Dublin's strong offensive might outshine Meath's steady growth in every match.
The All-Ireland Women's Senior Football Championship (SFC) final is set for a thrilling climax as Dublin and Meath face off at Croke Park on Sunday at 4.15pm. The live broadcast will be on TG4.
Meath, who have had an up-and-down season, have transformed into an entirely different outfit under the guidance of Paul Casey and Derek Murray. Their epic semi-final victory against Galway righted the wrong of the 2024 quarter-final against the same opponents and was a signature win for the Meath management.
If Meath can reproduce their performance against Kerry, particularly in terms of going after the opposition kick-out, they have a chance of upsetting the favourites. However, Dublin, with their eight-year tenure under Mick Bohan, are still the favourites to win.
Dublin's strategy for the final might involve assigning Leah Caffrey to Emma Duggan, Sinead Goldrick to Vikki Wall, and Martha Byrne as an all-purpose problem-solver in the defense. Mary Kate Lynch may take up Hannah Tyrrell's position for Meath, and Kate Sullivan, despite a lower profile, has scored 5-11 en route to the final and her speed can be devastating.
Meath had an unimpressive start to the year, losing to Kildare in the league and taking a hiding in Parnell Park in March. However, they managed to squeeze through to the final by one point after coughing up a nine-point lead over Kildare in May.
Dublin, on the other hand, have progressed to the final mostly serenely, with the exception of the last day against Galway. They defeated Cork in the quarter-final after demolishing them.
Meath has a 2-0 record in All-Ireland finals, suggesting they could potentially win again. However, they have lost each of their last five meetings, by an average of 13 points a game.
Despite being favourites, Dublin isn't a cast-iron certainty to win the final. Meath's performance against Kerry a fortnight ago was their most complete display of the year, which gives this final a different complexion. Katie Newe might be unavailable for Meath due to an injury suffered in the semi-final, which could impact their strategy.
This final is the fourth meeting of the season between Dublin and Meath. They have met once in the league, twice in the Leinster championship, and now in the All-Ireland final. The verdict for the final is Dublin, but the epic battles between these two teams in the past, including the dramatic 2021 final where Meath triumphed over Dublin, have added extra intensity and narrative to their 2025 final showdown.
Meath's incredible transformation under Paul Casey and Derek Murray has caught the attention of European football leagues, with their recent semi-final victory against Galway being hailed as a significant achievement.
If they repeat their impressive performance against Kerry, Meath could challenge Dublin's dominance in the European football leagues by upsetting the favourites in the All-Ireland Women's Senior Football Championship final.
