National Football League 2019

OldMrBrennan83

RedDevil55 wrote: »

I think it was more petulant than anything else. He didn't put any real force in the stamp. 2 matches is about right.

I presume you couldn't be talking about the Armagh one as it was a dirty as it gets. He should have got a year.

RedDevil55

A year ban? Ah come on. It was a stupid thing to do but he was never going to seriously hurt the Donegal player with the amount of force he put in it.

grbear

Two matches ends his league involvement. That's enough punishment for his actions.

The Talking Bread

RedDevil55 wrote: »

A year ban? Ah come on. It was a stupid thing to do but he was never going to seriously hurt the Donegal player with the amount of force he put in it.

The player being lucky because the impact of the force wasn't enough in this instance is irrelevant , it is the scumbaggery and cowardice behind it that merits more than a 2 game ban. The CCCC are being rightly criticised for the ban handed out here.

I would give it a 6 month ban personally.

He could have seriously hurt him if he caught the ankle at a different angle. There was definitely sufficient and needless force to significantly injure him, it is the way he could have caught him, even with the slightest force that should be gauged.
Look at other bans players have incurred in the past by the CCCC.
Hindsight is great.

You honestly think he was calculating what force and what angle to catch him at that would avoid injury when he did this?!




https://twitter.com/Nially1988/status/1101934876503273472

OldMrBrennan83

If people think that only deserves 2 matches then we're in trouble.

RedDevil55

The Talking Bread wrote: »

The player being lucky because the impact of the force wasn't enough in this instance is irrelevant , it is the scumbaggery and cowardice behind it that merits more than a 2 game ban. The CCCC are being rightly criticised for the ban handed out here.

I would give it a 6 month ban personally.

He could have seriously hurt him if he caught the ankle at a different angle. There was definitely sufficient and needless force to significantly injure him, it is the way he could have caught him, even with the slightest force that should be gauged.
Look at other bans players have incurred in the past by the CCCC.
Hindsight is great.

You honestly think he was calculating what force and what angle to catch him at that would avoid injury when he did this?!




https://twitter.com/Nially1988/status/1101934876503273472

You could potentially injure a player with a lot of tackles but that doesn't mean crazy long bans are needed.

There was a one match ban given out for eye gouging earlier in the league so I don't know what precedent you mean.

IMO it was a cheap shot and wholly unnecessary but a 2 match ban is appropriate.

Always_Running

tomorrow games to get switched to Sunday or Monday? https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/weather-warning-for-saturday-s-packed-gaa-fixture-list-1.3827576

seligehgit

Always_Running wrote: »

tomorrow games to get switched to Sunday or Monday? https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/weather-warning-for-saturday-s-packed-gaa-fixture-list-1.3827576

Hopefully it'll become obvious early in the day as to whither fixtures can go ahead.

Totally agree with the GPA's stand on the issue.

Fr Tod Umptious

seligehgit wrote: »

Hopefully it'll become obvious early in the day as to whither fixtures can go ahead.

Totally agree with the GPA's stand on the issue.

There is a yellow rain alert for everything west of the Shannon from about now until noon tomorrow

So whatever is waterlogged it will obvious by morning so if they are calling anything off it should be done early.

Hopefully the rain will have cleared somewhat for the afternoon and evening games.

Bonniedog

RedDevil55 wrote: »

You could potentially injure a player with a lot of tackles but that doesn't mean crazy long bans are needed.

.

It wasn't a tackle!

Could quite easily have broken his leg. What was his optimum outcome?

OldMrBrennan83

Bonniedog wrote: »

It wasn't a tackle!

Could quite easily have broken his leg. What was his optimum outcome?

It's mad how a bias can completely override anything that a player does. It was indefensible.

RedDevil55

I've no connection to either county so no bias here. Being banned for the rest of the league is an appropriate punishment IMO.

White lighting

I have seen way worse on field. Diarmuid O Connors elbow for example was a way more dangerous action and could have cause was more injury than a little stamp

Fr Tod Umptious

Clare v Meath and Louth v Westmeath are off, everything I else is still on

OldMrBrennan83

Pitch must be awful soft in this. Any sort of a hop of the ball is a 50-50 as to what it'll do.

OldMrBrennan83

Jaysus Kerry are talking on some awful stupid shots.

TheRiverman

Surely there could be some sort of decent shelter put up in Austin Stack Park for presentation and analysis.

