Meath GAA discussion thread

Hammer Archer

Unsurprising but it's bizarre that we were knocked out of the championship two and a half months ago yet the county board couldn't bother making a decision and it was left to Colm.

Fair play to Colm for giving it a shot, but there was zero progress made. This season was the chance to build on the Tailteann win from last season but it just didn't happen for whatever reason. Finding it very hard to care who gets the job next. I don't think anyone can turn us around at this point. We don't seem to have a coherent plan to keep younger players involved and develop them properly after minor level meaning we lose them. It seems like we've the same old heads at the top of the county board year after year. I'd be amazed if we see any sort of progress in the next 10-20 years the way things are going.

Hammer Archer

Anyone been to any championship games? Seems to be an extremely open senior championship this year. Summerhill need to beat Donaghmore/Ashbourne or else they go into a relegation playoff. Dunshaughlin have already topped that group with a game to spare. Dunboyne are looking good having gotten over the ever stubborn Wolfe Tones at the weekend. St. Colmcille's and Simonstown both through with a game to spare in group C. Ratoath also in a bit of bother, needing a result against Rathkenny in the last game to get through.

I'd say we should have a good 5 or 6 teams thinking they have a shot this season.

Intermediate had a number of surprises with St. Pat's already out of contention after Cillian O'Sullivan got a last minute winner for Moynalvey. Kilbride taking the step up to Intermediate in their stride, hammering Walterstown.

What has happened to Dunboyne hurling? I remember them always being thereabouts in the 2000s, coming up short in the final several times. Now they're shipping massive defeats and looking very likely to be relegated.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122544485#Comment_122544485

Yeah, not surprising that O'Rourke got the boot after this year; I can't say I'm sorry for him though, I always thought he was a sneery aul f*cker as a pundit. That said, he deserves credit for taking the job and at least giving it a go. It's more than can be said for some other pundits.

I know he's out of the picture now, but would Harte have been a good fit for Meath?

dobman88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122544485#Comment_122544485

seems like we've the same old heads at the top of the county board year after year

I've said the same a few times before. I was only playing in the lower divisions of the Premier championships but got completely sick of being messed around year after year by the CB. They come across as completely shambolic.

A shake up like they had in Offaly and reset everything is required for Meath but it won't happen with those currently in charge.

LeoB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122544485#Comment_122544485

I have great respect and time for Colm and Meath football. I for one of many Dubs think he was making progress albeit slowly. It appears some people were muddying the waters on him for the last year

You have to look at where Meath were at. They have some very good players but Physically seem way behind and when Colm spoke about a 5 year project he was right. They were doing well but it seemed to me the legs just went. They done a serious amount of training and really a lot of them have had no break for over 2 years. The base where Colm was coming from was very low and to develop the players physically and mentally were his biggest challenges. They certainly have ability. I dont think all the players fully bought into it and some thought with Colm and Sean involved success would follow.(That was a serious problem in Dublin from 1993 for a decade). From talking to a few Meath lads a serious overhaul of coaching and especially the juvenile coaching structures also needs to take place.

I dont know where Meath go from here. The county board have serious questions to answer as to why as you say it took so long and put pressure on him 2 days before a Co Board meeting. Whoever comes in will have similar problems.

I hope 2025 will see a resurgence in Meath football. The GAA need it and so do Dublin.

Hammer Archer

SFC Quarter Finals

Dunshaughlin v Ratoath

Simonstown v Wolfe Tones

Dunboyne v Summerhill

Skryne v St. Colmcilles

Very interesting pairings. 3 derbies, repeat of last year's quarter final where Dunshaughlin contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and a chance for Cilles to break their quarter final duck or for Skryne to make their first semi final since 2016.

IFC Quarter Finals

Bective v Navan O'Mahonys

Ballivor v Oldcastle

Kilbride v Meath Hill

Castletown v Moynalvey

Hard to tell who are favourites in Intermediate. Oldcastle had a big win against Moynalvey but Moynalvey were guaranteed to be through anyway. Kilbride will fancy their chances against Meath Hill despite losing to NOM (would there be a bigger population difference in any game this year?). You'd expect NOM and Oldcastle to have enough for Bective and Ballivor respectively.

Hammer Archer

Kildalkey v Trim

Ratoath v Kilmessan

Looking likely that it'll be another Kildalkey/Trim SHC win. We've had so many near misses in senior hurling finals, if I had to choose, I'd pick a hurling championship win over a football one.

Dickie10

i think Ratoath will win the hurling this year. i fancy Trim to pip kildalkey in semi final. Kildalkey have an atrocius record v trim in semi finals over the last few years 2018,2020 and 2022 Trim beat them all in semi finals.

blowitupref

Upgrade in senior management.

Robbie Brennan is set to be named as the new Meath senior football manager on a three-year term.

The Kilmacud Crokes boss will be recommended to the executive by the committee charged with finding a successor to Colm O’Rourke.

Brennan’s management team will include former Tyrone All-Ireland winning player and coach Joe McMahon, plus ex-Monaghan and Cavan coach Martin Corey.

