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The Irish Sun

Bryan Menton savours Meath revival after ending 15-year Dublin hoodoo as Royals reach Leinster SFC final

Bryan Menton is glad he took a punt on a Royal County return. The veteran midfielder walked away from the Advertisement 2 Meath shocked an under-strength Dublin side on Sunday afternoon 2 Bryan Menton of Meath says he's delighted after returning to play with Meath But new boss Robbie Brennan pulled him back in for 2025 and he's started every single game this season. The 33-year-old Donaghmore-Ashbourne man finally got the win over Dublin he craved on Sunday when they Now at the tail end of a Meath career that started 15 years ago, everything is opening up again for Menton. He'll be the first name on Brennan's team-sheet when they play Louth in the Leinster final on Sunday week. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA And if Meath win that game then Menton will finally get to experience a Leinster success on the field of play. Asked why he retired in the first place, Menton revealed he was simply drained. The former captain said: "It was definitely burnout at the time. It was an intense kind of six years with Andy McEntee there and I kind of saw a clean break opportunity. "I was genuinely retired until I got the call back and at 33, turning 34, that call isn't going to come again. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football "It was very tempting because I liked the setup, I liked the youth that was coming through, so I was absolutely willing to give what I had." Menton missed out on the entire Colm O'Rourke era across 2023 and 2024. RTE pundit Peter Canavan angers fans after leaving notable county out of his 'big four' All-Ireland contenders Brennan wasn't prepared to leave a thoroughbred performer lying idle and put out an SOS for the ultra experienced middle man. Menton said: "It was actually Conor Gillespie, the coach, that called me first. Advertisement "I genuinely thought he was ringing me and asking me about young players in Ashbourne, about who were the up and coming young players in Ashbourne. "I thought they were happy for me to be retired on my armchair! "But he said he was interested in me coming back and deep down I was really happy with the set up for Meath so it didn't take too much convincing. "In fairness to Laoise, the other half at home, she said, 'You're going back, this is the last time you'll be asked'. She could tell by me that I was itching to go back and to give it another go." Advertisement Menton was part of the panel in 2010 when Meath previously beat Dublin, hitting the Sky Blues with a five-goal ambush. But he never actually played in a team that defeated the Dubs in the Championship until last weekend. Asked if that was a regret after initially 'retiring', Menton said: "It wasn't a regret when Dublin were that strong. I wouldn't say it was a regret, it was more disappointing at the time that we weren't able to beat them. "But Dublin were not only very strong in Leinster - they were maybe the best team in the history of the GAA. It was an unfortunate era to be playing them." Advertisement Manager Brennan made the point after Sunday's four-point win that it's not the same Dublin team now. He also said that his youthful side isn't burdened by the baggage of former teams who were thrashed by the Dubs. That's part of the reason why Menton was so confident going into last weekend's semi-final at O'Moore Park. ROYAL TALENT He said: "There is a lot of talent in Meath, an awful lot, and you can see it in the young lads coming through. They have really good attitudes too. Advertisement "They are willing and able to step up straight away, the likes of Eoghan Frayne being captain so young. Himself and Ciaran Caulfield, they are 21, 22 years of age and they are in the captaincy, vice-captaincy roles. "So there is massive talent coming through. I won't be able to play with a lot of them probably but I'll take it one game at a time." Meath and Louth will also meet in the Leinster U-20 final, tomorrow evening in Newbridge. It's the second year running that they'll meet in the provincial final at that grade with the Royals winning in 2024. Advertisement Cathal O Bric's U-20 team contains AFL recruit Eamonn Armstrong and powerful attacker Jamie Murphy who is expected to receive a senior call up after the campaign. It's a good time for Meath football who could yet celebrate Leinster U-20 and senior title successes for the first time since 2001. Menton said: "We have to keep it going now, absolutely. Louth have beaten us in the league, and last year too. They are a very strong side. They have players coming back and making them stronger. So it's going to be a massive test."