Happyilylost

Should of been a black card and a free in against Clarke

OldMrBrennan83

Moloney and Dolan seem to be auditioning for a job on Midwest Radio.

TheRiverman

Happyilylost wrote: »

Should of been a black card and a free in against Clarke

Should have.

TheRiverman

Kerry rubbish in the second half.

An Ciarraioch

Dublin officially dethroned, as either Tyrone or Galway must finish on 9 points.

TCDStudent1

The fixtures have worked out brilliantly here. 4 teams vying for a final spot, 2 play 2 teams battling to stay up while the other 2 play each other

C__MC

Definitely feel
The gap is closing in Dublin. So vulnerable in the full back line

C__MC

Great to see Kerry beaten, some hype on them last few weeks

Fr Tod Umptious

Final permutations.

If all three of Kerry, Galway and Mayo win it's a Kerry v Galway final.

If all three lose it's a Kerry v Tyrone final.

If Kerry win and the other two lose it's Kerry v Tyrone.

If Kerry win and Mayo win and Galway lose it's Kerry and Mayo

If Kerry lose and Galway and Mayo win then it's scoring difference
Right now Kerry are +11, Galway 0 and Mayo +7

FrancieBrady

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

The fixtures have worked out brilliantly here. 4 teams vying for a final spot, 2 play 2 teams battling to stay up while the other 2 play each other

Great final weekend in prospect.

seligehgit

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Final permutations.

If all three of Kerry, Galway and Mayo win it's a Kerry v Galway final.

If all three lose it's a Kerry v Tyrone final.

If Kerry win and the other two lose it's Kerry v Tyrone.

If Kerry win and Mayo win and Galway lose it's Kerry and Mayo

If Kerry lose and Galway and Mayo win then it's scoring difference
Right now Kerry are +11, Galway 0 and Mayo +7

It's head to head in that case and Galway will make the final.

seligehgit

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Great final weekend in prospect.

By far the most exciting final weekend I can recall in many a long year.

Everything is up for grabs.

Happyilylost

seligehgit wrote:

It's head to head in that case and Galway will make the final.

All three will be on 10 so he has it right it will be on scoring difference.

Hammer Archer

Jaysus we can’t screw this up now, surely. It’d be the first time we were in division 1 since 2006.

Sonny678

I think the way it is ( and I am open to correction on Donegal game result) Meath have to lose by 10 points to Fermanagh and Donegal have to beat kildare by 6 points for Meath to not get promoted. Meath r in a good position. Fermanagh game in Navan , against a team that hasnt scored more then 13 points in the league. But u still expect Fermanagh to try a more attacking game and so we need not to be complacent. As long as we get promoted I will be be happy Thats the main thing.


And if we beat Fermanagh and kildare beat Donegal we wud have kildare v Meath league final and 3 leinster teams in division 1 next year. This wud be first time in 20 years you had 3 leinster teams in division 1.

An Ciarraioch

Sonny678 wrote: »

I think the way it is ( and I am open to correction on Donegal game result) Meath have to lose by 10 points to Fermanagh and Donegal have to beat kildare by 6 points for Meath to not get promoted. Meath r in a good position. Fermanagh game in Navan , against a team that hasnt scored more then 13 points in the league. But u still expect Fermanagh to try a more attacking game and so we need not to be complacent. As long as we get promoted I will be be happy Thats the main thing.


And if we beat Fermanagh and kildare beat Donegal we wud have kildare v Meath league final and 3 leinster teams in division 1 next year. This wud be first time in 20 years you had 3 leinster teams in division 1.

Conversely, it could be the first ever occasion that Cork would play in Division Three, and two Munster counties will be relegated to that division.

OldMrBrennan83

Some great work quietly done in Meath. Be great to see them back in 1.

Gael85

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

Conversely, it could be the first ever occasion that Cork would play in Division Three, and two Munster counties will be relegated to that division.

If Cork beat Armagh and Tipp beat Clare that makes Cork safe on head to head?

recyclebin

Has Louth v Westmeath been rescheduled yet? Will the div3 final be pushed back?

An Ciarraioch

Gael85 wrote: »

If Cork beat Armagh and Tipp beat Clare that makes Cork safe on head to head?

If Cork win, they'll be safe as long as Clare don't do likewise.

