Dublin manager Jim Gavin has hit out at those who dismissed Meath ahead of yesterday's Leinster final.

His Dublin side may have won by a seven point margin (2-15 to 0-15) but for much of the game they took on the Dubs toe-to-toe.

"We were made to sweat," Gavin  told Newstalk Sport's Colm Parkinson after the game.

"I'm not surprised. I thought some of the comments of the pundits were quite dismissive of Meath during the week. But we looked at them closely. Once the Meath manager got his concepts across after having a bumpy start to the league, they played very well and were unlucky against Monaghan in the final. They went to Aughrim and got a win and as we all know, any team that goes to Aughrim and gets a win is a good team. We knew this would be a big, big battle."

Colm also asked him about the high-risk attacking football that Gavin's team is playing. The Dublin bainisteoir felt the style suits the players at Dublin's disposal.

"This is the system that the players are comfortable with. Some teams will get 12 or 13 men behind the ball and minimize that risk. I wasn't born into that culture and we are fortunate that there is a good coaching system at underage level in Dublin," he said. 

 

'Wooly' also caught up with Meath manager Mick O'Dowd after the game.

He was disappointed at his team's profligacy.

"I'm just disappointed that we didn't take the chances. There were times we could have shown a little bit more composure but I'm proud of the fellas because with 15 minutes to go it was level. Even in the last five minutes they kept trying to go and win it." 

©INPHO/Morgan Treacy