Replying To The_Fonz:  "Hasn't even acknowledged that he was incorrect either"

Replying To commander:  "Ah for God's sake man, is that the best you can come up? If you don't like Furlongs posts skip by. The man has phenomenal knowledge. Fantastic posts on old Kildare teams, and the effect the land commission scheme had on parts of Meath and Kildare."

Replying To germac:  "Peter Canavan the best diver i ever seen, he was absolutely brilliant at it many a day i thought he was going to roll off the pitch"

Replying To The_Fonz:  "One last fact check Wexford 2005 and Laois 2006 were league finalists when it was the old format of 1A and 1B semi finals and final. You stated no Leinster team other than Laois outside of Dublin reached a league final since the mid 00s."

Replying To browncows:  "You should understand that it is about winning- pleasing the media or viewers is irrelevant. Ye beat them in Castlebar a couple of years back with some terrible decisions from the Ref and a bit of diving.- -not many complained"

Replying To essmac:  "There'll be more bite in Meath come championship time; but overall not much to put a spring in the step of either county's fans. Tyrone are fit enough and savvy enough to put up a decent showing in most games, but I just don't see spectators leaving grounds buzzing with optimism they way they were after eg watching the likes of Dooher producing a performance for the ages against was it Donegal a few years back when the crowd all rose to their feet and applauded when he was taken off a few minutes before the end. You saw certain performances even early on in the year and you knew that, barring injuries or a complete catastrophe, the team had an intensity and a will to win about them and had as good a chance as anyone of going all the way. Tyrone just are not at that level any more. Last year, I'd say we were one good forward away (saying nothing about selections), but this year we're missing 2-3 impact players / leaders."

Replying To Galwaymaster9:  "Toxic football from kilcoo so far.. really hope for the sake of Gaelic football beat them.. Conor Lane having a shocker as well"

