Meath v Down

meathman 007

The renewal of a great championship rivalry. Both teams are not a patch on the lineups of the early 90's, but it should still be a great battle. In regard to the meath lineup, its been a difficuly week to say the least!. In my view, i feel a bit sorry for sheridan - yes he has not been great for meath over the last year or 2 - however it has come as no surprise to me as i have seen him play an unreal amount of games over the last 5-6 years with Meath seniors, u21's and minors, Ireland u17's, Ucd and of course his own club side senchalstown. I dont think he has let down his team mates and hope he can come back fresh next season. I dont want to start a whole new thread about geraghty. So ill just say that i dont think he will play for meath again, but on the off chance that the matter is resolved i will put him in the prospective team for sat night:

1. Murphy
2. Mckeighe
3. Fay
4. Harrington
5. Kenny - not sure about his fitness....?
6. Moyles
7. King
8. Crawford
9. M.Ward
10. Curran
11. Reilly - not my choice but if will probobly happen
12. Byrne
13. Bray
14. Shane O'Rourke/ Jamie Queeney or Mr Geraghty*
15. Farrell

My point was proved the last day that c.ward is not fit enough to start a game, so i would use him as an impact sub.
If geraghty is not playing, i think there could be a surprise at full forward in the shape of either colm o rourkes son shane or na fianna man queeney. Both of them are very tall and are great catchers of the ball - i think they could provide a donaghy - esque role for meath......

All things considered it will be a very tough game in newry, but id like to think that meath will eventually win it by 4-5 points.....

One Cold Hand

Hmmm a week or two ago I'd have put Meath as slight favourites, but with the week they've had I'm not so sure. It'll be tight either way. Big game needed from Moyles and Fay to shore up the defence, and hope the forwards can do the necessary...

meathman 007

yea agree with you the cold hand. i hope the selecters do go with either o'rourke or queeney (called into the squad this week) at full forward - could bring a whole new dimention to our play..

For meath fans who do not know newry well - id recommend staying in the canal court hotel for the night and making a wknd of it - newry is a quality place for a night out.....

blackbelt

It does seem that Geraghty is definitely gone but I would not be in total shock if he did line out.I was thinking about this earlier and then reading Ross Carrs comments further indicated that this could very well be a rouse to upset the Down team right before throw in.It has also transpired that it was Coyle and the management and not the players who decided he would not play for Meath anymore.

A good tactic to stick it to your opposition but I think its unlikely given the nature of the incident in Navan between GG and Sheppard but at the same time,I do find it strange that the Meath County Board do not seem to have lifted a finger to investigate this situation.

Downs home advantage should be the foundation for them to come out of the blocks in the first 15-20 minutes.Meath should then settle down with Fay playing out of his skin and Farrell popping over a few points.I reckon Meath will bring on Cian Ward at half time to look after free kicks etc.

Sexton and Coulter will stand out for Down but I think Meath will win by 2/3 points.

meathman 007

yea i think geraghty is gone but you never know..... in regard to ward, using him as an impact sub is the best optionm, but i have a bad feeling that the selecters will start with him...... i just hope coulter has one of his famous off days, because if he is on form no full back in the country can stop him....

I hope we win this one and then get drawn against someone like mayo or armagh at home. Even if we lose, a strong performance against a top team will give us real confidence for next year....

blackbelt

If I was a Meathman,I'd be hoping to draw Kildare/Roscommon or Longford/Westmeath.

I am kind of expecting to see Geraghty line out now.No county board intervention and now the story is changing to the point where his exclusion is down to managment and not the players.I heard GG only had to apologise and he'd be let back in.I just find it strange all these different stories.

Meath may also use this as a means of achieving under-dog status which may play into their hands.No offense but if Meath can be sneaky on the pitch what is there to suggest they wouldn't be sneaky in terms of psychology?A good plan of attack would be to unveil GG and upset Down who did not expect him there.

Meath made the mistake of bringing Cian Ward on for the throw in against Dublin.They unveiled their secret weapon too early and subbed him for a less effective player who would need to be a good free-taker.Meath played their cards correctly in the first game.I find it hard to believe they didn't build on it for the replay.

TomMc

I remember when Tom O'Connor the comedian use to make fun of our Northern friends shouting "Up Down".

¡ ɯɐs ɹoɟ ɥʇɐǝɯ - ʎ1ʇuǝɔǝɹ ǝıssnɐ uɐ ɯoɹɟ ǝbɐssǝɯ sıɥʇ ʇob ı

mise_me_fein

Down are 6/4 to win.

Come on Down!!!!!

Anyone the price is right

meathman 007

Team announced:

Meath (SFC v Down) – Brendan Murphy, Eoin Harrington, Darren Fay, Niall McKeigue, Seamus Kenny, Anthony Moyles, Caoimhin King, Mark Ward, Nigel Crawford, John Donegan, Kevin Reilly, Peader Byrne, Stephen Bray, Shane O’Rourke, Brian Farrell.

Nearly the exact team i predicted - i dont think its a bad team, our full forward line is fairly dangerous - however that is one of the worst half forward lines i have ever seen a meath team field - it might be good enough to beat down, but it will stop us beating anyone decent this year.....

kc66

Is Geraghty on the panel? I think I heard on the news there at 1 o clock that he is on the bench.

gerire

Up Down!!!!

meathman 007

All things considered it will be a very tough game in newry, but id like to think that meath will eventually win it by 4-5 points.....[/QUOTE]

As predicted. It was a brutal game but we got through it relatively easily in the end. I stand by the comment i made last week - i hope we get a home draw against a top team in the next round - pointless coming up against another average team.....

Meath v Mayo now that would be quality - bitter paul mcstay still hasnt got over our battle in 96....

mise_me_fein

I'd say Mayo would give ya some beating in all fairness

meathman 007

not a chance of them beating us by a large margin if we were at home - id say they would edge alright but its no great mayo team either....

Malmedicine

mise_me_fein wrote:

I'd say Mayo would give ya some beating in all fairness

Em they tried to in '96 in the replay . And look what happened. Has the bruising subsided yet. I think not.

mise_me_fein

96....ya used to be good then

TomMc

Sour grapes still linger MMF !

Remember this ...

Saturday, 29 June 2002:
A late goal from Graham Geraghty ensured a two-point win for Meath over Louth in the All-Ireland Football Qualifiers in Navan. Geraghty scored the winner four minutes into injury time to give the Royal County a 3-8 to 2-9 win. The Louth team were devastated at the final whistle after dominating most of the game.

______________________________

Good result down in Limerick though.