NOW IT'S TIME TO BE-MEATH

Championship's surprise package into last four as Royal County start to think the impossible may just happen

- BY PAUL KEANE

IN any other year, beating Dublin, Kerry, Cork and now Galway in the Championship would probably mean you've won the All-Ireland.

That's what Meath have done but the summer's dark horses still have two steps to go before they can call themselves champions for the first time since 1999.

Truth be told, few will still give them a chance of lifting Sam but it certainly doesn't seem so outlandish anymore.

Robbie Brennan's crew continue to stick it to the doubters and have a 'genius' performer in attacker Jordan Morris who hit Galway for 1-6, all from play. Croke Park was rocking to his scores on a landmark day for a county that won the Tailteann Cup just two years ago.

Mathew Costello's return to full fitness was vital for the charged up Leinster finalists too. The Dunshaughlin man struck four points and patched together so much of the team's positive play.

Bryan Menton, who along with the excellent Seamus Lavin was plucked from apparent retirement this year, provided some huge moments too.

And boss Brennan was gushing with praise for full-back Sean Rafferty and centre-forward Ruairi Kinsella, claiming they're both shoo-ins for All-Stars.

What's certain is that this is a high skilled, dynamic and confident Meath team, playing with the belief that they appeared to lack in previous years.

And they had to win this quarter-final twice after watching their six-point lead midway through the second-half turn into a three-point deficit.

Galway reeled off 2-3 without response to leave themselves sitting pretty at the hour mark - and apparently destined for the last four.