Dublin and Meath eye sweet spot on finals day

Who dares to talk of '21? Well many in Meath would, as the county celebrated its first TG4 All-Ireland SFC title when beating Dublin in that year's decider.

This was a Dubs outfit chasing a five in a row, up against opposition who rose from the intermediate ranks in the previous year. On final day, nothing is a formality, but the team in blue were still warm favourites. The Royals, however, made light of their underdog tag, with Emma Duggan's first-half goal building the foundations for a famous win in a contest where they were never headed.

A year later, they followed up, as Kerry had no answers in the decider. Meath's arrival as a force in the code was telling.

Dublin regrouped and won back their crown in 2023, moving them on to six titles in the roll of honour.

And now the Leinster pair will lock horns again on the biggest day, with both bringing a fair degree of latter momentum into this year's finale.

Éilish O'Dowd of Dublin avoids the tackle of Meath goalkeeper Robyn Murray in thr Leinster final

The counties have already clashed three times in 2025, once in the league and twice in the Leinster championship, with Dublin victorious on each occasion. They last met in the provincial final at Croke Park on 11 May, part of a double-header with Meath v Louth in the men's final. The Dubs registered an unanswered haul of 0-08 in the closing 15 minutes to keep a firm grip on the provincial prize.

Four points was the winning margin in the end but Meath were much improved from their league showing in March, where they went down by 16 points.

And so to the All-Ireland group series. Yes, both topped their section, but were far from impressive. Dublin needed a last-gasp point to force a draw against Waterford.

Cora Staunton's Women's All-Ireland SFC final preview

At the quarter-final stage, with key names returning to the fold, the Dubs hammered Cork by 17 points, while Meath had 14 points to spare over Tipperary.

Meath players Kerrie Cole and Shauna Ennis, 19 after the win over Kerry

Glenisk O'Connor Park was the venue for the semi-finals. All-Ireland champions Kerry first up against the Royals. In many respects the spirit of 2021 was rekindled as Meath called the tune throughout. Kerrie Cole and Sarah Wall with goals in each half saw Shane McCormack's side through to a third senior final.

Dublin v Galway ensured it was a long evening in Tullamore, with extra-time needed to settle that one. Looking back, the Connacht side will be disappointed they didn't seal the deal when ahead by a point and having possession as the clocked ticked towards 60 minutes. The Leinster champions, however, showed their tenacity when winning the ball back and a last-gasp free, converted by Hannah Tyrrell, earned them parity.

Goals flowed in extra-time, the standout being Carla Rowe's back-heeled effort, and it was the Dubs who would prevail.

Mick Bohan is no longer at the helm in Dublin, yet there is a sense of continuity, with Paul Casey and Derek Murray, part of his management set-up, stepping up to assume a joint-management role.

The pair have used 30 players in Dublin's campaign so far, with key names like Orla Rowe, Nicole Owens, Kate Sullivan and Rebecca McDonnell overcoming injuries in returning to the fray as the All-Ireland series began.

Hannah Tyrrell slotting home a penalty during the last-four victory against Galway

Tyrrell will no doubt hope her final season in the colours of Dublin will yield another All-Ireland. Her contribution to the cause can't be underestimated and so far has contributed 8-33 to her side's scoring return.

Meath have more or less stuck with the same XV throughout the season and have been boosted by the return of Vikki Wall, with Shauna Ennis, who skippered the side to those All-Ireland wins in 2021 and '22 also back involved after a cruciate injury.

Current captain Aoibhín Cleary will be heading Down Under after the final, after earlier this year penning a deal to join Richmond, so bringing the number of Irish players contracted for an AFLW season to 40.

Dublin players Jennifer Dunne and Grace Kos did opt to miss out on the championship by returning early to Australia but Cleary was happy to remain at home for now, and glad that Richmond were accommodating in that regard. She told the press in advance of Sunday's final: "Before the offer was made, I was committed to Meath and I wasn't going to change," she explained.

"From the start Richmond have been very accommodating, very supportive and very understanding of the situation, wishing me and the Meath team in general the best.

"From their perspective they would have liked to have got me out there quicker but they also recognise the value in the season we are having. They realise how beneficial it is for me to be involved in a team that is back in an All-Ireland final."

It looks likely that the back and forth from Oz will continue, with Dublin obviously delighted that their star defender Sinéad Goldrick returned in 2024.

When it comes to calling Sunday's final, Dublin do possess the greater attacking options, with Carla Rowe, Kate Sullivan and Niamh Hetherton ably assisting the likes of Tyrrell, with the aforementioned Goldrick also likely to pop up with a goal or two.

The Brendan Martin Cup, the official matchday ball and the jerseys that Dublin and Meath will wear in the All-Ireland final

For Meath, Vikki Wall, her sister Sarah, Shauna Ennis, Marion Farrelly, Emma Duggan and exciting corner-forward Kerrie Cole will all need big games, but the side have certainly found their groove, starting with that quarter-final win over Tipp. They did not last the pace in the Leinster final and will now be keen to keep it going down the stretch if the game is there to be won approaching 5.30pm on Sunday.

In team news, Orlagh Nolan returns to the Dublin starting XV for the first timer since since last year's group stage clash with Kildare in the All-Ireland series.

Nolan's 2024 season was cut short by an ACL injury sustained before the quarter-final clash with Galway but she returned against the same opposition in the recent semi-final - coming on as a substitute.

She comes in for Caoimhe O'Connor, who sustained a hamstring injury against the Tribeswomen.

Meath are unchanged.

Dublin: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, N Donlon; S Goldrick, M Byrne, N Crowley; É O'Dowd, H McGinnis; N Owens, C Rowe (capt), O Nolan; H Tyrrell, N Hetherton, K Sullivan.

Meath: R Murray; Á Sheridan, MK Lynch, K Newe; A Cleary (capt), S Wall, K Kealy; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth; E Duggan, V Wall, K Cole.

Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship final, Meath v Dublin, on Sunday from 4.15pm on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

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