Emma Duggan enjoying turnover in Meath squad

Michael Bolton

At just 24, Emma Duggan is a player to look up to for the younger players in the Meath side.

Winner of All-Ireland's with Meath in 2021 and 2022, Meath has seen a lot of turnover in players in the years that have followed.

Despite losing the likes of Vikki Wall and Orlagh Lally to the AFLW and other players stepping away due to injury, Meath has remained competitive.

Defeated by Dublin in the final last year, a quarter-final against Kerry is the challenge this Saturday, and Duggan is excited about the potential in this Meath side.

"I think this year has been actually quite refreshing, I would say, in a lot of aspects. We've seen a lot of young girls come into the team, and they're mad to play for Meath, and they've really, really great attitudes.

They're coming to training week on week, mad to improve and put their stamp on it as well, and looking to put their hand up to start. I think that's refreshing in its own way.

"Of course, we'd love to have the girls available to us, but, you know, these are the cards that we've been dealt, and we're trying to build on the team that's there.

There has been a lot of turnover. But, equally, there's still a big group of us there that have a lot of experience, and like that, with experience comes a responsibility.

"It's up to us, I suppose, to take those younger girls under our wing and try to bring them on because that's the group that's there."

Duggan and Meath can take confidence from last year's semi-final, when they defeated Kerry against the odds.

This season has seen Meath begin to pick up form at the right time.

After a difficult league and Leinster championship, Meath overcame Tyrone to book their quarter-final spot, and Duggan knows the challenge that awaits.

"We've played them in two All-Ireland quarterfinals before in Tralee, so we know what it's like down there. It's a very, very tough place to go...we probably don't have the best history of playing in Tralee either.

"But we are motivated to put that right and to build on things as well for us. It'll be a massive, massive test for our young group at the minute, but we want to go a step further.

"I think Kerry is, as everyone knows, a great footballing county. They're very, very skilful; they're good footballers, and they're good kick passers of the ball. We know the way they play, and we know how to lose against them, but we very much know how to win against them as well.

"We'll be looking to prepare like that for the next two weeks, and very much focused on ourselves as well. I think we put in a pretty strong performance on Saturday, so spirits are high, and you can't beat that either.