Meath Forum

Meath vs Kildare 5th February

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Yes of course I do, and while this is a set back I'm a true supporter and will believe we will be promoted until it's mathematical impossible.
On side note only 4 players looked good today O'Sullivan Meath best player , forde, Reilly and lenihan, all others had poor outing . think there will be changes lot of them before Derry game."
Masterstroke???

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 05/02/2017 16:55:26    1952143

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Replying To oldsam_newsam:  "I am fully behind Andy but he is far from perfect as are our players. I think the adulation towards Andy is what is riling some others on here.

I thought that Andy was really slow to replace Shane. Andy also went out of his way to have a go at the referee at half time when he should have been concentrating on his half time talk & changes. Anyone watching would realise that the ref was not the reason we were behind. By having a go at the ref there was an implication that Andy felt it was the refs fault that we were being hammered. One incident with Cillian O'Sullivan not getting a free which was turned around for the second goal was all we could really blame the ref for.

Keoghan was getting roasted but was showing some leadership going forward. He should have been swapped with Douglas or Power mid first half. Sheridan also was kept on way longer than he should have been.

I am not trying to have a go at Andy, it's his first real test and he has the pedigree. But the blind adulation is a bit hard to take after that performance."
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.....

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1263 - 05/02/2017 16:59:28    1952145

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terrible display,still no guts or workrate in the side..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 17:02:47    1952147

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Replying To oldsam_newsam:  "I am fully behind Andy but he is far from perfect as are our players. I think the adulation towards Andy is what is riling some others on here.

I thought that Andy was really slow to replace Shane. Andy also went out of his way to have a go at the referee at half time when he should have been concentrating on his half time talk & changes. Anyone watching would realise that the ref was not the reason we were behind. By having a go at the ref there was an implication that Andy felt it was the refs fault that we were being hammered. One incident with Cillian O'Sullivan not getting a free which was turned around for the second goal was all we could really blame the ref for.

Keoghan was getting roasted but was showing some leadership going forward. He should have been swapped with Douglas or Power mid first half. Sheridan also was kept on way longer than he should have been.

I am not trying to have a go at Andy, it's his first real test and he has the pedigree. But the blind adulation is a bit hard to take after that performance."
I think the blind adulation is only coming from one person on this forum

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1792 - 05/02/2017 17:04:08    1952151

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Listen ourselves and Down are not competitive, the week-end results show this clearly. Clare went to Derry and got a draw, they are able to compete we are not. Until all who were part of the debacle v Westmeath are gone we will not be a force again...maybe an occasional valiant effort but not able to build on it. The psychological damage inflicted by that defeat is there end of. Andy????? a player out there today who was completely outplayed in Senior Final is a joke.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1066 - 05/02/2017 17:07:21    1952156

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Alan Forde played well (needs to be careful and not get cards for indiscipline, we need him on the field); Biggy and Lenihan got a few nice scores (not great on frees though), but when you give a team a 5 point head start, you know it is going to be one of those days. Kildare's movement, intensity and point taking (finishing) was on another level. They could have put up quite a few more scores too with a bit more luck. COS was decent in the second half but dropped the ball at least three times in good attacking positions in the first. Midfield won nothing in the air or breaking ball, and as for some of the hopeful high balls to the two guys inside, the less said the better. And I suppose losing Mickey Burke early didn't help either. Quite a few players could/should have been replaced sooner. Meath should have got two points before HT and cut the lead from 6 to 4, but alas. For the game to be over with 20 mins left is hard to sit through. It will be a tougher campaign than last year, that's for sure.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 05/02/2017 17:07:33    1952158

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Andy wants his players to play with honesty and have a high workrate, and not to be out fought,why are so many players refusing to do that?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 17:12:49    1952163

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Right positives first. Not many tbh. Lenihan did have a good game I thought most of the time decent ball went in he did well with it. Biggie showed up and didn't wilt when we needed him.
Now for the long list of negatives. Our full back line simply can not defend one on one. We badly badly need to help them. Because that Kildare FF Line isn't even that good. Midfield is a massive massive Problem. There kickouts are fair enough, but we have a lack of runs short. All in all the team just doesn't look big enough and there isn't much Andy can do about that

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1464 - 05/02/2017 17:21:52    1952172

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Replying To ziggy32001:  "Andy wants his players to play with honesty and have a high workrate, and not to be out fought,why are so many players refusing to do that?"
I am sure MOD and Banty and E Barry and Coyler wanted the same and did not always get it but to be turned over so heavily by a team just up from Division 3 must be rock bottom. Here's hoping that this little rant will wake our sleepwalking footballers up but like I said earlier terrible damage has already been administered.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1066 - 05/02/2017 17:27:19    1952174

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Poor display Kildare are goin places we have work to do prob train 5 nights this week when it's plain to see we tired and stale.lot these players still not producing the goods but we persisting with them.no power tackling poor passing poor fundamentals poor.running ball down the middle with no support this junior stuff.less emphasis on fitness b more on football night suit us more.

