Dublin manager Mick Bohan said he couldn't be prouder of his side after their loss to Meath in the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship final.
1-11 to 0-12 was the final score at Croke Park on Sunday as Meath made history to win the Brendan Martin Cup for the very first time.
The upset at HQ also brings Dublin's run to an end as their efforts to win a fifth consecutive championship were cut short.
Speaking to OTB Sports after the game, Bohan said they had no complaints about losing to a better side on the day.
"We're hugely disappointed but I have to take my hat off to Meath, I thought they were outstanding.
"I don't know if I saw that coming, maybe we didn't, I couldn't get over their intensity, maybe it's the first time we've seen it up front.
"They certainly weren't overwhelmed by the occasion and that's a testament to them and the work that's been done with them.
"It was a ferocious battle but we've no qualms."
Bohan was emotional as he discussed the journey he has been on with this group of players.
He took over as Dublin manager in 2017 and has since guided them to winning four consecutive All-Ireland titles.
He says their strength to go on such a run, particularly after losing three finals in a row, is admirable.
"I've been terribly lucky to deal with our group and that obviously doesn't change, win or lose.
"We're obviously hugely proud to represent the city and certainly, over the last period of time, I think they've [Dublin] done a phenomenal job representing our city.
"Whatever we as a management team have given them, they've given us way more.
"Looking back to five years ago and on the back of three All-Ireland defeats.
"Today was the end of the road for probably half a dozen of that group and you would have obviously written the script differently from our end."
In terms of Sunday's performance, Bohan said it wasn't a case of them not turning up but more so them not being let do so.
He praised Meath's setup and how they stopped them from playing the game how they usually would.
"From our end, I thought defensively we were very good.
"We didn't execute upfront the way we normally do and you have to hand it to them [Meath], the structure they have in defense is quite difficult to break down.
"They were so well organised, we made errors that we normally don't.
"Those offloads, we just weren't getting them to the hands that we normally do."
Bohan was magnanimous in defeat, praising Meath and this crazy journey they find themselves at the centre of.
He wasn't getting concerned either with their attempt to complete a five-in-a-row being stopped, again highlighting the great journey they've been on.
He also said Meath are an inspiration to any county or group setting out to achieve something.
"We weren't going for five-in-a-row today. Each of these All-Irelands are independent of each other.
"These are unique occasions in our games.
"The last two years for everybody has been extremely difficult.
"We were immensely proud of our group coming through last year to win an All-Ireland in the Covid year.
"This year the enjoyment came back into it because we were all out able to do the things we wanted.
"But I have to hand this over and I think it's a fabulous message.
"They [Meath] have got a group of people together who went after it with such energy and passion and they deserve that victory today.
"It's a great message, that's the message that should go out to kids - if you commit yourself to a cause and you get organised and you're willing to do a little bit extra well the competition is there for anyone."
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