Meath Forum

Meath vs Kildare 5th February

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To dunboynelad:  "The kickouts were by and large really poor, in the second half I can't remember who it was but he got a kickout with snow on it right in front of us, with two Kildare lads both a foot bigger than him beside him. That's not effort, it's just poor quality or decision making.

Our midfield doesn't need going over, we know the problem. The best 4 midfielders in the county last year, would be SOR/Nash/Rooney/Jones. None have been available and we don't have an abundance of riches right now, when you then see one of our midfielders coming out for the second half wing back you know we're in trouble. I feel sorry for Menton as well as a lot has been thrown on his shoulders coming back in to the side. We know he's strongest elsewhere but unfortunately circumstances mean that's where he's needed now."

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 18:56:48    1952257

Link

P o r Tobin Newman Harnan and Harry Rooney would definitely add to team I know Rooney not with panel would try Newman at 11 .biggy was good today but not a play maker newman might be better out the field he played there last year still think put p o r on the square and play off him we had no one up front again today we need to drop deeper and protect fullback line kildare could off had at least 2 more goals today hannigan Mc Gill keoghan tobin. Harnan menton ford
Flanagan biggy. o Sullivan Newman kennlley. Lenihan p o r Wallace .need to change middle 8 as we wer cleaned out shore up half backs and someone to hold ball up front and bring our fast players like Wallace biggy and o Sullivan into play

matthematx (Meath) - Posts: 177 - 05/02/2017 19:11:08    1952264

Link

Replying To daytona11:  "Hey lads,
Was hoping for a return to the old traditional kildare Meath rivalry of years gone by but never really happened. Hopefully Andy mc can improve things as I long for Meath and kildare matchs of the 90s when we were both competing for all ireland. One thing I can't get over is the lack of spirit and pride in that Meath 15. Give your backs a bit of a break though our full forward and half forward lines are our strongest for years. Best of luck going forward. Leinster needs a strong Meath and kildare rivalry."
Yup...i would agree that full forward and half forward line of kildare in two years time will cause a lot of top teams major problems ! Hopefully none off those lads will get any injuries and stay together ! I think Kildare will benefit more by staying in division 2 for the next two years also rather than going up to Division 1 and getting the confidence knock out of them .. Cian O'Neill may think different !

For my own team we just don't have the fighting spirit ...people misinterpreted under Mods administration as not being fit ! we got beat by louth in the O'byrne cup and the mutterings was Meath were over trained that week,but ask any of the louth lads or any team in the country who doesn't over train or do heavy training in the month of January !

Thing about Meath footballers at the minute is that they would make any manger look bad !

WhyTheLongFace (Meath) - Posts: 876 - 05/02/2017 19:11:36    1952265

Link

Kildare's biggest ever win over Meath in the league

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1792 - 05/02/2017 19:15:11    1952267

Link

Andy McEntee..

The quality of the ball that was going into their full-forward line was good. We weren't putting enough pressure on it to make it a 50-50 ball, it was always a forward's ball. I don't want to name anybody without looking at the video, but it looked like they had players getting forward too easily."

That suggests that he thinks we didn't put in the effort required..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 19:16:36    1952270

Link

Replying To bobkarlgees:  "I was was roasted on here last week for saying keoghan is not a man marker and gives his man to much room by times and 10 secs into the game it was clear Killdare 15 netted without Donal putting and hand on him. Not Keoghan's day. today. Among many others etc....."
There is a certain type of player Donal can't handle the 15 today was one of them. He roasted him time and again. However he is still a excellent player

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/02/2017 19:23:37    1952280

Link

Replying To dunboynelad:  "This implies it's lack of effort, which I don't think it is.

The opening line of the Hoganstand match report reads, "Cian O'Neill's men were bigger, stronger and faster than Meath."

That's more accurate and to the point, whether it's breaking balls or breaking tackles or whatever, the stronger/fitter/faster player more often than not will come out on top no matter what sort of heart is shown, I'd imagine this is being worked on as a blind man can see it so Andy won't need telling. Kildare are an athletic team, which barring a few exceptions in green and gold, we are not.

Kildare the past few years have been the same. However any decent team worth their salt will match them in the fitness and physical stakes, and it's their football that's come up way short. We couldn't match them though, so it was just too easy for them a lot of the time.

Positives as mentioned were;

O Sullivan - Started off rusty but grew in to it and showed how much of a threat he is, he's so direct which defenders hate, which should have lead to a peno as well which would have changed the game as they went up the other end of the pitch right from it and got their own goal, for a 6 point swing.
Biggy - Showed his class and why he's the very least of our problems, was our best defender in the first half too. Considering Eoin Doyles job on the pitch today from the moment go was to try keep him out of the game, I thought he did very well considering.
Forde - Very direct like O Sullivan, and strong as an ox, which is badly lacking in the team. Always looking when the chips are down too which I really like. Massive coup to have him back and one of the first names on the sheet now.
Lenihan - Was feeding off scraps, not in quantity but quality of the balls coming in, in serious contrast to what Kildares inside forwards were getting, where Niall Kelly gave a masterclass in that number 11 playmaking role. However he still won every ball that went in, and kicked the two scores of the game off each foot when the game was alive, and what I thought would drive us on. Worked hard too making a few really got tackles back in our own full back line. If the quality of ball can improve which surely at this level it can/will, he will do a lot of damage. I'd also add we are badly lacking someone in there with him, we played effectively with him on his own in there.

The only other positive I can think of is the reality check of where we are at, and it can only be improved on now surely. The 4 players I've mentioned above, along with Keogan who was entitled to an off day, are the 5 names on the team sheet, or nucleus from what we have seen so far if you will. That leaves 10 spots where no one has laid a marker down for, which is a hell of a lot, two thirds of our line up up for grabs, but could anyone argue different?

