PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for April in football, Mathew Costello of Meath, with his award outside the PwC offices in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Ultimately, Sunday's compelling Leinster SFC Final culminated in defeat for Meath against neighbours Louth.
Despite the loss, Meath's Mathew Costello acknowledges that significant progress has been made by the Royals.
An All-Ireland SFC group with Cork, Roscommon, and Kerry brings further challenges that will be embraced.
Costello accepts that there is a feeling in Meath that Robbie Brennan's charges are developing nicely. "I think so," he responds.
"Sunday was important for us, to witness a crowd like that, to experience that sort of an occasion. If you're going to go anywhere, in this sport, you've to be able to deal with 60,000 or 70,000 plus at Croke Park.
"It should stand to us for the future, we know we've got better years ahead with a good group of players coming through. Hopefully, we can just harness that to get good performances."
Meath's panel features plenty of experienced campaigners, but the emerging players are benefitting from the exposure to high profile games. "For sure, it is vital going ahead, that we get these experiences," Costello responds.
"You learn a lot more from a loss than you do from a win, which is hard to say now, and hard to take. That will stand to us."
Mathew Costello, Meath, and Conor Grimes, Louth, in Leinster SFC Final action at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Responding quickly to setbacks is key according to Costello. "I think so, this group of lads, all we are is resilient, really," Costello remarks.
"When our backs are against the wall, that is when we get to our best. We've gone through tough periods together over the last number of years. So, I'd say the tough periods this year weren't as tough as years gone by.
"We're still on an upward trajectory, we cling to that, and we believe that. There is going to be tough days and tough times, but we will keep moving forward."
Brennan's influence has been significant in 2025. A strong connection exists between players and management. "There is," Costello says. "Robbie is obviously a brilliant manager.
"We all seem to have a good relationship with him, and he is a great motivator for us. He really got a lot of belief into us this year.
"That is Robbie, he is brilliant, we feel so lucky to have a character like that over us. With the experience he has, he puts full belief in ourselves."
Following the Leinster adventure, a busy schedule awaits on the national stage. "To be honest, I know it is difficult now because of the magnitude of Sunday, but we're well used to this," Costello replies when asked about refocusing.
"You just park a result, you go again. Even if we had won on Sunday, the mindset would be the exact same. It is now a new competition, every game is as important as each other. You've no choice, but to focus on Cork."