Ladies face tough test against Dublin

They mightn"t grab the headlines to the same extent as their male counterparts, but next Saturday afternoon in Pairc Tailteann Meath will face Dublin in the Ladies Leinster SFC semi-final as a curtain-raiser to the All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Waterford. Over the past few years Meath ladies football has been in free fall and earlier this year they just about managed to retain their senior status with a relegation final win over the once-mighty Waterford. In an attempt to re-capture the glory days when Meath were regular winners of the provincial crown and genuine contenders for All-Ireland honours they have gone back to the tried and trusted management of Brendan Dardis. Dardis guided Meath to the All-Ireland JFC crown in 1994 and he also had the county performing at a high standard for many years, but over time Meath have fallen backwards and now they find themselves as over-whelming underdogs for Saturday"s tilt with Dublin. Since returning to the helm Dardis secured the county"s senior status and maintained their place in NFL Div 2 with a couple of good displays. Impressive displays in challenges against Louth, Westmeath, Galway and Sligo have Meath in good form and they will hope to continue that on Saturday. A victory against Dublin would see the Royals in return to their first Leinster final in three years, but it won"t be an easy task. Dublin are boosted by an excellent league campaign, defeating reigning champions Cork in the round robin section. Dublin also had three players on the Ladies NFL Div 1 Team of the League, goalkeeper Cliodhna O"Connor, corner-back Maria Kavanagh and full-forward Sinead Aherne. While Meath had Grainne Nulty as their sole representative on the Ladies NFL Div 2 Team of the League. Meath endured a disaster in last year"s Leinster SFC, exiting meekly at the hands of Dublin. Dardis will be hoping his charges will make amends and set up a Leinster final against Kildare who surprisingly beat Laois after extra-time last weekend.