Compelling clash of neighbours could be a cracker
WESTMEATH will be looking to win the All-Ireland IFC title for the first time since 2011 and bounce back up to the senior grade after relegation last year. Meath, meanwhile, are contesting a third final in a row, having lost to Tyrone in 2018 and Tipperary last year. So, there’s plenty at stake for these neighbouring rivals.
Meath have improved steadily since a narrow two-point victory over Down in their opening game. In their last two matches,
Eamonn Murray’s charges have amassed a 9-31 (5-18 against Leitrim and 4-13 in the All-Ireland semi-final win against Clare).
Their leading scorer has been Stacey Grimes, with an impressive haul of 4-15, including 2-6 against the Banner women. Twelve different players have scored for Meath in their three games so far, compared to 10 for Westmeath.
The women in maroon opened their campaign in devastating fashion against Longford, scoring 9-9, before following up with 3-11 in the victory over Louth and 2-9 in the narrow semi-final win against Roscommon.
With both teams possessing players of quality, this could be an open and entertaining affair, and it’s all set up for an intriguing encounter, in what will be the first all-Leinster TG4 All-Ireland intermediate decider since Louth defeated Wexford in 1999.
Both sides are unchanged ahead of the final, following their semi-final triumphs.
MEATH: M McGuirk; K Newe, S Wall, E Troy; N Gallogly, S Ennis, M Thynne; A Cleary, M O’Shaughnessy (capt); E Duggan, V Wall, O Lally; N O’Sullivan, B Lynch, S Grimes.
WESTMEATH: L McCormack; R Dillon, L Power, N Spellman; L Duncan, F Claffey (capt), A Roche; J Maher, T Dillon; A Jones, L Archibold, V Carr; L McCartan, K Hegarty, C Blundell.
REFEREE: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).
■ ALL-IRELAND IFC FINAL: n MEATH V WESTMEATH
Croke Park, 1.15pm – Live on TG4 and worldwide on the TG4 Player