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Meath posters are very quiet this year, Div 2 forum is usually good for banter! How do people reckon this league will play out?
sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 15/01/2019 15:08:28
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Replying To sam1884: "Meath posters are very quiet this year, Div 2 forum is usually good for banter! How do people reckon this league will play out?" Don't be encouraging RD... Won't be long before he starts. Be a long few months with him saying Meath will go up to D1. I'll be stunned if they go up. If they stay in D2 they will be doing very well. Now or never for McEntee. The Meath fans were crying out for him and I haven't seen much progress with him. However, Meath are doing very well at underage the last few years so you'd be expecting them to improve over the next 3 years.
Matthew (None) - Posts: 1005 - 15/01/2019 15:39:38
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Replying To sam1884: "Meath posters are very quiet this year, Div 2 forum is usually good for banter! How do people reckon this league will play out?" Lot of talk on the Meath forum. It's simple if we can continue in the same form from our last competitive game we will be promoted. Other than that then we won't. Some very exciting players coming into panel, plus the returns of harnan and Newman should add as well. No danger of been relegated, however it's a 4 horse race for promotion between donegal Meath Armagh and Kildare who will go up, always ultra competitive division and I see no reason why this year would be any different.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 16:25:20
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Replying To Matthew: "Don't be encouraging RD... Won't be long before he starts. Be a long few months with him saying Meath will go up to D1. I'll be stunned if they go up. If they stay in D2 they will be doing very well. Now or never for McEntee. The Meath fans were crying out for him and I haven't seen much progress with him. However, Meath are doing very well at underage the last few years so you'd be expecting them to improve over the next 3 years." Not more second half collapse, fitnesses at highest level we have ever seen , a settled back 6 that is no longer easy to get past. Just a few of the many improvements made under mcentee. Glad to have been of assistance to you.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 16:40:17
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Replying To royaldunne: "Not more second half collapse, fitnesses at highest level we have ever seen , a settled back 6 that is no longer easy to get past. Just a few of the many improvements made under mcentee. Glad to have been of assistance to you." Don't leave us in suspense RD, what are the other many improvements?
Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 15/01/2019 17:10:36
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Donegal and Kildare are well ahead of the pack and should come straight back up.
The remaining 6 could all maybe challenge for promotion if either of the Big 2 start badly but they'll all probably be happy to stay in the Division with a few decent performances.
MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 15/01/2019 17:59:20
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Replying To Dubsfan28: "Don't leave us in suspense RD, what are the other many improvements?" All I say is you will see the difference in maybe a Leinster final :) . Should it come to pass .
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 18:17:22
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I think Div 2 will be very competitive. Favourite's for promotion will be two of Donegal, Kildare, Armagh and Meath with Clare and Tipp possible favourites for relegation.
As always though nothing guaranteed. Looking forward to Sunday week and Kieran McGeeney's return to Newbridge for our league opener.
lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 15/01/2019 18:27:55
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Replying To lilywhite1: "I think Div 2 will be very competitive. Favourite's for promotion will be two of Donegal, Kildare, Armagh and Meath with Clare and Tipp possible favourites for relegation.
As always though nothing guaranteed. Looking forward to Sunday week and Kieran McGeeney's return to Newbridge for our league opener." Think Armagh are the one team that has come on a lot in last year. They are the ones to watch. I wouldn't be surprised if cork find themselves in a relegation battle. The games Meath have v donegal away , Kildare and Armagh at home are where we will see what promotion will look like. From a Meath point we have to be winning two of them to have any hope. (Which two I won't say).
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 18:54:36
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Having seen Armagh at the weekend they looked like a side tuned up to have a run at the league. No question that Donegal and Kildare come championship time are the 2 strongest sides in the division but both likely to be far from full strength or fitness especially in the early stages. Likely to be a tight division with teams taking points from each other. Looking forward to it from a Donegal perspective giving our younger players lots of experience. The aim will be promotion and I think this will be achieved esp with the quality calibre players to come in in the latter stages.
panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 15/01/2019 19:00:49
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I think the key to both Meath and Kildare success or not in the league is consistency, both have shown potential and what they can do Meath v Tyrone and Kildare v mayo , but also Meath v longford and Kildare v Carlow are prime examples of inconsistencies. If either or both can iron out the no shows then both have a great chance of promotion.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 19:15:50
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The only thing u can predict about div 2 is its unpredictability. Its a real topsey turvey division. Where every week u will have surprises. Many of the teams take points of each other ,usually because u have teams of the similar standard.
Any of the teams have a chance of promotion. Thats is the truth. You have a team that runaways with the league and are promoted before the final game eg kildare 2017 Tyrone 2016 Donegal 2014.
