Meath face tough tests in Senior Championship
There will be no time to bask in the glory of their Ladies All-Ireland IFC success last December as Meath will face a tough first year back in the senior championship.
The draws for the Ladies All-Ireland SFC, IFC and JFC were made and Thursday night and Meath will face last year's senior runners-up Corek and the side that beat them in the 2017 All-Ireland IFC semi-final and the 2019 All-Ireland IFC final, Tipperary.
Manager Eamonn Murray is looking forward to Meath's first season back in the top flight since they were regraded in 2016 and after a long battle to get back senior he is hopeful that Meath can make an impact.
"There is no doubting that that is a very tough draw for us, but this is senior football now, there is no such thing as an easy draw," Murray told the Meath Chronicle.
"Cork have been one of the greatest sides in the last 10 or 15 years and they proved last year that they are getting back to their best again. The last time we played Cork in the Championship was in 2015 and they beat us by 40 points, but we have certainly improved since then.
"We certainly know Tipperary very well after a few thrilling clashes with them in the intermediate championship over the last few years. They are a class side and have some of the best young players in the country.
"They were very unlucky in last year's championship and they will be eager to maintain their progression.
"We have improved ourselves and are really relishing the challenge. First things first is this Sunday's league game against Kerry. We are hoping for a decent league campaign and if we can build up a bit of form going into the championship then I'm sure we'll be a handful for those two great side in our group," concluded Murray.
Read Eamonn Murray's interview from this week's Meath Chronicle.
Five-in-a-row chasing champions Dublin have been pitted with Tyrone and Waterford in the round-robin phase and for the third year in a row, Dublin and Waterford will face off in the group stages.
In Group A, the only four-team group, there are three Ulster counties drawn together. 2020 semi-finalists Armagh, Cavan and Monaghan will be joined by Mayo.
Group D contains 2020 semi-finalists Galway, who are joined by Kerry and Donegal.
Two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-final stage.
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS
SENIOR
Group A: Armagh, Cavan, Monaghan, Mayo.
Group B: Cork, Tipperary, Meath.
Group C: Dublin, Tyrone, Waterford.
Group D: Galway, Kerry, Donegal.
INTERMEDIATE
Group A: Westmeath, Longford, Wexford, Sligo.
Group B: Clare, Fermanagh, Leitrim.
Group C: Roscommon, Kildare, Laois.
Group D: Offaly, Down, Louth.
JUNIOR
Antrim, Carlow, Derry, Limerick, Wicklow.
Five team group with top four to progress to semi-finals.