Huge game for the lads, on paper the easiest of the three games. I think our defence will be able to hold their own and likes of McGill, Lavin, Harnan could get well on top. Midfield could be an issue. I think there are two key areas Meath need to improve before challenging consistently

1. Kickouts - we need to win our ball over 70% of the time and we need to try give Colgan some easier kicks if possible, he needs to get the ball down quicker and the lads need to start running from deep

2. Patience in attack - we are still kicking a huge amount of wides, we need to recycle and probe or look for a free if we aren't in a high percentage area, a bit of composure will go a long way for this team.

1. Colgan

2. Lavin
3. McGill
4. Gallagher

5. Keogan
6. Harnan
7. McCoy

8. Menton
9. S McEntee

10. O'Sullivan
11. McMahon
12. J McEntee

13. Walsh/Devine
14. Newman
15. Conlan

I thought Campion was super when he came on, very bright. Not Devine's best game but he will learn from it. If he starts Id expect Cillian to move into half forwards.

Meath are playing to a high standard for large parts of these games but getting absolutely no credit. 'Average' teams don't go to Ballybofey and have them in trouble at 55 mins and have chances to kick on. it got away from us in the end, in part because we went for goals in last 10 mins when points would have been the option. We are losing out in the big moments in these games, that's experience, when it comes to the crunch we missed a good goal chance and got a man black carded and gave away 4 kick outs, that killed the momentum, calm heads need to prevail and some ball control.

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 15/07/2019 08:25:59    2211144

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 15/07/2019 10:16:46    2211209

From been at yesterdays match and coming home to watch it again Padraic Harnan is not holding the center back position well enough .Good on the ball and coming forward but we need a centre back with the thou shalt not run through here approach . Too many times yesterday Donegal ( and also v Clare ) came through the centre and we need to look at having a holding CB - possibly Ryan if fit or McCoy who holds the centre well for Dunboyne . Maybe Shane Mcentee might be better suited to CB .
My views on Colgan are well aired but Brennan lacks presence at this level so its back to the mgt to spend this week working to limit the kick out errors to a more manageable level .Defense have to make themselves available as soon as ball goes dead and Colgan has to be on to it .
This is a game we have a realistic chance of winning and set us up for a crack at Kerry to qualify for a semi final in a packed Pairc Tailteann .

royalpad (Meath) - Posts: 46 - 15/07/2019 12:56:36    2211318

This was posted as a new thread but since the subject matter is the same it has been incorporated here.

mmc
Meath

15/07/2019
12:47

Meath V Mayo


This is a game we can win without a doubt Mayo looked a very poor team yesterday and only tagged on scores when the game was long over .
After looking at the games the weekend we are not far off but still lack size in the forward line all the other teams have 4/5 big forwards that can win 50/50 dirty ball we dont .
The Dublins , Kerry's , Donegals etc hit hard all the time it eventually took its toal on our forwards yesterday thats why 5 of the 6 were taken off .
I would start Devine at corner forward the next day and move him straight out to midfield and play 3 midfielders and let Colgan kick long all the time and stop this kicking at the sideline if he can kick an odd one short great otherwise I'd go as long as possible to the 3 midfielders anything has to be better than what we are at . Mayos midfield were useless yesterday I'd have no fear kicking it long to them .
It has been a goodish year so far but I believe we need a result against Mayo for this team to get a bit of recognition even Mcconville on RTE yesterday dismissed Meath and said Mayo and Donegal would fight out in the last game and that was when Mayo were 13 points down Mayo made Kerry look good yesterday .
Meath to win Sunday 11/4 great price bring Kerry to Navan with something to play for and a warm up for Div 1 matches next year

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2274 - 15/07/2019 13:17:04    2211332

mmc (Meath) - Posts: 266 - 15/07/2019 14:00:40    2211360

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 509 - 15/07/2019 15:57:20    2211423

Foreveraroyal (Meath) - Posts: 34 - 15/07/2019 16:00:46    2211425

Can't see us beating Mayo, i would expect a big reaction from them this weekend, we have achieved our goals for 2019, looking forward to the kingdom coming to Navan, i think they have the game to beat the dubs, cant see the full back line been able to stop the kerry lads

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1047 - 15/07/2019 18:10:33    2211503

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 88 - 15/07/2019 18:36:28    2211512

The more I see Joe Brolly telling Mayo that they are finished the more worried I become regarding this weekend. They will come out swinging.

