Meath boss Robbie Brennan can't wait to face 'brilliant Cork team'
Meath manager Robbie Brennan. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Meath manager Robbie Brennan believes Sunday's Allianz Football League Division 2 final against Cork at Croke Park, 1.45pm, is ideal preparation for a tilt at Leinster glory.
The Royals stunned Dublin last year before falling just short in a cracking provincial final to Louth. After securing promotion to Division 1 on the back of reaching last year's All-Ireland semi-finals, Meath are fancied to make a big impact this summer.
They hosted their home league games on Jones Road to facilitate the €21 million upgrading of Páirc Tailteann in Navan and, according to Brennan, "you can't be in there enough".
"A brilliant team like Cork coming up against us again and it's brilliant prep for Leinster and one we're looking forward to."
The former Kilmacud Crokes bainisteoir explained they didn't target promotion but were keen to use the league as a platform to push on from a hugely encouraging 2025.
"It gives the lads a little bit of extra belief that what they did last year was real and there's been some signs of progress again this year. Very encouraging."
Brennan and co have certainly got the fans on board, with a huge crowd expected to descend on Croker on Sunday.
"I'm a Meath fan at the end of it all. I've been up in the stand myself through the good days and the bad days so for the supporters to feel there's something happening... it's all credit to the players. They've given the supporters something to come and watch," explained Brennan.
"There's a great connection and it's something that we looked at it when we came in and I think the lads have done that brilliantly."
A potent and exciting attack, led by the dynamic Jordan Morris, is very appealing to the Meath faithful, while Jack Flynn nailed the brilliant two-pointers that sealed victories over Derry and Cavan.
"You can't practise that type of thing, you try to replicate in training but it's never quite the same. Those last-ditch winners and having to dig it out are invaluable.
"Meath in my days as a young lad watching them have always had brilliant forwards and we just encourage them to do their own thing, whatever comes natural to them on the day. We feel they're all a little bit different to each other which poses challenges to opposition.
The addition of Armagh's Aaron Kernan to a backroom that includes former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Shane Supple has reaped a reward.
"He's fit in so well with the group. A brilliant character but also a very, very, very astute coach. He's looking at our defensive side as well as other areas. He'd added to the work that's already gone on there. Conor Scully has come in and looked at transition, Karl Manning, and John McCarthy is also in there doing work with the forwards. It's a great management team.
"Shane's a busy man, they had a new baby, but the detail he brings is incredible as you'd expect with the professionalism from his soccer days."
The Dunboyne native said they never targeted a top-two finish in Division 2, just "improving session to session, game by game".
"We didn't set out to say we needed to get to Division 1 or get to a league final. Sunday will come and Sunday will go and once it's done, we'll be switching all our focus into Leinster championship."
Dublin, relegated from Division 1 last weekend, are not as formidable and intimidating as they were in their pomp, and for the first time since 2011, aren't entering the Leinster arena as defending champions. The goal for Meath is a first provincial crown in 16 years.
"It's certainly reinvigorated it a bit. Dublin had the stranglehold and nobody could stop them which probably shows you how good they were.
"It's certainly more open than it was and there are a number of teams fancying their chances and we're one of them. The old cliche though, we won't be looking past Cork this and when Leinster comes, whether it'll be Westmeath or Longford, we'll be fully focused."
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