Meath's resurgence has Kevin McStay hopeful of a competitive Leinster SFC this year.

The Royals are on the cusp of securing promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League for the first time since 2006 after Barry Dardis' injury-time penalty handed them a dramatic victory over neighbours Kildare, who McStay believes are also closing the gap on All-Ireland champions Dublin.

"You wouldn't for a minute say that Meath of five, six years ago were anywhere near the Meath of today," the former Roscommon manager said on RTE's Allianz League Sunday. 

"They've been in Division 2 for a long, long time. They've really pointed the car for home now with that win. It looks like they will go up. I'm not saying they're going to beat Dublin, or going to get within a point or two of them, but they are definitely going in the right direction, as are Kildare.

"Kildare are not out of the Division 2 race at all yet. They're definitely closing the gap. The confidence boost of getting back up to Division 1, if they can see it out and you fancy they would, is going to be good for them.

"Definitely, everything is going in the right direction and it's great to see it. No matter what happens now, the Leinster championship will have a little bit more sparkle to it.

"That's not to say they're going to take out Dublin any time soon but they are going in the right direction."

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