We have a great opportunity to make an all Ireland semi final. I hope the team don't settle for having "achieved their goals". I agree we have come farther than many expected, including myself. However we may not get back here next year, or even the year after if we get unlucky with the draws. We need to go all out here, it's win or go home against Mayo.

cabbage (Meath) - Posts: 162 - 15/07/2019 19:07:04    2211540

Eri (Meath) - Posts: 45 - 15/07/2019 19:20:38    2211544

As many have already said our kickout strategy is a shambles, goalkeeper has to take some of the blame, however on many occassions he has little option but delay his kick, as required movement is not there. Often left with little option but go long, high fielding was always one of our strongest points but this is a skill we no longer have. Opposition are all aware if they push up on our kickouts there is a high probability of a turnover. Restarts must be quicker (if fairness to goalie he got three away quickly in second half but was called back by ref for one reason or another) with players running into space to receive ball. Our running game served us well throughout league but the same players who got promotion are still playing game after game and by the 60th minute in last few game signs of fatigue were there for all to see. Need to mix it up a bit with a bit more foot passing to inside line just to give lads a breather. Cannot see any difference in Mayo game, I expect it to come down to last 10/15 minutes, they have been on the road for a few weeks now so its about how both managers use their resources over the 70+mins.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 15/07/2019 20:21:01    2211578

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 1988 - 15/07/2019 21:37:44    2211624

Too much talk about us beating Mayo both internally and nationally. From Experience Mayo are most vulnerable when everyone is talking them up not down.

Everytime people think Mayo are gone, they bounce back and this is a game they have to win so i would be fearful.

Secondly you cannot go into a big game in Croke Park with your kick out strategy in ribbons. No better team than Mayo to expose this.

I am not writing us off at all but we need to be realistic, we are underdogs, we should fear Mayo and be prepared mentally for a reaction from them. They are battle hardened and will try every trick in the book to unsettle us with constant fouling off the ball.

We can win but we need everything to go right for us.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 16/07/2019 08:22:27    2211721

We are improving every game , of course mayo are not going to be push overs, they hurting. But we also can feel hard done by, that we didn't win, as I feel we had it within us to beat donegal, we are rightly underdogs, however I've said it before and I'll say it again, if Kildare can beat a stronger mayo team last year then why the hell cant we beat them this year.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 16/07/2019 10:35:23    2211761

noluso (Meath) - Posts: 164 - 16/07/2019 11:03:33    2211769

Yeah it'll be a tough game but the pressure will be all on them. We can definitely cause them a lot of problems but I'd still see them as favorites. We just need to attack them and not be afraid of them. I wouldn't read too much into the Kerry game to be honest. Kerry were playing phenomenally well and have once in a lifetime talents like Clifford to get scores no other player could make.

Like the Donegal game we will get goal chances but we simply have to score them if we're to beat Mayo.

LoyalRoyal (None) - Posts: 452 - 16/07/2019 11:46:48    2211802

Hard luck Sunday,yous really put it up to us. There no reason that yous can't beat mayo. I've been very impressed with Meath all year. Just believe.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2404 - 16/07/2019 15:12:02    2211909

Donegal flattered by the scoreline at the end i thought , real good performance and unlucky not to come away with something , however we go into the Mayo match surely full of confidence , where as they took a fair beating and hard to pick that up in one week , all expectation aswell on Mayo to win could weigh heavy on their shoulders ,big support needed and deserved for this game ,go on Meath.

elguapo (Meath) - Posts: 51 - 16/07/2019 17:57:21    2211985

Really looking forward to Sunday and will be there with the family again supporting our lads.

Kerry beating Mayo last weekend wasn't good for us as Mayo always lift it when written off. On the flip side we have nothing to lose, again no analysis on us and if you listen to any "expert" outside Meath; we may as well not turn up.

Andy and the lads should us this as motivation and be the thorn in Mayo's side yet again. If we get a result it leaves us in a great position for Kerry in Navan, as the narrative would be all about Mayo's decline and again would be no credit for us.

Anyway no point worrying past Sunday, let's do the business and let the country stand up and take notice of us.

Hugely proud of this team and really feel we are not far off the top level. Let's get behind the Royals as we'll need every man, woman and child roaring us on on Sunday because Mayo will bring a big crowd.

Bonus territory continues and these games will really stand to us next year regardless of what happens. Hope springs eternal and I believe we can get a result this weekend. Was there in 96 and again in 09 when Queeny came off the bench to bury them.

C'mon the Royals............we can do this lads!!

RoyalSteel (Meath) - Posts: 18 - 16/07/2019 19:27:54    2212021