Be part of Mick O'Dowd's Green Army on Sunday
Meath supporters travelled from many parts for the Leinster SFC quarter-final tie against Wicklow at Aughrim and the indicators suggest that there will be larger numbers making the journey to Croke Park next Sunday.
Moynalty native Irene Gilsenan-Nordin, a daughter of the late Mattie Gilsenan who captained Meath in the 1939 All-Ireland final against Kerry, is hoping to make the journey from Sweden for next Sunday’s game.
“Sadly, my father passed away only two months ago,” the Moynalty woman told the Meath Chronicle.
“I have been living and working in Sweden for over 30 years and usually follow the matches on-line with my husband, Gunnar.
“Come summer every year we head for home and look forward to attending the matches whenever possible.
“Our plan is to get to Croke Park for next Sunday’s game and we wish the team all the best in the build up to the big day,” she added.
Making a slightly shorter journey to Croke Park on Sunday will be Navan natives Cathal Reilly and Mark Rowe with their children Oisin Reilly (four) and Dónal Rowe (five), they all attended the game in Aughrim and were delighted with the result.
Cathal Reilly is now living in the Gaeltacht in An Rinn, near Dungarvan in Waterford with his wife Olivia (McAuliffe), his parents are John and Anita Reilly, Kells Road, Navan.
Mark Rowe lives in Dungarvan with his wife Aileen (Dooley) and is the son of Sylvester and the late Betty Rowe of Blackwater Park, Kells Road, Navan.
The two Navan men made the trip to Aughrim with their sons for the big game two weeks ago, but it was close to midnight when they got back to Waterford with the two boys who were both singing songs about the Royals as they cheered and cheered a great victory.
“I moved down here seven years ago, having formerly worked for Meath County Council” commented Cathal Reilly who will also be joined by Barney Reilly and his daughter Emma (10) for the big game next Sunday.
“Two years ago, another Navan man, a friend from my childhood, Mark Rowe, moved with his family to Dungarvan, a couple of miles away and we now go to all the Meath matches we can, both our eldest sons are always with us suitably attired in green and gold,” he added.
Oisin will be attending his fifth Meath game on Sunday while Emma is a real veteran supporter at this stage and will be making her 27th trip as a supporter to see Meath play.
Other supporters who will be on the road early from Donegal include Michael Leech (Moville) and Richie Quigley (Glenties).
“It was a fair spin from Glenties to Aughrim, but the win, an overnight stay and a few beers in the home place of Ratoath had me right as rain for the trip back on Sunday and I’m looking forward to the game against Wexford,” commented Richie Quigley.
Nikki Gannon will be on the road to Dublin from Cork while Ray Mooney will travel from Carlow and Gearóid McGeough is hoping to make the trip from Glasgow.
Shorter journeys await Olive Maguire from Duleek, Doreen King from Ashbourne and Gerardine Donegan from Curraha while Kelly-Ann Smith and Eimear Hubble have only to make it from Navan. They were also enthusiastically backing the boys in green and gold at Aughrim two weeks ago.
Email us your photo from Croke Park on Sunday with some details of your journey, long or short, and we will feature you next week on www.meathchronicle.ie
Click on view more images for slideshow of Meath supporters
Conall Collier