Murray targets more success
The problem with achieving success is that it is often so hard to emulate and while Meath enjoyed a glorious 2020 they will be aiming for even more glory when they open their Ladies NFL Div 2 campaign with the visit of Kerry to Pairc Tailteann next Sunday.
Last year Meath's impressive progress through Div 2 was halted by Covid just when they were on the precipice of securing a place in the league final which would have put them in with a strong chance of promotion.
All football was halted just before Meath got to welcome table-toppers Kerry to Navan and with a game against table-proppers Wexford in their final outing Eamonn Murray's side were well on course for that top two finish.
However, Covid put paid to those league ambitions, but thankfully championship aspirations were realised on the Sunday before Christmas when the main objective was achieved - All-Ireland IFC success.
Winning a place back in senior football has always been Meath's ambition since they opted to be regraded at the end of 2016 and with that status secured the focus can now shift to securing another league promotion and a place in Div 1.
Last year's Div 2 campaign was Meath's first since they beat Sligo in 2019 to win Div 3 and they certainly didn't look out of their depth against senior opposition like Monaghan, Tyrone and Armagh.
That crushing win over Armagh, who went on to contest the All-Ireland SFC semi-final, was an indication of just how far Meath have come and now Murray is hoping to build on glorious IFC win.
"This year is not about standing still and sitting back and enjoying the success we had last year. We know there is a lot more in this panel and there is a huge hunger there from everyone to be the best they can be," Murray told the Meath Chronicle.
"We were very disappointed when the league wasn't finished last year. Everyone expected Kerry to win promotion from Div 2 and that's fair enough because they are a class side, but we wouldn't have been too far away.
"We proved in last year's league that we could mix it with the best teams around and when it came to championship time those tough games certainly helped us.
"This year's league won't be any easier and it certainly doesn't get any tougher than opening our campaign with a visit of a magnificent Kerry team to Navan.
"We are under no illusions of the challenge that lies ahead, and that has been reflected in the work the girls have put in during lockdown. The huge amount of work they did over Zoom and out running on their own was obvious when we did return to collective training and that return to training added extra hunger.
"I've said it hundreds of times, this is a tremendous group. The friendship, the determination, the hunger to succeed is amazing, they really would do anything for each other and over the winter we have brought in a few new young players off our successful minor team to add to the panel.
"The competition for places in phenomenal and that can only be good for Meath football. As I've said we don't want to stand still in senior championship or in Div 2 of the league, we want to push on. We know the potential these girls have so it is just about getting them to a good place and having them ready to be the best they can possibly be," concluded Murray.
While Kerry are clearly a formidable side Meath have more than enough ammunition to cause them plenty of damage.
There were times last year when the Kingdom girls looked unbeatable.
They won their five league games, but when you compare and contrast their results with Meath's results against the same opposition there is clearly little between the sides.
In round one Meath beat Tyrone by eight points, in round four Kerry beat them by 12. Meath's loss to Cavan in round two was a real eye opener to the physicality of senior football and Kerry's one-point win over Cavan in round one proved just how strong the Cavan side were.
In round three Kerry beat Armagh by two points, in round five Meath defeated Armagh 1-21 to 3-5 and in the only other game when both sides played the same opponent Meath beat Monaghan by seven points, while in the last game before lockdown Kerry edged them out by four.
So clearly there is little between the two counties. Kerry are a big, strong physical side with immense scoring threat. Meath are inexperienced in defence and with Sarah Wall still missing through injury they will have a relatively inexperienced full-back line.
However, it is all about attacking threat for Meath and in players like Niamh O'Sullivan, Vikki Wall, Kelsey Nesbitt, Emma Duggan and Bridgetta Lynch they have one of the liveliest forward units in the game - if they can click then Meath will be well on their way to another successful year.
MEATH PANEL
Kate Byrne, Orla Byrne, Meadhbh Byrne, Aoibhin Cleary, Louise Coyne, Emma Duggan, Elaine Doyle, Orlaith Duff, Shauna Ennis, Aoife Farrell, Niamh Gallogly, Stacey Grimes, Olivia Gore, Ali Jones, Ailbhe Leahy, Aoibheann Leahy, Orlagh Lally, Mary Kate Lynch, Bridgetta Lynch, Aoibhe Monaghan, Caragh Monaghan, Aisling McCabe, Monica McGuirk, Shelly Melia, Katie Newe, Kelsey Nesbitt, Saoirse O'Kane, Niamh O'Sullivan, Alison O'Sullivan, Maire O'Shaughnessy, Ali Sherlock, Aine Sheridan, Sarah Powderly, Megan Peters, Megan Thynne, Emma Troy, Emma White, Vikki Wall, Sarah Wall.
FIXTURE SCHEDULE
Sunday - Meath v Kerry, 3pm in Navan.
Sunday 30th May - Wexford v Meath, 2pm in Wexford Park.
Sunday 6th June - Meath v Clare, 2pm, provisional venue Navan.