MATHEW COSTELLO hopes Tailteann Cup success can be a 'stepping stone to something bigger' for ambitious Meath.
The Royals are through to the July 15 final with a young group containing 12 Championship debutants.
They beat Down when the sides met at the group stage in early June but Conor Laverty's (inset) Mourne blasted 16 wides that day.
And Down's eight-goal semi-final mauling of Laois shows they've fixed their radar, leaving them as favourites for the final.
Meath won't lack motivation though, as a free pass to next year's Sam Maguire Cup competition is on offer for the winners.
Full-forward Costello said: "Everyone saw the scenes that winning the Tailteann Cup brought to Westmeath last year.
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