As for negatives, no interest in any individual criticisms really, everyone can see where we are short and way off. Andy Mac has a serious job on his hands."
That's it in a nutshell.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/02/2017 19:26:53    1952283

Link

Replying To ziggy32001:  "Andy McEntee..

The quality of the ball that was going into their full-forward line was good. We weren't putting enough pressure on it to make it a 50-50 ball, it was always a forward's ball. I don't want to name anybody without looking at the video, but it looked like they had players getting forward too easily."

That suggests that he thinks we didn't put in the effort required.."
Well one thing is the individual will know it.
Over the years I have heard people give out about biggie not defending enough, today he was our best defender, anyone who thought he wasn't a leader can now stop the nonsense. Pity apart from O'Sullivan forde and lenihahan nobody else stood up today.
Wholesale changes I think we can expect for Derry game, no one is untouchable.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/02/2017 19:45:06    1952301

Link

Replying To royaldunne:  "Well one thing is the individual will know it.
Over the years I have heard people give out about biggie not defending enough, today he was our best defender, anyone who thought he wasn't a leader can now stop the nonsense. Pity apart from O'Sullivan forde and lenihahan nobody else stood up today.
Wholesale changes I think we can expect for Derry game, no one is untouchable."
I would have 5 U21's in our team if they were available to be honest.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 19:54:06    1952307

Link

Ratings for today..

1.Hannigan-7- Could do nothing for goals kick out were OK!
2. Keoghan-6- Mr reliable.. Tryed his heart out but was poor by his high standard
3.Mcgill-5- was poor but wasnt really protected
4.Burke.not on long enough
5.Douglas-5-dont really remember him contributing anything
6.McEntee-5- exposed big time but willing to give him time
7.Power.4. Time for him to s**t or get off the !! Taken off says it all
8.O'Brien. 4. Cleaned out say no more ended wing half back
9. Menton.4.Destroyed won no ball and new position needed
10.O'Sullivan. 6. First half poor enough gave ball away,should have had 2 Goals and a penalty
11.Reilly. 7. Tryed his heart out! Our best forward by the look of it
12.Forde.6. A little indisciplined runs into dead ends but gives his all
13.Wallace. 5. Was he even playing, very poor his position up for grabs
14. Sheridan.4.first half barely touched ball kicked another into goalies hand gave 2 decent passes to set up scores ! But never got close to getting in game !
15.Lenihan.8. Best player by mile! Nailed on to start now

Mcquillan.5. Struggled big time
Flanagan. 6.did OK improved it a little should start next week
O,Coileain-5. Like this guy he has ability but not sure he is ready to start yet
O'Brien. 5. Did nothing
Downey 5. Game was up when he came on
Carry.not on long enough ! Feel he is not good enough for county football

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 05/02/2017 20:02:55    1952315

Link

Replying To ziggy32001:  "I would have 5 U21's in our team if they were available to be honest."
yeah so would I, actually I think if Andy made one mistake, it was not to give 21s a bye until they out, but as they say hindsight is twenty twenty vision

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/02/2017 20:10:07    1952320

Link

Replying To ziggy32001:  "I would have 5 U21's in our team if they were available to be honest."
Conlon, O'Neill, O'Reilly and Jones (if healthy). Have I guessed correctly and if so who is the other ?

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1464 - 05/02/2017 20:10:36    1952321

Link

Replying To royaldunne:  "Well one thing is the individual will know it.
Over the years I have heard people give out about biggie not defending enough, today he was our best defender, anyone who thought he wasn't a leader can now stop the nonsense. Pity apart from O'Sullivan forde and lenihahan nobody else stood up today.
Wholesale changes I think we can expect for Derry game, no one is untouchable."
In fairness your right he was a leader today ! Pity not more like him

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 05/02/2017 20:13:14    1952323

Link

Replying To ziggy32001:  "I would have 5 U21's in our team if they were available to be honest."
These u21s are being talked about like there gonna come in and save the day! Massive jump to senior standard !

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 05/02/2017 20:16:22    1952325

Link

Replying To royaldunne:  "Well one thing is the individual will know it.
Over the years I have heard people give out about biggie not defending enough, today he was our best defender, anyone who thought he wasn't a leader can now stop the nonsense. Pity apart from O'Sullivan forde and lenihahan nobody else stood up today.
Wholesale changes I think we can expect for Derry game, no one is untouchable."
In fairness biggie is always good in February in Navan.

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1792 - 05/02/2017 20:20:17    1952328

Link

Replying To grahamc9897:  "These u21s are being talked about like there gonna come in and save the day! Massive jump to senior standard !"
of course,but they could give us a lift,plus they don't carry that past baggage.They will get better and we can develop them further.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 20:27:35    1952339

Link

Replying To LeitrimRoyal99:  "Conlon, O'Neill, O'Reilly and Jones (if healthy). Have I guessed correctly and if so who is the other ?"
the other Conlon :)

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 20:28:40    1952344

Link

Replying To grahamc9897:  "In fairness your right he was a leader today ! Pity not more like him"
Yea I agree, you see we can agree on something :)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/02/2017 20:31:03    1952350

Link

Replying To bert09:  "In fairness biggie is always good in February in Navan."
Credit where credit is due

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 05/02/2017 20:34:03    1952354

Link

Replying To grahamc9897:  "These u21s are being talked about like there gonna come in and save the day! Massive jump to senior standard !"
Have to agree. 2 or 3 is fine. But playing 5 is what got us into trouble under MOD. Have to ease them in I think. I also think it is huge to focus on 21's to get a successful team. All off the top county teams had success at underage it is the recipe

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1464 - 05/02/2017 20:37:19    1952362

Link