Replying To Furlong1949:  "Thanks for the coments again Young_gael. We have good debates. And plenty respect on both sides. I wish I could write in the concise way you do. Always enjoy the measages. We are both proud Meathmen and are passionate about our county. I am probaly more optimistic but this year and next year will tell us how good this Meath team. 2020 and 2021 are big years for this team. Will we yo you between the divisions or become a consistent div 1 team. Time will tell. Just a few points I disagree with. Again in a respectful way , I dont like disagreeing with great Meath supporters like urself. But I do have a different opinion. I think the below is a little bit all over the place. Its a bit scattergun all over the place. Apologies for that. Anyway regards everyone on the forum predicting Meath are going to be relegated. Firstly there is an anti Meath element to the forum.where anything remotely positive regards Meath is not welcome. While also this time last year I predicted Meath would be promoted but pretty no one on the forum else predicted Meath would be promoted. No one predicted Meath would get the super 8s on this forum last year. And from what I remeber last year the vast majority on the forum were predictibg Meath would get relegated to div 3..This was in the media also..Tomas O Se this time last year predicted Meath would be relegated to div 3. No one knows whats is going to happen really. I felt a feeling in my gut in water we would get promoted last year and I feel the same now. I predicted 3 years ago on this forum.we would improve last year and make impact in year 4 or year 5. For me Meath( and I have seen this so many times in team buildning situation) are trying to break into the top 6 or 7 teams in the country. This is a slow process that take years of ups and downs of bad defeats at the start, then you have moral victories , hard luck loses , bad referee decisions , failing to get over the line , fading in the last 10 mins. This is where we are at. The question is will be breakthrough like teams have done in the past like Kevin Walsh did with Galway when he turned them into consistent div 1 / super 8 team or fall back like McGeeney with kildare at start of this decade We are knocking on the door. Will we yo yo and fail to stay in div 1 for years or will we stay in div 1. For me we are going in the right direction , have made serious improvements and progress in the last year and half. And I belivee this will continue. Yes they were will be ups and downs. But I think we can do it. Regards age profile , very few agree with me on this one. Players peak at different ages, but most average of All Ireland winning team is 27..And most sportspeople peak in mid 20s. I just feel and watching how they have imlroved in the last 12 months that class of 2012 ( minor 2012 finalists )many of them are starting to peak and improve as footballers eg Padraig Harnan, Seamus Lavin , Shane Gallagher , James McEntee , Shane McEntee , Cillian Sullivan , Paddy Kennelly , Barry Dardis are all improvig and along with the Wallaces, McGill , MCoy . They are a good age to get promoted. Colm.O Rourke always said you need must of ur team around age group 25 to 27. With a few young lads and few veterans. To be sucessful Thats what we have currently.. Last year arouns this time kildare , Tipp , Fermanagh , Armagh , Cavan, Cork were all ahead of Meath. Meath lost badly to Cork , Tipp and Cavan in 2018. Meath were well ehind all those counties at the start of Last year. Then Meath surprisingly to everyone dramatically improved Last year in 2019 1 Meath defeated Cork by 6 points and were much better team on the day. 2 Last year Meath defeated Tipp by 5 points and were the better team 3 Last year Meath defeated Armagh by 6 points and doninated the first half leading by 9 at half time And yes Armagh had a good spell for 15 mins in second half, but Meath dominated last 15 mins and won comfoetably pulling up by 6 points. Meath were much better then Armagh when they played last year. And Armagh were focussed on the league. They were training hard for the league. Armagh are one of the fittest teams in the country and were doing serious training under McGeeney who is a fitness fanatic. 4 Last year Meath defeated Fermanagh by 7 points and after first 15 mins dominated the game 5 Last year Meath defeated Clare twice last in one game by 5 points in Ennis and by 1 point in qualifiers. Meath have had four victories in 4 games over Clare. 2 of them were in Ennis and 3 of the victories were by big margins 6 Meath defeated kildare last year. It was by 1 point. But Meath completely dominated the second half where kildare couldnt get past the half way line Meath should have won by 8 or 9 points. Meath reached leinster final , got promoted and are in div 1 after reached super 8. And played the best team in Ulster 3 times , the third team in the country , and Donegal struggled for long periods against Meath and Meath were very unlucky to knock All Ireland finalist out of the championship also and end of 2018 championship. So currently seem that Meath are in div 1 and seen that Meath reached super 8s and seen that Meath defeated nearly all these teams by an average of 5 to 6 points last year and were much better team.when they played the above surely now currently Meath are ahead of those teams. Maybe next year kildare, Fermanagh , Cork , Armagh and Tipp will be ahead of Meath. If Atmagh and kildare are in div 1 this time next year and we are in div 2 next year then they are ahead of us. But now here and now we are ahead because in the last 12 months we defeated them and were much better team in those games. When we played Cork, Armagh , kildare , Tipp and Fermanagh in last year we were the better team. Regards Clare yes it was tight tough game. But we have beaten Clare 4 times in 4 years , twice in Ennis, twice by double figures. We might fall back next year. But this year we have progressed. Yes there is a group of counties arounf the same level who r trying to break into div 1 permantly. They are Cork , Cavan , Atmagh , kildare , Fermanagh , Tipp , Meath , Clare , laois in recent years. Every year a team breaks out of this group and trys to become a div 1 team. Kildare in 2017 where ahead of this group but have falling back last year. Cavan were ahead of this at the start of last year. They are now back in div 2. Cork are looking decent, did have good super 8 but they are in div 3 and if they dont get promoted they are in b championship. Meath at the start of last year where behind Cork Kildare Tipp Fermanagh Armagh Cavan. This year we have jumped abead of them. Why ? We are in div 1 and reached super 8 and before people say we got easier then say Armagh. We defeated comphrehemsively last year a game Armagh were very focussed on. Meath comprehresivly beat Cork , Armagh , Tipp , Fermanagh and kildare last year. Maybe we will fall back down this year. And next year Armagh kildare Clare will be ahead of Meath. But we are div 1 now and its only fair to say Meath are ahead. When kildare were in div 1 in 2017 no one was saying Meath were ahead of them. When Cavan and Roscommon were div 1 last year it was fair to say Cavan and Roscommon were ahead of Armagh , Tipp , Cork , kildare , Fermanagh , Clare , laois. But if Meath stay in div 1 then there is concrete evidenve undisputable evidence Meath are ahead of say Armagh. Time will tell. Regards performance v top teams. Outside div 1 name a team that played as well against div 1 opposituon in 6 games in last 16 months as Meath. There is none. The reason Meath declined in last ten minutes was the other teams have more experience of big match day the other teams had player who had all.won provicial titles , all have played div 1 football and many of them have played in All Ireland finals. Secondly Meath had issues with kickouts ..We have a new goalie this year. There was a press up and our midfield struggled. Because we had a wing back partnering Menton at midfield and we lacked big men around midfield. We lost midfield in last ten minutes. This year if we get in the same position we will have 4 big strong out and out midfielder to help Menton. They are Ronan Jones ( the best midfielder in the county ) , Brian Conlon ( one of the best young footballers in the county ) , Paddy kennelly ( last on the panel was performing man of the match performances at midfield ) and Thomas Murtagh ( 21 year old exciting young midfielder). We collasped at centre field in last ten min in Super 8 , there was. a push up , the Meath goalie had very few options. This year there is 3 or 4 new midfield option..Jones , Conlon and Kennelly and Ethan Devine give us 4 big men around the centre. This was an issue last year which came to fore in the last ten minutes. The other factor that led to dip in last ten mins was the opposition bench . In the last ten minutes Donrgal bench came on and made a big difference and the Meath bench made no difference. The same for Mayo game , Andy Moran and Mayo bench made a huge difference in last ten minutes , the Meath bench made no difference. I believe that the Meath bench is much stronger then it was last August. Time will tell. Also we ran ourselves into the ground. Last year was go go go. We didnt slow down the play , our game management was niave. But thats because we are an inexperiemced team. Hopefully that will improve. 