Eoghan Frayne has a quiet belief that Meath can emulate Mayo in 2027.

Meath ace Eoghan Frayne believes Mayo's historic All-Ireland triumph could inspire a host of counties to dream big – including the Royals themselves.

The Green and Red's celebrations are still going strong, but the impact of their 2026 success could be felt for years to come.

After all, history suggests that one breakthrough can open the door for others. And Frayne sees no reason why Meath cannot follow Mayo's lead and shock the GAA world in 2027.

He knows his history. Meath ended a 20-year wait for Sam Maguire in 1987, with Cork following with their first title in 16 years in '89. Down broke a 23-year famine in 1991, before Ulster neighbours Donegal and Derry claimed the next two titles.

Armagh finally got their hands on the Sam Maguire in 2002, with Tyrone following suit 12 months later.

Now Mayo have brought an end to 75 years of heartbreak, leaving Frayne wondering: if the team Meath pushed so close in the third round of the All-Ireland series could go all the way, why can't the Royals?

“Obviously, it was disappointing the way our season ended, but thinking back on the year, it would leave you kind of optimistic given what Mayo went on and did and how close we were against them,” he said.

“There's definitely a few teams thinking they're not that far away. And we're one of those. You just need a few things to go right for you.

“If you asked one of the Mayo lads sitting here in November last year, would they have said it? Maybe not. But if you ask a lot of lads from a lot of different counties sitting here now, after what happened this year, they'd say the same to you.”

Frayne believes the new rules have fundamentally changed the landscape of Gaelic football, giving more teams a genuine chance of upsetting the established order. The evidence has been there throughout the season.

Westmeath beat Meath for only the second time, Kildare for only the third and Dublin for only the fourth. Down went to Letterkenny and stunned Donegal, only to suffer their own shock defeat to Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup final.

Dublin were beaten by Louth before turning the tables on Donegal, while Mayo produced the most remarkable turnaround of all, recovering from seven points down to beat Kerry in the All-Ireland final.

For Frayne, that increased unpredictability is no coincidence.

“The turnaround is mainly down to the new rules. That's the biggest thing. Teams are beating teams they wouldn't usually beat.

“It's definitely the way it's gone. With the new rules there's definitely a bigger reward, but there's definitely a bigger risk at the same time.

“If you're not at it every day, you can be beaten by anyone. It is kind of a more even playing field. Some teams have been brought down and some teams have been improved.”

Mayo provided the ultimate proof. Their championship campaign was anything but straightforward. They were hammered by Roscommon in Connacht, looked unconvincing against Monaghan, lost to Tyrone and needed a mixture of resilience and good fortune to get past Meath.

But they grew into the summer, improved against Cork, demolished Louth and then produced a comeback for the ages to finally get their hands on Sam Maguire.

Frayne was there on July 26 to witness the moment Mayo's 75-year wait came to an end. He admits there was more than a little envy as the celebrations unfolded.

“I stayed for a couple of minutes and then I was kind of like, 'Ah Jesus, I can't watch this anymore!'

“I didn't know how to feel. Obviously jealous, but then I was kind of like, 'Ah sure, what's the point in being jealous?'

“I was happy looking around at everyone else, trying to imagine yourself in that position and stuff like that.

“Meath have won an All-Ireland a few times, but it'd be hard to top the Mayo celebrations again. That's probably as good as it would get after all the heartbreak they've been through.”

And it wasn't simply the sight of Mayo lifting the trophy that caught his attention. It was what came afterwards.

The outpouring of emotion, the sense of a county finally letting go after generations of disappointment and the celebrations that followed made for quite a spectacle.

“Usually with other teams, everything is hidden and you probably don't want to be seen to be celebrating.

“But Jesus, there's some craic! It's hard not to look at it and think, 'Jesus, I'd love to do that!'

“Going to America and stuff like that and Electric Picnic, the experiences and craic they've had over the last few weeks would be memories to last you a lifetime.

“Obviously, you'd be looking on thinking, 'Jesus, you'd love that to be us someday as well'.”

There is a reminder of what is possible much closer to home, too.

Frayne sees Mattie Kerrigan around Summerhill and knows that Meath football has its own history of producing moments that can capture an entire county.

The Royals have been there before. They know what it means to win Sam Maguire and what it can do for a county.

But Frayne is under no illusions about the distance still to be travelled.

“We're not there yet,” he says.

But he believes they can have their own day in the sun.