Reco (Meath) - Posts: 419 - 05/02/2017 17:45:24    1952197

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2 ratoath boys in the backs McGill and power really struggled big time, nothing personal against them but there needs to be changes there, desperate enough situation but I'd probably suggest Bryan Menton full back for mcgill, conor Downey wing back for power, Harnan straight swap for Shane Mac too

redser123 (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 05/02/2017 17:49:13    1952204

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Replying To ziggy32001:  "Andy wants his players to play with honesty and have a high workrate, and not to be out fought,why are so many players refusing to do that?"
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.

dunboynelad (Meath) - Posts: 227 - 05/02/2017 18:10:54    1952215

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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."
No we didn't once take the fight to Kildare.Not sure if they are fitter than us,Kildare wanted it a lot more put in a lot more effort.often at kickouts it was 2 on 1

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 05/02/2017 18:17:19    1952217

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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."
I think thats a fair assessment, Kildare looked like an inter county team, while we looked out of our dept all over the field for most of the game. Midfield has been and still is a disaster area, both lack of primary possession and winning breaking ball. If that was a true reflection of where we are at then no manager will improve us. Hopefully it was an off day for entire team and we can get back on track against Derry.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2151 - 05/02/2017 18:27:09    1952224

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Replying To oldsam_newsam:  "I am fully behind Andy but he is far from perfect as are our players. I think the adulation towards Andy is what is riling some others on here.

I thought that Andy was really slow to replace Shane. Andy also went out of his way to have a go at the referee at half time when he should have been concentrating on his half time talk & changes. Anyone watching would realise that the ref was not the reason we were behind. By having a go at the ref there was an implication that Andy felt it was the refs fault that we were being hammered. One incident with Cillian O'Sullivan not getting a free which was turned around for the second goal was all we could really blame the ref for.

Keoghan was getting roasted but was showing some leadership going forward. He should have been swapped with Douglas or Power mid first half. Sheridan also was kept on way longer than he should have been.

I am not trying to have a go at Andy, it's his first real test and he has the pedigree. But the blind adulation is a bit hard to take after that performance."
Good analysis of the game and I would add that it is almost impossible for a full back line to man mark when you have a half backline to are unable to mark their opposing players and have no pace coupled, with a non-existent midfield. Players ran thru the middle at ease and their could have been at least two additional goals. On the positive, 17 points should win quite a few league matches and their were 2 draws in the division which may help going forward.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 05/02/2017 18:27:46    1952225

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Knew we would lose a few but games in the league but I didn't expect to lose like that again. I have criticised biggy a lot in the past but I'll be the first to say he was class today, hopefully it continues. Forde worked hard right up until the final whistle and was very strong on the ball. Lenihan was better than what he showed last year. Power was all over the place until he was taken off and Keogan had an extremely rare off day. Stupid by Burke to get a black card so early on.

I expect 4 or 5 changes to the team next week and we'll probably win, some players need to really step up though.

Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 05/02/2017 18:35:07    1952233

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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.

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 05/02/2017 18:41:09    1952241

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McEntee is no genius of a manager. He done well in Ballyboden because he had what Meath doesn't have and that was talented players at his disposal. The great and successful managers had great players and Meath does not have that. Meath clubs are not able to compete at Senior when they enter the Leinster club and have not for years and when is the last time Meath won an All Ireland Minor or U21. It's no coincidence we are in the state we are at Senior. Micko you will find was a decent manager given he had a very poor squad as well. Meath will get a whole lot worse before it gets better and they would better now throwing likes of Ronan Jones and Brien Conlon all in now.

Talking_Sense (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 05/02/2017 18:46:06    1952246

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Replying To ziggy32001:  "No we didn't once take the fight to Kildare.Not sure if they are fitter than us,Kildare wanted it a lot more put in a lot more effort.often at kickouts it was 2 on 1"
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.

dunboynelad (Meath) - Posts: 227 - 05/02/2017 18:47:33    1952247

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Replying To Talking_Sense:  "McEntee is no genius of a manager. He done well in Ballyboden because he had what Meath doesn't have and that was talented players at his disposal. The great and successful managers had great players and Meath does not have that. Meath clubs are not able to compete at Senior when they enter the Leinster club and have not for years and when is the last time Meath won an All Ireland Minor or U21. It's no coincidence we are in the state we are at Senior. Micko you will find was a decent manager given he had a very poor squad as well. Meath will get a whole lot worse before it gets better and they would better now throwing likes of Ronan Jones and Brien Conlon all in now."
Er, I can point you to the last time we got to the A.I. minor final if that's any help to you? Under Andy Mac in 2012, 1 of 2 times in the last 24 years we've got there, although I'm not sure why I'm even responding here.

dunboynelad (Meath) - Posts: 227 - 05/02/2017 18:54:19    1952255

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