Meath GAA discussion thread

Meath club dumped out early yet again.

vapor trails wrote: »

Meaths deplorable recent run in the Leinster Club SFC continues. Really had high hopes for Ratoath but the damage was done in the first half following the text of the game. Does anyone have any theories as to why we can't get passed the 1st round?

Too many clubs? For example, in the Kells area ya have Drumbaragh, Kilmainham, Gaeil Colmcille, abd then plenty of others nearby like the Michaels and the Ultans.

It’s diluting the pool of talent for teams.

There are 61 active clubs in Meath and only 22 in Longford where Mullinaghta won Leinster from last year.

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Well we have 5 times the population of Longford so it'd make sense to have more clubs. (We've 52 football clubs in any case).

Plus the winners of the last 5 Meath championships have been from towns with populations dwarfing Mullinalaghta, so I'm not sure if we can use that as an excuse.

Look tipperary in hurling is the same, huge team intercounty wise have had very little succes at club level think 3 all irelands in total

Meath would be the football equivalent in my opinion

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Tipp's haul is plentiful compared to Meath. In 50 years we've 0 All Irelands, 4 Leinsters, and only 2 more Leinster final appearances!

I get shot down regularly in clare for suggesting that it is easier to win in hurling then football, for all tipperarys all irelands at inter County they have only a few club all irelands

In football even the hurling counties take the club football championship seriously, this weekend alone nemo rangers were pushed all the way by the limerick champions, yesterday mullinavat beat the Dublin intermediate champions

My overall point is in some counties it is just taking more seriously then others, and literally anything can happen in club games especially this time of year

Hammer Archer wrote: »

As for Meath teams' performances in Leinster, I think there's a few reasons. Firstly, while I feel the quality of our senior football championship might not be great, its competitiveness compared to a lot of other counties is near the top.

Its competitive because theres no stand out teams , just 5 or 6 above average teams , and its down to whoever on the day is better.

Obrieski wrote: »

Any word on additions or changes to the panel for next year?
I would assume the lads are back training, or in some form of pre season / gym work?

The We Are Meath Patreon podcast has it this week. I forget them all but two I remember are the chap from Galway that plays with O'Mahonys is in. So is a chap from Longwood Hugo Henry (I think Henry was his second name) he's a goalkeeper has played soccer with Dundalk too.

Other names coming to mind are Jack O'Connor and Toner from Curraha, Morris from Nobber, Caolach Halligan, Donal Lenihan and Brian Conlan are also back in. There's a few more but names escape me.

Adam Flanagan, Marcus Brennan and Shane Glynn have left the panel. I think there was one more name as well but I can't remember (again)

It wasn't mentioned Hammer but they did say that there were rumours of others and they'd not name names till it was confirmed. Judging from Instagram Mickey Burke is still in, which I'm a bit suprised at

I think it is so far it's five dollars a month (the platform they use is American) and you get two or three a week. For example over the knock out rounds of the championship they had one podcast of about 45 minutes to an hour for each grade. They have player interviews etc on it too and to be fair to the lads they know their club scene. It will be interesting to see how they manage it now the games are winding down, they have said already they'll have Seamus Kenny on soon and it sounds like they will be looking to line up some former players too.

rpurfield wrote: »

The We Are Meath Patreon podcast has it this week. I forget them all but two I remember are the chap from Galway that plays with O'Mahonys is in. So is a chap from Longwood Hugo Henry (I think Henry was his second name) he's a goalkeeper has played soccer with Dundalk too.

Other names coming to mind are Jack O'Connor and Toner from Curraha, Morris from Nobber, Caolach Halligan, Donal Lenihan and Brian Conlan are also back in. There's a few more but names escape me.

Adam Flanagan, Marcus Brennan and Shane Glynn have left the panel. I think there was one more name as well but I can't remember (again)

Players called up to the Meath panel. These players have been definatly called up
Donal Lenihan, Jack O Connor, David Toner , Oisin O Brien , Brian Conlon , Paddy Kennelly , Jordan Morris , Thomas Murtagh , Matthew Costello, Caolach Halligan and Harry Hogan.

Players dropped from Meath panel
eg Marcus Brennan , Adam Flanagan , Shane Glynn, Sean Curran, Daragh McGovern, Thomas McGovern and Owen McDonnell.

