Maire: We hold what we have..
MAIRE O’SHAUGHNESSY admits holding on to senior status is the number one Championship target for upwardly mobile Meath.
The Royals are back in the top tier after winning the intermediate title and will be thrown straight in at the deep end tomorrow against Cork in Birr.
It’s a baptism of fire against last December’s All-ireland runners up and the recent Division One League finalists.
Meath have shown form themselves, capturing the Division Two title at Kerry’s expense, though O’shaughnessy reckons anything beyond staying up this summer will be a ‘bonus’.
She said: “We’ve worked very hard to get to where we are today. A lot of teams that go up to senior, in their first year their main goal is just to stay up there.
“I think that’s definitely our top goal this year. Everything else that comes with it is a bonus. It takes a while to probably find your feet up at senior.
“I think it will help that we’ll be up at Division One, we’ll have competitive games coming in both competitions and hopefully that will stand to us.”
O’shaughnessy captained Meath to the intermediate title at Croke Park last December – shortly before Cork met Dublin in the senior decider.
She said of the Rebelettes: “We’ll absolutely have our work cut out for us. We’re all just really looking forward to it, to seeing exactly where we are as a team.
“Going up to senior and having won Division Two of the League, it’s obviously given us great confidence but I think everyone knows that Championship is a different game to League. It will be great to see how we are, where we rank up against one of the top teams.”
LO’SHAUGHNESSY was speaking at the launch of the GPA’S charity link up with Cliona’s Foundation. Text FAMILIES to 50300 to donate or see clionas.ie