Eoghan Frayne warns Meath ‘have to be even better' in Leinster SFC final vs Louth following ‘surreal' win over Dublin
EOGHAN FRAYNE knows that Meath's dream Leinster SFC semi-final win over Dublin could turn into a nightmare against Louth.
The
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Meath captain Eoghan Frayne at Oldbridge House, Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in Drogheda, Meath during a media event for the 2025 Leinster GAA Senior Football Championship Final
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
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Eoghan Frayne of Meath celebrates after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final win over Dublin
Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
It was the Dubs' first provincial loss since the last-four defeat to Meath in 2010, when Frayne was just SEVEN years old. Now aged 22, he starred with 0-11 in the shock of the year that blew the Leinster SFC open.
But after controversially losing the 2010 decider to the Royals, Louth will be gunning for revenge in Sunday's Croke Park showpiece, which is set to draw more than 50,000 fans.
Frayne said: 'Hopefully kids around Meath see us beating Dublin and say, 'I want to play for Meath some day'.
'They start to dream then, it gives you hope.
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'That's definitely important for the next generation of Meath players. It was a bit surreal.
'Before the game we had belief that we could win and when it actually happens it's probably a different feeling.
'It's pure joy, it was unreal — probably celebrated a bit too much at the end.
'It's hard to put into words. I'm only in the panel three years but for a few older lads, they've been getting hammered nearly every year.
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'I haven't felt that but I'd say that's tough going. I was more happy for them than for me.'
The Wee County ended a 49-year wait to beat Meath in Championship football in last year's All-Ireland series and sent them packing again to survive in Division 2 of the NFL in March.
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And Frayne knows Ger Brennan's men can spoil the party as they chase a first Leinster SFC title since 1957.
The Summerhill man said: 'Louth have some serious footballers and it's going to take an even better performance than we gave against Dublin to beat them.
'They obviously had our number the last two times in Inniskeen and I don't think they have a weakness all over the field.
'They're strong all around and they have obviously a few key lads, like Sam Mulroy and a few others that will take minding.
'They've had our number and they have just been up for it.
'They've deserved to win the last two times.
'We can't have any complaints about the last two times they have beaten us.
'Hopefully now we can right the wrongs of the last two times.'
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