Meath GAA discussion thread

U20s pretty much had the game won after 15 minutes last night but it wasn't as impressive as last week. But it means we're guaranteed to top the group so can perhaps play a slightly weakened team against Offaly next week. Group winner, for some reason, only goes into the quarter final along with the runners up so we will likely be against either Wexford or Laois. The other group winners (Louth and, almost certainly, Kildare) go straight into the semi finals.

Kildare look to be the favourites so far having scored 65 points in their two games so far. Though they need a result against Wexford in their last game to guarantee top spot in their group.

2019 was the last time we won more than one game in the league so he's already improved on recent years. The conclusion of the league was definitely a disappointment but Meath were favourites to go down in January so every Meath fan would have taken third place prior to the start of the league.

The loss of the two coaches is disappointing but, from the outside at least, there doesn't seem to be any revolt from the players so it remains to be seen how it will impact us.

We've definitely improved greatly going forward but defence needs a lot of work still (particularly in putting pressure on two-point attempts). 19 points conceded against Carlow is concerning. Offaly will be a huge step up in quality and they're absolutely flying at the moment. But our injury situation is getting critical now with another two from yesterday. I'd personally think that it's 50/50 on Sunday despite the fact that we're favourites going into it.

U20s made a full team of changes given that they had already guaranteed top spot and went down to a last minute goal against Offaly. Wexford coming up in the quarter final. With the full team back, we should be accounting for them which would mean a semi final against either Kildare or Louth.

Great performance and great result in atrocious conditions in Ashbourne yesterday. We were 1-2 to no score down after 12 minutes to Kildare but ended up comfortably winning 0-19 to 1-8 with thanks to 7 two-pointers. Rian Stafford and Jamie Murphy ended up with 15 points between them. Jamie Murphy put over our last score with an excellent free off the ground and against the wind. You'd think that he'd be brought into the senior team when the U20s finish up. Again, such a pity that we're losing Armstrong. He's such a calm presence in midfield and has some engine on him.

Louth in the final next week in a repeat of last year's final, with hopefully the same result. Interestingly, at minor level for this age group in 2022, neither Meath nor Louth managed a single point in the Leinster minor group stages that year yet both are the two best sides in Leinster at U20 level again.

Looking at Kildare v Meath in minor 3 years ago, similarly, only 3 players from Tuesday's game played that day.

What are we thinking Sunday? Honestly, if it weren't for our ridiculous injury list, I'd be saying we could give them a game, but having lost so many big players, I can't see it happening. If Ronan Jones is back, then that's a massive plus. But without Harkin, Morris, Kinlough to name but a few, I'm expecting more pain. If we are as open as we were against Monaghan, Louth and Offaly in the first half, we'll be 20 points down at half time.