3 games in super 8 and 7 games in this league whatevet happems will improve the teams game management as the more they play the top teams the more experience they get , this should benefit the team. Lets look at performnces, yes Meath lost but a young team trying to make the breakthrough , a manager trying to bring a traditional county back up , this is all part of the process. Nearly every team in the history of gaelic football.if they are trying to break into top 6 or 7 it takes lots of moral victories and hard luck stories. Meath might not get there. But they are going in the right and correct direction. 1 Tyrone in 2018 The All Ireland finalist only for point in 6 and half mins of injury time kept the All Ireland finalist in the championship. Tyrone were lucky the ref gave 4 mins added time and yet Tyrone got 6 and half mins. And then in extra time of extra time Meath were denied an obvious free in front of the goals to tie the game. Yes Meath were helter skelter in the game. But overall Meath were excellent v All Ireland finalist. Evey time Tyrone got a bit ahead Meath came roaring back. And with 7 or 8 mins to go Meath were ahead and looking very likely winners. And were ahead well into injurty time. This was performance of passion , grit and determination by Meath.In many ways an old school traditional Meath championship performance. Meath went the full 76 mins with Tyrone and then went the full 20 mins full time with All Ireland finalist at the height of the championship. That was a serious performance. 2 Donegal in Ballybofey in the league 2019. Donegal have not lost in Ballybofey in near ten years in the league. But for 60 mins Meath controlled the game. The standard of footbalk was the best I saw from a Meath in the last 5 years. It was quality intelligent football. The half back line of J McEntre Keoghan and kane put on a exhibition of half back play. With 62 gone Meath were 4 points and were playing excellent football. A freak goal. The game turns and Donegal show their class. But so many Donegal people after the game told me they were very lucky to win. Meath were excellent in Ballybofey last year. Remeber kildare went to Ballybofey and lost by 15 points and the game was over at half time. Meath went to Ballybofey last year twice in league and championship and at the 60 min both games Meath were ahead and likely winners. 3 V Donegal in the league final 2019 Meath played quality long ball football in the first half. And used Newman excellently as a target man as Bryan McMahon ran riot on the 40 for Meath. Meath were 9 up aftet 20 mins playing direct quality fast football. Donegal came back into it. But Meath were 5 up at half time after finishing the half strong and Meath had goal disallowed which was allowed would have been enough for Meath to win. The second half Donegal got stronger and stronger becuase they are double Ulster champions and 3rd best team in the country. Again Donegal for long period struggled v Meath. Meath did play some quality kicking football in the first half. 4 Donegal Ballybofey in championship 2019. Donegal have been beaten once in Ballybofey in championship in last ten years. Yet Meath again really put it up to Donrgal for third time in a few months. Coming up to 60 min Meath were ahead and around the ground there was a sense Donegal were in trouble..Meath were getting stronger and stronger as Meath went toe to toe with double Ulster champion in their own backyard. Meath hit hard with good tackling defended well and played some good football. But the class of Donegal and Michael Murphy shone in the end. Donegal bench was much stronger then Meaths 5 Again v Mayo Up to 60 min Meath were ahead. Meath went toe to toe with Mayo for 60 mins. One of the best teams in the country in recent years and who have an excellent record in Croke Park recently. Mayo bench made the difference in the end. But really the margin at the end was not reflection of how well Meath played. Meaths inexperence told but again allot to be taken from this game with some good performances with players like Seamus lavin and Shane Gallagher improving and improving. 6 Kerry again for the 6th time in 6 games v the 4 best teams in the country Meath were ahead with 10 mins to go after playing some quality football. and causing huge problems for the best teams in the country. Campion scored a great goal and was excellent on the 40. While young Walsh at 18 and on his debut had the kerry full back line in tatters as he was causing huge problems.Meath tore into kerry again the passion the intensity of play was there but kerry class and experience told. But again for an upcoming team there was so much take from the performance. I dont think the wide margin of defeat reflected the performances in super 8s. In around ten mins to go in 3 games Meath were ahead and it looked with ten mins to go in Ballybofey Donegal were in serious trouble. I was in the crowd with lots of Donegal friends they were worried coming up to 60th min. The same v Mayo with 10 mins to go , Meath had a chance and the same v kerry. But the three best teams in the country ahowed tbeir class and showed why they best teams in the country. But I believe Meath can take huge heart from the super 8s. I think any team in Meaths position would also. And Meath were praised. kieran Donaghy was raving about how impressed he was by Meath in the super 8s. Oisin McConville also was very impressed with Meath in super 8s. Off the Ball were saying McEntee was manager of the year after Jim Galvin in how turned Meath around last year. The big issue for me was midfield and the oppositions bench. I think both areas are stronger now then last August. Brian Menton / Brian Conlon midfield with Paddy Kennelly off the bench is a stronger midfield then last August when we had a half back at centre field and 20 year old corner back replacing him. Full Forward line v Tyrone will be probaly 13 Donal Lenihan 14 Shane Walsh 15 Thomas Reilly . And on the bench we will have Joey Wallace James Conlon Oisin O Brien Barry Dardis Sean Toibin Jack O Connor for the inside line. I believe we are stronger in that position..And as the league develops 13 Donal Lenihan 14 Shane Walsh 15 Joey Wallace full forward line will give us better options then last years and with options on the bench , what happenned v Dublin the malfunction we had in the forwards , wouldnt happen this year. As in total we have 7 new inside forwards on the panel and some of these players are the best forwards in Meath. Thats what I think will keep us in div 1. If we dont stay I still believe with 10 games v div 1 oppposition in 12 months , 10 new players on the panel , talented young players , return of experienced some of the best footballers in Meath , players returning from injury that Meath will make a bigger impact in this years championship then last years.We will find out at the end of season. We will be able judge this Meath team better at the end of the championship. We just guessing til then. By the end of next season 2021 we will find out how good this team really is . I predicted on this forum 3 years ago that Meath would make an impact in the years 2020 and 2021. Im sticking with that. I could be wrong..I cannot read the future but because of the manager, the players , the performances and a feeling in my gut and water, I think we can. .And while it would be so good for football and particularly leinster football for Meath to be a division 1 team. Its 15 or 16 years ago not since early 00s and late 90s that Dublin have faced consistent year after year div 1 opposition in leinster. leaving Dublin to one side no leinster team has reached div 1 league final in 15 years and leaving Dublin to one side no leinster team has won div 1 league in 21 years. That has to change."