Sonny678

Why have Meath improved this year. There are few reasons why this happened. Its a gradual process over a few seasons but there are few areas that have come together for Meath this season. I think most are very surprised by Meaths progress this year but the signs were there. In the last two years Meaths very good performances v Tyrone Donegal twice Galway Roscommon and even v Dublin in last few months were evidence Meath were not as crap as people thought. The loses v kildare Cavan Longford Tippearey and Cork in 2017 and 2018 were all well deserved victories for the above. But people only saw those defeats but ignored the 1 point losess to Donegal in 2017 and Tyrone in 2018.

So there is a surprise out there with. Meaths progress. For me the main surprise is that so many people are welcoming a Meath return , Meath progess. I never saw that one coming. Of course there is some of our neighbours and old enemies who if we score another point in championship it will a point to much. But overall because of Dublins domiance people wud welcome a stronger Meath. I think people might even miss the old Meath v Dublin battles which in their heyday were the biggest game in football after an All Ireland final. Definatly I feel people wud like to see Meath get stronger. Thats a surprise to me.

But why have Meath improved. Here are some reasons.

1 It was always in his third year McEntee would improve the team. It took Boylan Dywer and McGee, the three most sucessful managers in leinster football history outside Heffernan and Galvin , it took them years to turn around their counties. McEntees work with Meath minors and Ballyboden showed he had the CV. It also took McEntee a while to get use to inter county football. A common occurence for many managers.

2 Very good performances v Tyrone Galway Donegal and Roscommon and even Dublins showed good signs. Even the two games v Dublin in recent months were a help. Meath beat Dublin in a challenge game before christmas were Brian Fenton and 4 or 5 first team Dublin players were playing. Yes Dublin had allot of players missing and were not back training. But still dont underestimate that it was good boost for a Meath team to beat Dublin. And even if they lost on penalties to Dublins reserve team in Bynre cup. Just playing any Dublin team in two games in a few weeks and not been beaten in full time in both matchs. These things do help.

2 Meaths performance v Tyrone was important. Most people ignored it. The only person I saw recognising the importance of this performance was Alan Brogan. He said it was one of the games of the season. And Meath cud take an awful lot from the performance. He was right.

If Meath had beaten Tyrone I think this cud have been a bad thing. Lets say Meath reached the super 8 last year. Meath were weaker then Roscommon last year. look at what happened to Roscommon in Super 8 last year. If Meath reached super 8 last year they would have had worst defeats then Roscommon and would have ended the season a bit demoralised.

Instead Meath had a moral victory v Tyrone. They lost contervesaly and left the fans a bit aggrieved but also proud of the performance. A good way to end the season for a team rebuilding. Instead of getting bad hammerings in the Super 8. Meath took allot from that performance. And when Tyrone reached the All Ireland final afterwards, it made Meaths performance v Tyrone even more credible.

3 Since the Cork league game last year in about 14 or 15 games since longford defeat, Meath have only played one real bad game since. That was v Longford. What has happened,? Two posotional changes have transformed the Meath team. The moving of James McEntee to wing back and moving of Donal keoghan to centre back have been massive for Meath. Why?

Half back line has been a problem area for Meath for years. Half back line is most important line in modern football. If u dont have a quality half back line u cannot be sucessful eg Lee Keegan Karl Lacey James Mcarthy etc. James McEntee moving from wing forward to wing back has been a huge sucess. He has given many man of the match performances at wing back and is producing performances I havent seen at wing back for a Meath footballer in ten years at least.

The other was Donal keoghan. Donal keoghan has played at corner back wing back centre back in all 6 defence positions for Meath for years. If there was a player on the opposite team who was dangerous, Keoghan marked him. If Meath were struggling in a position, he played in that position. That meant Keoghan basically played corner back for Meath for 5 years. He was outstanding at corner back but it is not his best position. That was as a half back. A top class wing back is more important then top class corner back. U need good corner backs but half backs can really influence the game more.

Since the Cork game last year, Keoghan has played every game at centre back. His longest period out the field. Centre back has been a problem area since Enda McManus retired in 2000 for Meath. It is no coincidence that since the Cork game Meath have played well and improved and keoghan has played every game at centre back.

