Next up cork and a real banana skin for what seems so far an improving meath team, players like campion the two mcentee's lavin Kane keogan mc gill and Newman all performing well at the moment, but cork are wounded at the minute and could be dangerous, can't remember the last time we bet them, can only remember one championship game and three league games in the last ten years and we haven't beaten them in any of the above, and were well beaten last year at home in navan, form does point to meath but I can't help but feel worried, I'll take a win here by any means possible.

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 666 - 11/02/2019 21:16:36    2164689

Anyone any ideas if match going to be on saturday night as scheduled or moved to Sunday. It would help for travelling, poeple might want to make weekend of it.

David (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 11/02/2019 23:46:11    2164724

The lads have earned their break before GW4 but you'd nearly like them to play Cork this weekend to keep the good momentum going, hopefully they'll have that game in Pairc Tailteann last year in their heads before they play them to give them that extra bit of bite. Cork are a wounded animal at the minute and you just don't know what we'll get from them, if we play as well as we have been, and tidy up the small errors I cant see anything but a Meath win.

LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 24 - 12/02/2019 01:03:48    2164729

Is the venue confirmed?

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 12/02/2019 01:18:43    2164733

Yeah, could be a banana skin. Cork will have to turn up at some stage in this league. Meath are going well but are still vulnerable under pressure, no doubt about it. Cork/Meath is a good old rivalry that brings out fervour in the rebels. Amazingly they've never forgotten the era of 1987-90 and the great games/ intensity between the sides, when Meath usually came out on top. I remember the last big championship match between the two was an AI semi about 10/12 years back I think and we got blasted. Amazing how football has changed in both counties even since then. Awful pity this game isnt in a neutral ground ie: Nenagh, Semple, Portlaoise, youd have a much bigger crowd from Meath willing to attend.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 589 - 12/02/2019 07:09:29    2164739

It's obvious that there is very little between any of the teams in this division. Cork will feel that they can still achieve promotion and at the very least avoid relegation. I always had this one down as a difficult assignment. Agree with the previous poster that it would have been better for us to play it this weekend. The two week break will suit Cork. Having said all of that, there is more momentum and positivity in our camp. Cork are coming off a demoralising loss and there is a lack of momentum. We need to take advantage of that by hitting the ground running in the first half.

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 88 - 12/02/2019 10:14:19    2164760

If we are in any way serious about getting promoted then we simply have to be beating Cork, they are a shambles at the minute. Game is confirmed for Pairc Ni Rinn on Saturday evening. We have to win 3 out of our last 4. Was talking to a Cork friend of mine before the league started, he is a very straight shooter and the feeling was that Cork are now the 4th best team in Munster, Clare and Tipp are both better. He tipped them to be relegated.

longroadback (Meath) - Posts: 325 - 12/02/2019 10:56:49    2164769

Hit them hard and hit them early is the key here, Cork are lacking confidence and that must be exploited as they will know that a defeat to Meath leaves them in a very precarious position with only 3 games left, a defeat could leave them cut adrift at the bottom of the division so if there is any fight left in Cork football they will be going hard for this one, that's why a good start for Meath would be so important to create doubts in the Cork minds and exploit what seems to be a fragile confidence, this is a potential banana skin but the consequences of a Meath win are huge and I think the players knowledge of that and the belief they are starting to show will carry them over the line

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 12/02/2019 11:27:29    2164778

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/02/2019 11:52:04    2164788

Any word on venue? It was down as PUC but due to pitch issues will it be moved to PUR like this weekends hurling?
Was looking forward to seeing the new stadium.

RoyalBadger (Meath) - Posts: 571 - 12/02/2019 12:23:52    2164807

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 12/02/2019 13:05:17    2164840

Heard it may be moved.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/02/2019 13:36:29    2164851

gardentree (Meath) - Posts: 194 - 12/02/2019 14:23:23    2164872

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 12/02/2019 14:51:50    2164883

Think there has been huge improvement this year, well in fairness over past couple of years we have become fitter and the second half collapse has stopped, but we are still not where we want to be. I said in very beginning this team needs to play in division one. This year will only be successful if we achieve that. So v cork we have to win.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/02/2019 15:36:01    2164897

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 88 - 12/02/2019 16:05:32    2164904

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/02/2019 18:42:48    2164940

I remember the 2007 semifinal when Colm Coyle was in charge. We got blown away in the second half although they did get a lucky goal off a deflection. Still didn't look like we'd win. But that Cork team had the foundation of the AI winners of 2010. Things are different now.

That said despite their bad run this year they'll have to get their act together at some stage and it could be against us. We need a big performance to get a result and should expect nothing less than a very tough challenge from Cork as always. If we take too much stock of recent form we'll set ourselves up for a beating. Remember Cork only need one win and they'll be within 1 point of us on the table.

The new lads in the squad have applied themselves really well to the team and I think Andy has a decent game plan in place now. Another big performance will get us over the line but we can't have another panic attack like we did in the second half against Armagh. The lads need to be quicker to adjust and steady things.

LoyalRoyal (None) - Posts: 452 - 12/02/2019 21:13:38    2164980

It is often said about certain teams in sport who find themselves in a relegation fight, that they are too good to go down and that applies to Cork this year. For a team who won 3 titles in a row (2010, '11 and '12) and reached the final in 2015, to be now in danger of being relegated to Division 3, is a real shock.

However the signs have been there for a while now and they really need a win against Meath to try and pull clear. You would think that the two week break would help them regroup but sometimes teams go into a downward spiral and it is hard to get back on track, Laois and Derry being relegated to Division 4 in recent times being two prime examples.

Talking to a few real Cork supporters from West Cork last week, and they were very worried about the current situation down there and very critical about the current set up and selection policy.

Having said all of that, Meath need to just concentrate on winning the game and if they do they will put themselves in a good position going into the final 3 games, two of which are at home.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 12/02/2019 21:54:59    2164990

Cork will be fighting for survival in Division 2, so expect them to put up a decent show, our away form to date has not been great, however confidence seems to be on the up so a win in PuR is well within our grasp. Looking forward to the trip.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2149 - 12/02/2019 22:30:24    2164998