Maxi Curran insists Meath are 'a greater challenge than Dublin'

With All-Ireland champions Meath lying in wait this Saturday at Croke Park in the TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-final, Donegal have little time to bask in the glory of their quarter-final win over Dublin in Carrick on Shannon.

Maxi Curran’s side are back in action this Saturday, a mere seven days after their stunning 3-7 to 1-7 win against Dublin. The quick turnaround does not bother the Donegal manager Curran - in fact he thinks it’s a good thing.

“There is a lot of talk about the win over Dublin and people clapping you on the back,” he said this week. “The seven days means the girls don’t have too much time to dwell on the win and get bogged down in it. It means they have to get back down to business straight away and it is a case of going from the frying pan into the fire and playing the old All-Ireland champions to the current ones.

“In many ways a far greater challenge in Meath is brimming with youth and exuberance and playing with confidence. But we know the challenge that faces us.”

Meath’s rise in the last couple of seasons has been meteoric from All-Ireland Intermediate champions in 2020 to senior champions in 2021.

Playing a very defensive game with large numbers behind the ball and then breaking into the space, they lit up the last year’s senior championship race with shock wins over Cork in the semi-final before a stunning All-Ireland final win over five-in-a row chasing Dublin.

“They are a young hungry team while Dublin are in the autumn of their evolution,” Curran said. “Meath are going to come with a bang.”

All-Star forward Emma Duggan kicked a late point against Galway in Meath’s 1-12 to 1-11 in Meath’s All-Ireland quarter-final last Saturday.

Saturday’s clash is a repeat of this season’s Division 1 League final back in April. Donegal gave the Royals a stern test before losing out on a 2-8 to 1-9 scoreline - that was after Donegal got off to a dreadful start and were 1-6 to 0-2 down after 23 minutes. But to their credit Donegal rallied and they hit a goal and two points without reply to trail by just a point, 1-6 to 1-5 at half-time.

“I don’t think we have anything to fear from them,” Curran added. “We know exactly what we are dealing with and sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.

“Their energy levels are phenomenal and their hunger and willingness to carry out the game plan was brilliant to watch as a neutral last year. When you are on the other side of the fence this year as we are it is a daunting enough task but we have put ourselves in a position to be in an All-Ireland final.”