Hammer Archer

First time since 2016 that neither Ratoath nor Summerhill will be in the semi finals. Also the first time since then that Skryne have made it this far. Skryne will play Tones while Dunboyne play Dunshaughlin in the semi finals. Dunshaughlin now favourites with the bookies. Some fall and rise for them given that they were only relegated in 2021. Luke Mitchell and Matthew Costello got 3-8 between them on Saturday.

Ballinabrackey somehow contrived to lose their relegation quarter final against Kells. They were 10 points up at half time but Kells took them to extra before winning by 3. Bracks will play Rathkenny while Seneschalstown play Curraha in the relegation semi finals.

O'Mahony's look like they'll be massive favourites for intermediate with both Oldcastle and Moynalvey getting knocked out in the quarter finals. It's them against Castletown and Meath Hill vs. Ballivor in the other. Drumbaragh against BHG and Nobber vs. Walterstown in the relegation semi finals.

Clann na nGael vs. St. Vincent's and Slane vs. Dunsany in the Junior semi finals. You'd think the winners of the Athboy - Vincent's semi final would be favourites for the final.

Carnaross against Kilmainhamwood and Moynalty vs. St. Mary's in the Junior B semi finals.

Hammer Archer

61 years and we're finally Senior Hurling Champions again! Thought we were throwing it away (again) when Trim got the goal and then again when we let them back into it after the second goal. Sounded like we deserved it in the end. Sweet victory after three successive final defeats.

Didn't make it to the match itself but was listening to it on LMFM. Jesus, it was as if someone had died when the final whistle went. "Trim have lost" was the first thing they said followed by over 5 minutes of complaining about the referee. Was over 5 minutes after the final whistle before they really gave any credit to Ratoath for beating the favourites.

Saw the replay of the last minute controversy, and it looked like Toher was fouled and then threw himself into the box to try and guarantee the penalty. Referee consulted the umpires and changed the decision, as is his right. Definitely wasn't a stonewall penalty.

rpurfield

Congrats Hammer, deffo think its a silver lining to the footballers going out earlier than usual this year. I think even at club level lads doubling up with hurling and football is too much of a stretch. Enjoy the celebrations, they're long overdue!!

Hammer Archer

Meath Hill win the Intermediate championship for the first time in their history, beating Navan O'Mahonys after extra time. Some amount of work been put in up there to solidify their place in Intermediate after going up in 2017 and then to gradually build year after year towards the title.

Senior final tomorrow will likely be played in dreadful conditions which will surely suit Tones down to the ground. Would be some conclusion to a bonkers few years for Dunshaughlin if they won, having only been relegated 3 years ago.

Dunsany yet again go to the well for their first ever adult championship title tomorrow. This will be their 8th time in the junior final since the turn of the century having lost all 7 previous finals.

Our minor footballers won their fourth minor title against NOM yesterday.

Hammer Archer

Dunsany finally get over the line in the Junior championship. Hard luck to Vincent's but it's hard not to be delighted for Dunsany having experienced so much heartache in finals over the last 20+ years.

Dunshaughlin are senior football champions, winning by 2-7 to 1-8. Costello got the winning scrambled goal with only a couple of minutes left after a shot was massively held up by the wind. Costello's loose free in defence resulted in Cian Ward's goal less than 10 minutes earlier so it was redemption for him. Overall a very deserved win for Dunshaughlin having had a tough, unbeaten run to the championship, beating each senior champion since 2018 on the way.

Patches oHoulihan

Heard Trim flew Alan Douglas back from middle east where he was living .

I hope there's no truth in that

Justin10

Anyone able to tell me what the story is with Dunshaughlin wearing black and red, instead of black and amber?

Hammer Archer

A bad but not unexpected result for Dunshaughlin yesterday, getting hammered by Lomans of Westmeath. I'd assume that they haven't really put any importance into Leinster this year.

Meath Hill also out of the Intermediate championship, being beaten by Caragh of Kildare on Saturday. All other Meath clubs will have Wicklow opposition, with Dunsany at home to Aughrim next Saturday in the Junior football, NOM away to Avondale in the junior hurling on the same day while ourselves are away to Bray Emmetts the following weekend.

Hammer Archer

Dunsany through to the next round in their first foray in Leinster. They beat Aughrim of Wicklow 2-10 to 1-7. They'll be against Kilcavan of Laois in Navan in the semi final.

NOM were beaten after extra time by Avondale of Wicklow in the Leinster JHC while Dee Rangers were beaten in the Leinster ladies IFC final by Bennekerry Tinryland of Laois.

Only Ratoath left next week to start off in Leinster against Bray Emmets in the Leinster IHC.

rpurfield

Eamonn Armstrong is off to Oz. Big blow for Meath football in general, while I don't blame him for for giving it a crack it is a loss. He's in his Leaving Cert year so maybe the 20s will get another season from him.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/1122/1482358-meath-u20s-footballer-armstrong-signs-for-st-kilda/

rrs

He looked a serious talent. Talented soccer player too.

