Diary of a Dub And so it begins, our Masterplan ….     Back again. How quickly time passes. Much has changed yet little has changed. Six steps from greatness, six huge steps, each of them to be considered in their own right, but six it is if we are to achieve that which has not been done before. Talk not of things yet to come, talk only of today and tomorrow. A final to be played and a trophy to be won. Our fiercest rivals await, Meath. Most would say, its just another game, but it’s not just another game. Its Meath and they bring a certain something to the occasion. Think Celtic vs Rangers, Liverpool v Everton, Ireland V England. Its on that level. Dublin have been playing Meath in Championship football for 125 years. 1894 was the first ever game and 62 have been played since with Dublin winning 35, Meath winning 19. People of this generation will struggle to remember to great Meath team of the ‘90’s, which delivered 2 All Irelands. Sean Boylan was to Meath football what Mickey Harte is to Tyrone. They may not be the team now that they once were but a county of pedigree in footballing parlons they are. There is no greater inspiration to a Meath footballer than the sight of a Dublin Jersey and this will be no different tomorrow. Dublin vs Meath evens the odds by more than a few points. The counties have changed in the last 20 years and so many Dubs now live their lives and build their families in Meath, the lines may have well become blurred to a degree, and you can guarantee this adds extra spice. County lines that may at times be blurred will be cleared marked tomorrow. Bragging right and the bants are up for grabs. Players on both teams will realize this and the fans have will have more than just skin in this game.   Meath have not beaten us since 2010. And that game was our last defeat in Leinster. Another win tomorrow and it will be 9 titles in a row in Leinster. Winning matters for lots of reasons tomorrow and its not just about ensuring we secure our place in the Super 8’s. Winning against Meath is always meaningful, just happens that it means that little bit more. Some of the reasons for this are obvious. Think 1991, think Tommy Dowd and his fistpump in front of Hill 16, Graham Geraghty, Mick Lyons, and the battle of the Nell in 2008. We forget nothing and forgive even less when it comes to Meath. Rivalries aren’t temporary, they are forever and tomorrow is a renewal of same. These games are more often closer than form would dictate, the intensity and rivalry evens us out. 1991 is probably the greatest of GAA saga’s that rolled on for one month before a winner was declared, 4 games, three of them replays, 2 of them with extra time, and 1 full month before a winner was declared. That Winner was Meath who came from 3 points down to win the 4th game in injury time. An absolute sickener and of the same sorts we would ensure on the road to 2011, 1995 asides and all that.   And what of tomorrow and what of their form. Meath are now a division 1 team having secured promotion in the league. Dublin were indifferent in the league this year. Dublin have seen off Kildare and Louth with relative ease, Meath have taken care of Laois and Offaly. So the best two teams in Lenister with more than a bit of history between have at it tomorrow. Meath I fancy come in under the radar, with a nothing to lose mentality. They’ve already been written off. Talk of 10-12 points of a gap. I for one, dont buy into that, and I would hope its an intense game with only a handful of points to separate the teams come final whistle. Dublin have not yet been tested and a test they need. I hope Meath are indeed having a renaissance, for both Dublin and the province need a stronger Meath and I’m sure this teams has its eyes on a place in the Super 8’s even if its through the backdoor. Dublin fans will be wondering where this Dublin team is at. It doesn’t matter at this stage, this is game 1 of 6, if things are to go our way.. Momentum is what it is all about, and a win tomorrow keeps the show on the road. Games will then be 5 one hopes after tomorrow. An intense game will provide an opportunity to learn, a stress test of sorts. Bigger tests may come, but in the pedigree and intensity of Meath, I, for one, am glad to be seeing this green and gold, for sure, we may be seeing another at some point in the next 2 months. I’m looking forward to seeing Croker tomorrow. There is something special about the place no matter what the game. Leinster final day is always a little bit special. Dublin fans are banter masters, that unique form of sarcastic one liner wit, and always in good form, win, lose or draw. The army of blue, the walk down Jones road and the pints in Gills, we are living our best Dub lives. So, as we begin these six steps, this is a summer of hope. A summer of belief. Many reasons  for same, for in every journey hope and belief are standard fare if you are to succeed. Tomorrow is an obstacle to be overcome, how its done will not matter, nor be remembered, once its done. In Jim and these players we trust, their own and hunger and belief have brought us thus far. In our fiercest rival, we see a challenge, of which we dare not shirk from. This is after all, merely part of our own Masterplan… And so it begins….

COYBIB.