Dublin's offensive prowess might outshine Meath's growth in each successive game
The All-Ireland Women's Senior Football Championship final is set to take place at Croke Park on Sunday at 4.15pm, as Dublin and Meath prepare to face off for the fourth time this season.
Dublin, under new joint management of Paul Casey and Derek Murray, are the favourites to win, having demonstrated a strong and clinical team performance in their previous encounters. They have won all three previous meetings between the two teams, including a decisive victory in the 2021 All-Ireland final, where they beat Meath 2-16 to 0-10.
However, their victory is not a foregone conclusion. Galway, who they faced in the semi-final, should have beaten them in normal time during their previous encounter. Meath, who have rediscovered some of the form that made them back-to-back champions in 2021 and 2022, may pose a significant threat.
Meath has a record of two wins from two All-Ireland finals, and their most complete display of the year was against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. If they can reproduce that performance, particularly in terms of going after the opposition kick-out, the final could be a 50-50 game.
Meath's key players, Vikki Wall and Emma Duggan, are expected to be marked by Leah Caffrey, Sinead Goldrick, and Martha Byrne. Mary Kate Lynch will likely take up Hannah Tyrrell and Kate Sullivan, who has scored 5-11 during the competition and poses a significant threat with her speed.
Dublin, who rolled through Leinster and defeated Cork in the quarter-final, have progressed to the final mostly serenely, with the exception of the last day against Galway. Their victory over Galway in the semi-final was significant, righting the wrong of the 2024 quarter-final against the same opponents and serving as a signature win for the management team of Paul Casey and Derek Murray.
Meath may be without Katie Newe due to an injury sustained in the semi-final. They lost to Kildare in the league and took a narrow win over Kildare in the Leinster championship final. Despite these losses, Meath has shown significant improvement since the start of the year.
The stage is set for an exciting and closely contested final between two of the top women's football teams in Ireland. Will Dublin continue their dominance, or will Meath pull off a shock win? Tune in to the All-Ireland Women's SFC final at Croke Park on Sunday to find out.
Football dominates European-leagues discussions this weekend, with the Premier League’s Dublin and Meath preparing to clash in the All-Ireland Women's Senior Football Championship final. Despite Dublin's favoritism, having triumphed over Meath in all three previous meetings, including the 2021 All-Ireland final, Meath's form this season could pose a significant challenge.
