BATTLE ROYAL
‘You need to create your own history. As a group, that’s what we want to do’ Meath relishing the chance to bring the fight to Dublin in their own Croker back yard
MATTHEW Costello says Meath have to bring the fight to Dublin in Sunday’s Leinster quarter-final — but that doesn’t mean going out to try and rough them up.
The Dunshaughlin man was part of the Meath side which defeated Longford last weekend to set up a Croke Park encounter with Dessie Farrell’s All-Ireland champions.
After the Longford game, Meath boss Colm O’Rourke said: “For the last 20 years we’ve been going to Croke Park and getting hammered by Dublin, not just beaten.
“We’ve been like a barking dog with them and not landing any blows.
“On our side we’ve been doing a lot of barking but no biting when it came to Dublin for a long, long time, so I’m hoping we’ll do a bit better this time.”
Costello, who was taken off at half-time against Longford due to a virus which kept him out of the final round of the league against Donegal, said: “If we are going to go against Dublin, it is going to be from the game-plan we have.
Fight
“Going out to rough them up, Dublin are well prepared for that so you just have to bring the fight to them.
“Trust and be confident in the way you play.
“Get a performance together and if you are there or thereabouts in the last while, then the championship minutes will speak for themselves.
“Those last 10 minutes anything can happen.
“We really have to get a performance together, play to our strengths and see where that takes you.”
Vice-captain Costello was there in 2022 when Dublin had Meath put to bed by half-time in the Leinster semi-final as they ran out 1-27 to 1-14 winners.
“It is a tough place to be and against opposition like Dublin it can happen very quickly and before you even know it you can be a good bit behind,” he said.
“The idea is to go out, be nice and tight at the back and like that, be in the game at half-time.
“In previous times, unfortunately, that has not happened and that is a tough place to be at half-time.”
It’s 2010 since Meath last defeated Dublin in the Championship, on a day when they hit them for five goals.
It remains Dublin’s only Leinster Championship defeat since 2004 in what must be close to being the most one-sided competition in the GAA.
A whole generation of Meath players have passed through without beating their fierce rivals.
But Costello isn’t worried about that leaving mental scars on the new crop:
“I wouldn’t fear that too much because there are a lot of young players that have beaten Dublin at minor level and will hopefully be playing for years.
“At under-20 level there are still a generation of players coming through that are very talented.
“I don’t think that the last 10 years is a heavy burden on their minds coming into big games.
Trust
“Because once you trust in yourself and the way you play, rather than the opposition, once you are confident in yourself, related to your ability and if that ability is higher it is all about that then.”
DCU Accounting Masters student Costello continued:
“I think everyone in the squad is just really looking forward to it.
“Obviously we saw when the draw was made a long time ago that if we were to beat Longford, we were going to meet Dublin in Croke Park.
“It’s something we’ve been building towards.
“Hopefully, on Sunday we give a good account of ourselves. We know what we’re up against.
“Their season so far speaks for itself. They’re flying it. But it can only be a positive thing to go and have a crack in Croke Park.
“You are really proud to represent Meath and proud of the history that is there. We are all aware of nearly all of those big games.
“But also you need to forget about it. You need to create your own history. As a group, that’s what we want to do.
“We have a great crop of young talent coming through. It is shown at minor level. We want to show a bit more at senior level.”
Costello says Croke Park is an advantage for Dublin, but Meath are relishing the opportunity to go there and have a go.
Want
“Leinster Championship games (between Meath and Dublin) have historically been in Croke Park.
“Growing up watching games, that is where they were and that is where you want to be.
“Now obviously there is an advantage there for Dublin. They play there so often. They play their home National League games there.
“They are always there in the All-Ireland series.
“Now that’s because they are so good and in AllIreland quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals.
“But because of that they do have an advantage there but we are relishing the opportunity to go in there and have a go.”