cullen Park on Sunday. Curtis took over the reins in the Wee County at the start of the year and he has guided the county to the final with a preliminary round victory over Carlow by 4-18 to 0-3 and a surprise victory over favourites Wexford in the semi-final by 3-14 to 2-5.