Hammer Archer

Huge loss. Really stood out with the U20s despite being very young still. Likewise, don't blame the chap. Not sure what the salary for Irish rookies is now in the AFL, but I think previously they were guaranteed over $100,000 per year (over €60,000) which is a massive amount straight out of school. So it's either slog away for nothing in the cold, dark, wet nights in Ireland for no reward, or head down under for massive money.

rpurfield

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122869563#Comment_122869563

Exactly, and like a lot of professionals he would have the time to do some part time study as well, it really is a no brainer.

Good result for Dunsany yesterday, I watched the second half on Clubber and they done really well to come back. Harkin was excellent and I forget the name now but their 7 got through some serious amount of ball and drove them on.

Bru na Boinne won the regional too. Another one watched on Clubber, wasn't a bad game. They had Jim Gavin on for an interview during the second half about the new rules etc. It was certainly a different approach to commentary. It will be interesting to see where the Regional goes next year, there is some talk about people wanting the regions in the Feis Cup, but with the county players not available early in the year I'm not sure that would work in terms of clubs also having games. For me the tweak that needs to happen is reduce the regions by a maybe 2 and make it more competitive. Ardbraccan were bolstered this year by development player panels. I done the line for the last group game between Boyne Valley and An Tuisceart and Boyne Valley only had 16 players. Over on the other pitch one of the teams had to rope in Mickey and Harry Newman to make up numbers. I think 8 regions spreads it too thin, and coming back to 4 or 6 would mean better panels or even more players available for them.

Hammer Archer

Is clubber worth the money? They seem to have had a huge number of games this year. Living outside the county and with kids means I can get to feck all games in Meath so would be good to have if it was worth it.

I think there needs to be some change with the regions to try and integrate them somewhat with the senior teams. The regional championship does seem to be quite competitive, but are there many spectators at them?

rpurfield

I've alternative access to it Hammer but it would be worth the cost, there's a massive amount of games from all counties on it and they can play back too so you could get to them during the week. For anyone not able to get to games I think its great.

Hammer Archer

League fixtures for next year are out. 3 Home and 4 Away. Difficult to see us making much of an impression in the top half.

25 Jan - Cork (A)

02 Feb - Cavan (H)

15 Feb - Down (A)

23 Feb - Roscommon (H)

02 Mar - Westmeath (A)

16 Mar - Monaghan (H)

23 Mar - Louth (A)

Division 2 Hurling Fixtures below. Format for lower divisions has changed from 2A/B, 3A/B to divisions 2, 3 and 4. 7 teams in each divisions meaning 6 games in total with 2 up and 2 down. Should be good enough for mid table but wouldn't expect us to be good enough to make the top two.

26 Jan - Donegal (H)

09 Feb - Tyrone (A)

23 Feb - Down (H)

01 Mar - Kerry (A)

08 Mar - Derry (A)

22 Mar - Kildare (H)

windy shepard henderson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122882859#Comment_122882859

from an outsider looking in its great , but it didnt show a huge amount of meath championship games until the business end , in my opinion its cheep and brilliant because of what ruperfield said it covers so many counties and underage games , but it would be better from a meath point of view if it showed more games locally

Hammer Archer

Paul Gavin confirmed as Ratoath manager for 2025.

rpurfield

Will he last longer than one season Hammer?!!

Hammer Archer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123036859#Comment_123036859

Ah who knows. Unless we win the championship, perhaps not.

Hammer Archer

Championship draws done very early this year:

SFC

Group A: Summerhill, Gaeil Colmcille, St. Peter's Dunboyne, Skryne

Group B: Ballinabrackey, Ratoath, St. Colmcille's, Seneschalstown

Group C: Meath Hill, Trim, Rathkenny, Dunshaughlin

Group D: Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Wolfe Tones, Na Fianna, Simonstown Gaels

SHC

Group A: Ratoath, Kiltale, Longwood, Kildalkey, Clann na nGael, Blackhall Gaels

Group B: Navan O'Mahonys, Na Fianna, Trim, Dunderry, Killyon, Kilmessan

IFC

Group A: St. Patrick's, Walterstown, Ballivor, Moynalvey

Group B: Drumbaragh, Oldcastle, Curraha, Longwood

Group C: Navan O'Mahonys, Duleek/Bellewstown, Castletown, St. Michaels

Group D: Blackhall Gaels, Bective, Dunsany, Kilbride

IHC

Group A: Rathmolyon, Kilmessan, Trim, St. Peter's Dunboyne, Gaeil Colmcille, Wolfe Tones

Group B: Kildalkey, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Kilskyre/Moylagh, St. Patrick's, Drumree, Boardsmill

JFC

Group A: St. Vincent's, Syddan, Slane, Nobber

Group B: St. Ultans, Kilmainham, Ballinlough, Dunderry

Group C: St. Brigids, Clann na nGael, Carnaross, Moylagh

JHC

Group A: Navan O'Mahonys, Ratoath, Clann na nGael, Killyon

Group B: Kildalkey, Kiltale, Drumree, St. Peter's Dunboyne

JBFC

Group A: St. Mary's, Boardsmill, Moynalty, Drumconrath

Group B: Clonard, Kilmainhamwood, Eastern Gaels, Cortown