Donegal will be expected to negotiate Meath in Saturday's final

Donegal will surely go into Saturday's NFL Div 2 final against Meath burdened by the tag of favouritism and it's a tag they deserve to shoulder.

Despite relegation from the NFL Div 1 in 2018, they have the edge over Meath with a win in Ballybofey in the second round 
of the NFL Div 2 this year while in 2017 they edged Meath out of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers at Pairc Tailteann. 

Donegal will be returning to Div 1 at the first attempt after relegation last year while Meath will return to the top tier for the first time in 13 years.

However, defeats by Tipperary and Fermanagh this year, teams that Meath negotiated with ease, will leave Donegal adopting a cautious approach to Saturday's showdown against the Royal County. 

THE MCENTEE FACTOR

While no silverware has been won yet, promotion to the 2020 NFL Div 1 is a tangible reward for the Royal County.

Meath's link with the last soujourn in NFL Div 1 in 2005 is provided by that great warrior from Longwood, Mickey Burke.

Warrior is a fair description of a man who will this year lead his beloved Longwood into the Meath SFC for the first time in a little over a week against Ratoath.

Burke was on the last Meath team to achieve promotion and he has clocked up close to 130 outings for the Royal County.

"Today isn't about me, today is about the county," stated the Longwood man in a post-match interview on Sunday evening.

Whether or not Burke will feature in the starting 15 is up to the manager and the selectors, but even if he doesn't start he has to regarded as one of the great footballers and hurlers that the Royal County produced.

LONGWOOD'S MICKEY BURKE

One player who will have a foot in each camp is Wolfe Tones man Thomas O'Reilly who made a big contribution to the Meath cause for 65 of the 70 minutes on Sunday. 

There won't be a clash of colours in the O'Reilly household on Saturday morning, but the loyalties could be divided.

Thomas O'Reilly's mother is Helena McGill from Convoy and that could contribute to a range of emotions in the Croke Park stand while the action unfolds on the pitch.

Regardless of the result on Saturday, Meath manager Andy McEntee has achieved one of the objectives that was required from his three-year stint in the hot seat - promotion to the NFL Div 1.

There is more to come from this Meath team and that could be evident by 6.30pm on Saturday.

Donegal defeated Meath in the second round of the NFL Div 2 earlier this year in Ballybofey.

PATHS TO THE FINAL

FIRST ROUND
Donegal 0-16, Clare 0-13; Meath 0-15 Tipperary 1-8
SECOND ROUND
Donegal 1-13, Meath 0-14. 
THIRD ROUND
Tipperary 3-9, Donegal 0-13; Meath 2-13 Armagh 0-13
FOURTH ROUND
Fermanagh 0-13, Donegal 0-10; Meath 2-12 Cork 1-9
FIFTH ROUND
Donegal 1-9, Armagh 0-11; Meath 1-9 Kildare 1-8
SIXTH ROUND
Donegal 1-19, Cork 1-12; Meath 1-12 Clare 1-7
SEVENTH ROUND
Donegal 1-20, Kildare 0-10; Meath 2-12 Fermanagh 0-11.

TOP SCORERS

DONEGAL
Jamie Brennan 2-11
Michael Langan 0-17 (14 frees)
Michael Murphy 1-12 (six frees, two ‘45s’)
Ciaran Thompson 0-15 (six frees, one sideline).

MEATH
Mickey Newman 1-28 (22 frees, penalty goal)
Barry Dardis 3-4 (penalty goal, one free).
Cillian O’Sullivan 0-11 (two frees).

Mickey Newman (in action against Fermanagh last Sunday) has returned to the Meath team this year and has made a big impact on the scoreboard

CANT' GO TO CROKE PARK ON SATURDAY 30th MARCH - DON'T WORRY
TG4 will beam the action live into the Royal County
2.30pm - Live coverage begins from Croke Park.4
3.00pm  - Derry v Leitrim  -  Division 4 final
5.00pm  - Meath v Donegal  -  Division 2 final

SHAPING UP FOR THE BIG GAME AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH IN CROKE PARK ON MONDAY