But you also have surprise promotions nearly every year, actually in 8 of the last 9 years in div 2 you had suprise promotion. No one not even Cavan supporters were predicting Cavan at the start of the league wud be promoted last year. In 2017 kildare had been promoted from div 3 and they werent been tipped widespead. In 2015 no one was predicting Roscommon wud get promoted the same with Monaghan in 2014 , after they got promoted from div 3 in 2014 , they werent being tipped to go up. The list below shows that in detail
2018 Cavan were promoted from div 2 to div 1 , very few were tipping them to go up
2017 Kildare were promoted from div 2 to div 1 , again they weren't favourites to go up
2016 Cavan were promoted from div 2 to div 1, again they weren't mentioned as contenders at the start of the league
2015 Roscommon were promoted from div 2 to div q again and werent tipped to go up at the start of the league
2014 Monaghan were promoted from div 2 to div 1 again and was also a surprise after coming up from div 1
2013 Westmeath was promoted from div 2 to div 1 and it was a surprise at the time
2011 Laois was promoted from div 2 to div 1 and no one was tipping them to go up at the start of the league
2010 Down was promoted from div 2 to div 1 , and they werent the favourites to go up also .
With exception of 2012 , every year u had surprise team getting promoted. So I wouldn't rule anyone out in the race for promotion.
Donegal are the best team in the div. Missing McBreaty and Murphy at the start. Wud that effect the team?. Donegal are div 1 team and should be favourites to go up.
Kildare will also be favourites and desevedly so. It depends on which kildare we see. They can be very inconsistent. If they play like they did v Mayo and some games in div 1 they will be promoted , play like they did v Carlow and 10 games they lost last year , they wouldnt. D Flynn is a loss. But young Hyland looks like a serious prospect.
Tippearey Cud be a dark horse. They have one of the best full forward lines in the country. And they have another big year in them like the year they reached the semi final. Will take points of many teams.
Armagh are a team that should never be in div 3. They have been underachieving under McGeeney. McGeeney is in his fifth season and there has to be chance after 5 years he will made impact in Ulster and League after 3 of those 5 years in div 3 and no win in Ulster in 5 years. Armagh have some good footballers. If they get their act together could also be surprise team.
Clare have steadied the ship in div 2. They are very hard to beat in Ennis. Have a very shrewd manager. I always felt there was one big year in div 2 for Clare. Could this be the year.
Fermanagh have great defence and one of the best defensive managers in the country with Gallagher. Fermanagh will be hard to beat. Their attack might let them down. But cud be a team to look out for.
Cork like Armagh are underachieving. They are very inconsistent. If they got their act together they cud win the division. Cork have the players to play in div 1. It just seems things are not all.right down south. But you cannot rule out Cork.
And Finally Meath. Meath have to be considered with their record in div 2. In that 4 of the last 5 seasons Meath have been 1 win away from promotion. They lost out on point difference in 2014 , head to head in 2015 and scoring difference in 2016. Even last year if Meath defeated Cavan Meath wud have promoted. Navan is a tough place to go. The problem is inconsistency , Meath cud play well v Donegal and then lose to Fermanagh. Meath have a good record v top teams in recent years with strong performances v Donegal Galway in 2017 and Roscommon and Tyrone in 2016 and even v the Dubs twice in last month. The poor inconsistent performances v div 2 team is a problem . Beating Clare well last season. Then losing to Cavan in the next game. Meath are so bloody inconsistent.
So it will be an topsey turvey league where counties will take points of each and there will be many twists and turns. Div 2 ususlly always goes down to the wire , the last weekend and is one of the most exciting divsions. It should be interesting and fascinating again this year.
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 15/01/2019 19:37:58
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Replying To Furlong1949: "The only thing u can predict about div 2 is its unpredictability. Its a real topsey turvey division. Where every week u will have surprises. Many of the teams take points of each other ,usually because u have teams of the similar standard.
Any of the teams have a chance of promotion. Thats is the truth. You have a team that runaways with the league and are promoted before the final game eg kildare 2017 Tyrone 2016 Donegal 2014.
But you also have surprise promotions nearly every year, actually in 8 of the last 9 years in div 2 you had suprise promotion. No one not even Cavan supporters were predicting Cavan at the start of the league wud be promoted last year. In 2017 kildare had been promoted from div 3 and they werent been tipped widespead. In 2015 no one was predicting Roscommon wud get promoted the same with Monaghan in 2014 , after they got promoted from div 3 in 2014 , they werent being tipped to go up. The list below shows that in detail
2018 Cavan were promoted from div 2 to div 1 , very few were tipping them to go up
2017 Kildare were promoted from div 2 to div 1 , again they weren't favourites to go up
2016 Cavan were promoted from div 2 to div 1, again they weren't mentioned as contenders at the start of the league
2015 Roscommon were promoted from div 2 to div q again and werent tipped to go up at the start of the league
2014 Monaghan were promoted from div 2 to div 1 again and was also a surprise after coming up from div 1
2013 Westmeath was promoted from div 2 to div 1 and it was a surprise at the time
2011 Laois was promoted from div 2 to div 1 and no one was tipping them to go up at the start of the league
2010 Down was promoted from div 2 to div 1 , and they werent the favourites to go up also .
With exception of 2012 , every year u had surprise team getting promoted. So I wouldn't rule anyone out in the race for promotion.
