Meath v Donegal: All you need to know about Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final
HOW THEY GOT THERE
DONEGAL (Won 8 Lost 1)
Ulster SFC preliminary rd: Donegal 1-25 Derry 1-15
Ulster SFC quarter-final: Donegal 0-23 Monaghan 0-21
Ulster SFC semi-final: Donegal 1-19 Down 0-16
Ulster SFC final: Donegal 2-23 Armagh 0-28 (aet)
All-Ireland SFC group stage: Tyrone 2-17 Donegal 0-20, Donegal 3-26 Cavan 1-13, Donegal 0-19 Mayo 1-15.
All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final: Donegal 2-22 Louth 0-12
All-Ireland SFC quarter-final: Donegal 1-26 Monaghan 1-20
MEATH (Won 6, Drew 1, Lost 1)
Leinster SFC first rd: Meath 1-30 Carlow 0-19
Leinster SFC quarter-final: Meath 1-25 Offaly 0-21
Leinster SFC semi-final: Meath 0-23 Dublin 1-16
Leinster SFC final: Louth 3-14 Meath 1-18
All-Ireland SFC group stage: Meath 1-13 Cork 0-12, Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21, Meath 1-22 Kerry 0-16
All-Ireland SFC quarter-final: Meath 2-16 Galway 2-15
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2019 All-Ireland SFC Super 8s: Donegal 2-19 Meath 1-13
2017 All-Ireland SFC Qualifier: Donegal 1-15 Meath 1-14
2002 All-Ireland SFC Qualifier: Donegal 1-13 Meath 0-14
1990 All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Meath 3-9 Donegal 1-7
DID YOU KNOW
*This will be the first All-Ireland Semi-Final clash between them since 1990 when Meath won by 3-7 to 1-9.
*Donegal have played more games (9) than any of the other three semi-finalists. Meath have played eight, Kerry seven and Tyrone six.
JOHN FOGARTY'S MATCH PREVIEW
It was the Donegal way in the first age of Jim McGuinness to go ahead and stay ahead. A two- or three-point lead was guarded with a Fort Knox sense of security.
Whether it's how football has changed or new rules, their formula for winning has changed. There was the latest second-half comeback against Monaghan and in the Ulster final they saw a six-point lead after 50 minutes disappear before the end of normal time and required extra-time to oust Armagh.
Donegal have moved with the times and McGuinness, perceived as a conservative, appears to have bargained that to speculate is to accumulate. There will be more scores conceded but even more converted.
Meath have earned their respect for their triumphs over Dublin, Kerry and Galway. Those are hides Donegal would only love to have. And Robbie Brennan is right, Donegal will have to earn it. Meath's goal threat is real but they are two-point specialists too, far more than Donegal.
If Meath had a chance to take stock of where they have come from, the reality could stifle them but there's an element of freewheeling to their attitude. Jordan Morris and Mathew Costello personify that attitude. If they fail, they are sure as hell going to try again.
Donegal will want more than an element of control in this game. Michael Murphy provides that but Seán Rafferty will be sticky. Donegal would fancy themselves in a shoot-out but to agree to those terms would be haughty. If this game turns chaotic, Meath will put out their chests.
The warm weather could negate the running game of Donegal and they may have to be more cuter, if not more efficient in how they structure their attacks. They have been porous at times but their body of work to this point has been convincing. Verdict: Donegal.
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