For me Donal keoghan is one of the best defenders in the country and could be the best. He wud walk onto any team in the country including Dublin and would walk onto Meaths teams of 80s and 90s. He is Meaths best defender since Darren Fay. And for me his level of performance for Meath is up there with Darren Fay Martin O Connell Robbie O Malley and Mick Lyons. Most people have not seen Keoghan as Meath have not been on telly much only when he was corner back when Meath were defeated by Dublin in 2014 and Westmeath in 2015. For me , Keoghan is up there with kieth Higgins and James Mcarthys , he reminds me of Meath Karl lacey. Meath have a top class centre back for the first time since Liam Harnan. That has been massive for Meath.

4 The main area ofs Meaths improvement was our defence. This is best Meath defence in ten years at least. Meath have 4 top class defenders. They are Donal keoghan Conor McGill Seamus Lavin and Shane Gallagher. Seamus lavin has emerged as quality corner back, the best we have had since Niall McKeigue retired 10 years ago. Conor McGill is one of the best full backs in the country. And Gallagher has been best man marker in Meath club football for years and has adapted to inter game very well. While young Ronan Ryan has been one of our finds of the season. He is tenacious Summerhill defender carrying on Mick Lyons and Mark Reilly Summerhill defending tradition. Mcoy has also been good. Niall kane and James McEntee means Meath have two quality effective wing backs. Its a pity kane will be out for months after picking up an injury v kildare. But overall this is Meaths best defence in at least ten years. Meath have a division 1 defence.

5 Meath have a group of players who are now peaking. Many of them r off the 2012 minor All Ireland finalist team eg Cillian Sullivan James and Shane McEntee Adam.Flanagan Seamus Lavin Padraig Harnan were all.on that team. While players like Donal Keoghan Brian Menton Conor McGill are also peaking. Player start to peak at 25 and reach peak at 27 28. These group of players have now years of strenght and conditioning and now are peaking and better equipped for inter county football.

6 Meaths tackling has improved in defence but also in attack. In the past few years Meath players would lose the ball in the tackle, we had a small team in stature. Who wud lose the ball in contact. Now after a few years strenght and conditioning ,these players are now stronger in the tackle. While younger players coming thru are the first generation of Meath players who have had strenght and conditioning training at underage. These new young players are bigger and more Atletic then underage players we have produced in a while.

7 Another reason for Meaths progress has been these new young players. Meath have a young team the average age is 23 24. But for the first time since 2012 when Padraig Harnan Alan Forde Damien Carroll Conor Gillespie in 2012 made a straightaway impact. For first time in years Meath have under 21 players making an impact straightaway. Players like Daragh Campion Ethan Devine Ronan Ryan and James Conlon all under 21 players all have made an impact . The good news is I can see 3 or 4 new young players next year and the year after making impact as Meaths best underage talent since 90s start coming through.

8 Andy McEntee in his first year or two was probably trying to do everything. Coaching and managing. This year he has brought in Nally as coach and this has worked real well. Andy McEntee is doing more one on one man mangement with the players this year. McEntees is good at man management. He can be blunt but he is a good motivator. Players like Michael Dara Macauley and Colm Keaney Dublin players who have been managed by Pat Gilroy Anthony Daly and Jim Galvin said McEntee was best manager they played under. McEntee managing the players this year is working.

8 The introduction of Nally as a coach has been very important. Coachs importance has grown massively recently. Paul Grimley Peter Lally Donie Buckley Cian O Neill Jason Sherlock have all showed how important a quality coach is. Jim Galvin or Mickey Harte dont do the coaching . They manage the team. The role of modern coach has improved recently. Look at Clare and Limerick All Ireland hurling win. Paul McKinnerk was the coach on both teams. He is possibly most important figure in hurling in this decade. Nally is one best coachs in leinster. He gives seminars and writes coaching manuals. The Meath players are very very happy with him.

I wud recommended every Meath person to check out Colm Nally appearance on off the ball football show recently. U cud listen to this guy talk about football all day long. He really impressed me in this show. Nally joining the Meath management team is a turning point.

Meath have failed to adapt to modern tactics in football. How do you get the Meath players to play tactically aware football with their old school passion. For me this is the first time I have seen Meath play tactics in a modern way sucessfully with old school passion. The management team of McEntee and Nally has had a massive role. McEntees passion combined with Nallys tactical nuance has really worked.