Replying To Furlong1949:  ". Meath team named. That Meath team that will start v Tyrone has 9 changes to the Meath team that played v Donegal in the super 8s last July. Meaths full back line which was really good last year eg lavin, McGill Gallagher is pretty much gone. Meath have two debutants in the full back line eg Clarke Toner It looks like Meath have 6 or 7 injuries, all pretty much first team starters. So Meath are injured these players S Mcentee Lavin, Devine, Gallagher, Harnan, Newman. Lenihan was injured v laois, he is not named looks like he could be injured aslo , that would bring it up to 7 missing player."

Replying To BliainanÁir:  "Jack McCaffrey gave a lovely smiling, pleasant interview and used the word fun. A word seldom associated with Ulster football!"

Replying To TheHermit:  "Christ they all come out of the woodwork after a Kerry win don't they :D Hon D Kingdom!!!!"

Replying To Kerrymanlegend:  "Bitter Mayo fan.. what's new? Stay on your lane and try win an all ireland . Kerry will Win several all Ireland's very soon including 3 weeks time while Mayo keep having the best fans lol"

Replying To tearintom:  "Cracking game Amazing what knockout football does isn't it, weeks of utter nothingness with 8 teams and basically we end up with one meaningful game out of the whole lot that's actually exciting. Who would have thought it. Super 8s me hole."

Replying To sam09:  "How am I a disgrace? The facts speak for themselves. In China there was 80000 confirmed cases in a population of 1.4bn. That's less than 0.0005% of the population. The death toll was much much less than this. Yet everyone is going round panic buying food and other supplies. I feel sorry for the people who are genuinely scared of this."