ROBBIE BRENNAN was born in Dublin — but Royal blood pumps through his veins.
He was lifted over the Croke Park turnstiles as a youngster for the 1984 Centenary Cup when Meath beat Monaghan and he became a fan for life.
Brennan played for Kilmacud Crokes and would later return to the southside giants to lead them to All-Ireland glory as boss in 2023. But it was Dunboyne over Dublin all the way.
He transferred to the Meath club in 2002, winning a Meath SFC title with them in 2005.
His Crokes stint yielded three county and Leinster titles in a row while the Royals slept in Dublin’s shadow at county level.
This year, Meath ended the Sky Blues’ 15-year grip on the province but lost the final to Louth.
But they have since scalped Cork, Kerry and Galway and a first All-Ireland semi-final since 2009 awaits tomorrow against Donegal.
Brennan’s first summer in charge has been the stuff of dreams.
He said: “Going back to my dad’s roots, it’s always been very close to the heart. I’ve been living in Meath a long time and I’ve been lucky to win a championship in Meath.
“I clearly remember being lifted over the stiles back in the day and that was the start of it.
“You’re brought, and at that age you don’t know who you’re supporting — but he’s Meath and it was drilled into me.
“The first one I can remember was the Centenary Cup in 1984. I remember being on dad’s shoulders on the pitch after that game. That was the real, real start of it.
“But there were a lot of dark days when you’re living in Dublin in Kilmacud — and Meath aren’t winning and Dublin are starting to win.”
As for why he took the job, he added: “I certainly knew the talent was there and that was the most exciting part of it. It was a case of, could you get in and awaken the sleeping giant? So far we have.”
And Brennan has always used pain to drive himself and his players.
Losing the 2022 All-Ireland club final to Kilcoo was one of his toughest days, when Jerome Johnston’s 81st-minute goal sank Kilmacud.
Brennan selected a photo of the Magpies lifting the cup as the wallpaper screen on his phone as a reminder.
Pictures from their Leinster final loss were used as motivators this time, including one of a dejected Donal Keogan.
He said: “We’ve had a couple of Louth pictures on it during the year.
Sometimes something might just hit you — the Kilcoo one was heartbreaking at the time and was something we used.
“This year I’ve had one of Keoghie. There’s a brilliant one of Keoghie on his knees in front of the Hill after the final whistle in the Leinster final.
“Just little things that just keep you motivated, keep you pushing.”