I have been so impressed as Nally , he is a Dub. Which I would never agree with having a Dub on any Meath management team. But to give Dubs their credit they always produce good managers coachs eg Paul Cafffry Pat Gilroy Jim Galvin Mickey Whelan and Jason Sherlock. Nally has been so good that when McEntee leaves and hopefully that is a couple of seasons. Nally for me would be a genuine and only candidate as a future Meath manager at the moment eeing the serious lack of young Meath managers out there. (Hopefully someone like Kevin Reilly at Navan O Mahoneys who is doing really well there at the moment can be sucessful at Mahonys. We need new sucessful talented managers to come thru. Hopefully Kevin Reilly is one. )

So there r 8 reasons why Meath have improved this year. Meath are still not the finished article and still wil have ups and downs. But they are going in right direction. They have young team with strong defence and strong management and new talent thru. A promotion for Meath to div 1 for the first time in 13 years wud be a masive boost for Meath. And I think Meath wud adapt better to divsion 1 football then people think. Galway adapted well. Galway feel like they belong in divsion 1 and have no inferior complex. Meath would also have same mindset as Galway and and wud have no inferior complex. If Meath cud get 4 games in Navan as Meath have a great record in Navan that would be massive for Meath. Hopefully we dont mess up next week. Meath football is turning the corner. And this can only be good for football. Leinster needs a strong Meath and kildare. Hopefully we see a Meath v kildare league final. 3 leinster teams in division wud be great for leinster football.

OldMrBrennan83

Cork down to division 3, Jesus.

Great to see Meath back up though.

BonnieSituation

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Cork down to division 3, Jesus.

Great to see Meath back up though.

Careful now.

Hammer Archer

It looks like Down have really screwed up their promotion chances. I don't think there's any chance of them getting promoted now. Regardless of the result between Louth and Westmeath, they'll finish third as far as I can see.
Division 3 will be very interesting next season with Derry, Down, Cork and Tipperary all fighting it out.

Very surprised to be promoted. Didn't think we'd get anywhere close to it this season. Nice to see the crowd of kids on the field after the final whistle and a bit of optimism coming back. The change in coaching staff seems to have worked wonders as, despite us missing some of our better players, our performances and consistency have vastly improved this season.

Rasputin11

Was the Stephen O Brien goal yesterday legal? He seemed to punch it in while on the ground.

BonnieSituation

Rasputin11 wrote: »

Was the Stephen O Brien goal yesterday legal? He seemed to punch it in while on the ground.

Only legal if you're a Meathman.

RedDevil55

Rasputin11 wrote: »

Was the Stephen O Brien goal yesterday legal? He seemed to punch it in while on the ground.

Didn't see the goal but isn't the rule that you're allowed punch the ball on the ground if it's been knocked from your hands?

Maybe I'm completely wrong...

Nidgeweasel

RedDevil55 wrote: »

Didn't see the goal but isn't the rule that you're allowed punch the ball on the ground if it's been knocked from your hands?

Maybe I'm completely wrong...

Happyilylost

RedDevil55 wrote:

Didn't see the goal but isn't the rule that you're allowed punch the ball on the ground if it's been knocked from your hands?

If a player is on the ground he is allowed to punch or hit the ball on the ground. If anyone is still lucky enough to still be playing I would advise to NEVER do this as no ref seems to know the rule and a free against is always given. Didn't see the incident in question but it would be refreshing to see a referee apply it correctly.

RedDevil55

Happyilylost wrote: »

If a player is on the ground he is allowed to punch or hit the ball on the ground. If anyone is still lucky enough to still be playing I would advise to NEVER do this as no ref seems to know the rule and a free against is always given. Didn't see the incident in question but it would be refreshing to see a referee apply it correctly.

Yeah that's what I was thinking of. Strange how you don't see more of it.

Nidgeweasel

Happyilylost wrote: »

If a player is on the ground he is allowed to punch or hit the ball on the ground. If anyone is still lucky enough to still be playing I would advise to NEVER do this as no ref seems to know the rule and a free against is always given. Didn't see the incident in question but it would be refreshing to see a referee apply it correctly.

That's not quite right.

It's only if the player is in possession and has been tossed over / fallen. Then they can legally play the ball on the ground with the hand.

As you said though- Good luck to ever getting away with it.

ProudDUB

M7 road closures this weekend folks. A bridge is being blowed up somewhere near Naas apparently. Detours will be in place. Give yourselves extra time to make the trip, if you get up here that way.

DDC1990

Great he so far. 0-4 to 0-3 to Leitrim.

Very open, lots of footpassing.

Enjoyable game.