Donegal are the best team in the div. Missing McBreaty and Murphy at the start. Wud that effect the team?. Donegal are div 1 team and should be favourites to go up.
Kildare will also be favourites and desevedly so. It depends on which kildare we see. They can be very inconsistent. If they play like they did v Mayo and some games in div 1 they will be promoted , play like they did v Carlow and 10 games they lost last year , they wouldnt. D Flynn is a loss. But young Hyland looks like a serious prospect.
Tippearey Cud be a dark horse. They have one of the best full forward lines in the country. And they have another big year in them like the year they reached the semi final. Will take points of many teams.
Armagh are a team that should never be in div 3. They have been underachieving under McGeeney. McGeeney is in his fifth season and there has to be chance after 5 years he will made impact in Ulster and League after 3 of those 5 years in div 3 and no win in Ulster in 5 years. Armagh have some good footballers. If they get their act together could also be surprise team.
Clare have steadied the ship in div 2. They are very hard to beat in Ennis. Have a very shrewd manager. I always felt there was one big year in div 2 for Clare. Could this be the year.
Fermanagh have great defence and one of the best defensive managers in the country with Gallagher. Fermanagh will be hard to beat. Their attack might let them down. But cud be a team to look out for.
Cork like Armagh are underachieving. They are very inconsistent. If they got their act together they cud win the division. Cork have the players to play in div 1. It just seems things are not all.right down south. But you cannot rule out Cork.
And Finally Meath. Meath have to be considered with their record in div 2. In that 4 of the last 5 seasons Meath have been 1 win away from promotion. They lost out on point difference in 2014 , head to head in 2015 and scoring difference in 2016. Even last year if Meath defeated Cavan Meath wud have promoted. Navan is a tough place to go. The problem is inconsistency , Meath cud play well v Donegal and then lose to Fermanagh. Meath have a good record v top teams in recent years with strong performances v Donegal Galway in 2017 and Roscommon and Tyrone in 2016 and even v the Dubs twice in last month. The poor inconsistent performances v div 2 team is a problem . Beating Clare well last season. Then losing to Cavan in the next game. Meath are so bloody inconsistent.
So it will be an topsey turvey league where counties will take points of each and there will be many twists and turns. Div 2 ususlly always goes down to the wire , the last weekend and is one of the most exciting divsions. It should be interesting and fascinating again this year." Very fair analysis there furlong. Hard to argue with any point.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2019 20:50:55
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Replying To royaldunne: "Very fair analysis there furlong. Hard to argue with any point." Yes indeed royaldunne. Very good analysis. Thanks furlong for your great contributions here. Your research is top notch.
lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2990 - 15/01/2019 21:39:07
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Thanks for the comments Royaldunne and lilywhite1. I think its going to be a very good division this year in divsion 2. Very tight and very exciting to the end of the league in April.
Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 15/01/2019 23:03:17
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We should have a number of very interesting and intriguing clashes in D2 provided the new rules do not cause mayhem. I watched a segment from the Derry/Tyrone McKenna match and the ref got several 'hand-pass' calls wrong. It caused no outcry but League games are a very different situation.
neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 16/01/2019 23:13:09
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A very competitive league
cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1673 - 17/01/2019 13:07:05
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Replying To neverright: "We should have a number of very interesting and intriguing clashes in D2 provided the new rules do not cause mayhem. I watched a segment from the Derry/Tyrone McKenna match and the ref got several 'hand-pass' calls wrong. It caused no outcry but League games are a very different situation." Same I'm a couple of obc games, one instance blew up for third hand pass, and anothe let 5 go without blowing up didn't matter in that comp. But league there will be murder
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/01/2019 14:22:03
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Replying To cuchulainn35: "A very competitive league" Ultra competitive. Don't see any easy matches.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/01/2019 14:23:14
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Well most people I talk to are Meath people like myself and tbh we're all very unsure of this league. Meath are extremely unpredictable, as are a lot of the teams in this years Div.2, and who goes up and who goes down is far from an easy pick atm. Tbh if youre wondering why Meath posters seem quiet its because quietly there isnt too much confidence anymore, and many are awaiting the first match v. Tipp before saying anything.
Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 17/01/2019 16:57:50
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