Blathnaid's boy brings another Royal edge to the Dubs!

Meath folk will have plenty of reason to cheer on the Dubs as they bid for five-in-a-row All Ireland titles – at least three of the up-and-coming Dublin players have Meath parentage.
On Sunday, Cuala player Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne came on as a substitute in the capital's Super 8s match against Tyrone in Healy Park in Omagh – regarded by both sides as little more than a challenge match as they were already comfortably through to the weekend's All Ireland semi-finals.
Ó Cofaigh Byrne – son of RTE broadcaster, Blathnaid O Cofaigh from Rath Chairn, and her husband, Ciaran Byrne, had played in the Under-20 All Ireland final against Cork on Saturday, where the Rebel County came out as victors. He was the recipient of a black card with 17 minutes remaining was a blow to Dublin’s comeback hopes, at the game in O'Moore Park.
Sunday's game in Omagh was wrapping up when he came on as a substitute for Cormac Costello, joining Eric Lowndes and Eoin Murchan on the pitch. 

Lowndes, who is involved in the current set up and won All Irelands in 2015, '16, '17 and 2018 is a son of Imelda Maguire from Kilmessan, and John Lowndes from Dunboyne, a selector for the GAA team there. Eric's brother, Stuart, scored the goal that gave Dunboyne victory over Summerhill in last year's Meath senior football championship final in Navan.
Murchan's father, Dublin-based solicitor John, is a son of retired Moynalty schoolteachers, Paddy and Maureen Murchan. His late granduncle, Rathkenny Revels founder Fr Michael Murchan, was parish priest of Dunsany and Kilmessan.
The defender, who lives in Glasnevin and plays for Na Fianna, made his debut against Monaghan in last year's National League campaign.
O'Cofaigh Byrne, Lowndes and Murchan are just some of many of many players with Meath backgrounds to tog out for Dublin over the years. Paul Curran, who starred on the All Ireland winning team in 1995, is son of the late Noel, from Dunshaughlin, who won an All-Ireland with Meath in 1967.  2002 All-Star Paddy Christie is son of former player Paddy from Rathmolyon.
Current sharpshooter Dean Rock grew up just outside Ashbourne but has always played with his father, Barney's Ballymun Kickhams, while the great Dublin team that played in five finals in a row, 1920 to 1924, (winning three in a row from 1921-23) included Joe Norris, a native of Maperath, Kells.
Dublin face Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park on Saturday evening at 5pm, while Kerry meet Tyrone on Sunday at 3.30pm, also at Croke Park.