Just regards Marcus Brennan he is no longer part of the playing panel , but he is now part of the goalkeeper coaching team.
I think player people might not know is Harry Hogan. He is longwood Under 21 goalie and Dundalk under 19 soccer goalie. Clearly Gary Rodgers would have drawn him to the attention of the management. He is very highly thought of in Dundalk. And this how Donegal found Patton , who is one best gaa goalies in the country now. Patton was a soccer goalie with Derry City, he was brought onto Donegal panel and he became an excellent gaelic football goalie. Hogan is probaly replacing Marcus Brennan as a choice for goalie. Oisin O Brien playing for O Mahoney played for Galway in FBD last year.

Mickey Burke and Graham Reilly, have not been dropped , they were told go back to their clubs, and depending on form they could be called up again.

According to the Meath chronicle, players they expecting to feature also are Eamon Wallace, Joey Wallace, Cian O Brien, Daithi McGowan, Gavin McGowan, Sean Reilly, Jason Scully, Robyn Clarke, Niall Hickey and Daragh Griffin. While Ronan Jones will be back next May from the US, so he could be an option for the championship.
I wonder will Ruari O Coilean, Alan Forde be called up also.

What I notice, Kennelly, McGowans, Conlon and Jones will help around the middle, we are a small team , who lack big men around the middle. This is leads to problems with kickout, we lack high fielders and physicality around the middle. Also player like Morris and O Connor are able to win ball, bigger forwards then lighter pacy forwards we have developed in recent years. Its noticeable allot of the new players are forwards. We need more in this area of the field. A forward line of Lenihan, Walsh and Newman would be my first choice for me with pacy forwards like J Wallace and Conlon as impact subs as well as Dardis or T O Reilly or maybe Morris.

There seems to be quite allot of players in the frame that were missing last year coz of travelling, working,studying abroad or long term injury or took the year out. Allot of these returnees are still relatively young , experienced inter county players who when last on the panel were starting. I definatly feel the depth and strenght of the panel is stronger next year, and I think that will keep us in div 1. The first 3 games are massive, 2 of them at home. If you look at teams who stayed in div 1 eg Monaghan 2015 ( won 2 of their first 3 games) , Roscommon 2016( won 2 of their first 3 games) and Galway 2017 ( won their 3 first games), an early good start is essential. The top teams can be vulnerable in the first few rounds , after week 3 or 4 , things really hot up in div 1. Games v Donegal and Mayo in Navan in week 2 and week 3 are massive , and of course if we could get victory in Omagh, that would be brillant. 6 points is the magic number, 6 points , 97% of the time keeps you up in div 1. I cannot wait for the league, its a massive league for Meath and if we go down , I still think we go back up in 2021. But the question is will we yo yo between div 1 and 2 like Cavan, Roscommon and kildare are will stay in div 1 like Monaghan and Galway. We havent put two seasons back to back in division 1 since 1996 1997 1998. Incredbile when you think of it. Stay in division for 2 or 3 seasons, well its obvious your team will break into top 6 in the country. Next 24 months are massive for McEntee and allot of the players who are now peaking from the 2012 minor team and players who debuted in 2012 , 2013, 2014 leinster final seasons.

Regards wearemeath podcast, it very good, lads are very likeable, very knowledgable and very fair. Good content and can sometimes well over an hour, 2 or 3 podcasts a week. Probaly going to be quite in coming weeks, but in Jan worth a listen.

How come Meath are getting a new jersey? Did they change sponsor again?

Welcome to Division 1 folks.

That'll put hair on yer chests !

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Footballers league fixtures are (finally) out:

Tyrone (A), Sunday January 26th, 2pm
Donegal (H), Sunday February 2nd, 2:30pm
Mayo (H), Sunday February 9th, 2pm
Kerry (A), Sunday February 23rd, 1pm
Galway (H), Sunday March 1st, 2:30pm
Dublin (A), Sunday March 15th, 2pm
Monaghan (A), Sunday March 22nd, 2pm

Our 3 home games are going to be so crucial.
If we manage to beat Donegal and Mayo it gives us a fighting chance.
Don't forget we ran Donegal ultra close in the league twice this year, and arguably should have won both games. Mayo beat us easily enough, in the end, this year too but they'll be another year older whereas we seem to have more younger lads coming through.

Other winnable games would be the Galway and Monaghan games too you would feel.

Pity Dublin game isn't in Navan too I suppose! :cool: