Sure we might as well have a thread.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/03/2019 15:07:33    2175565

Why not. .

2 good teams who've earned their place in Division 1.

Meath will certainly go all out to win it. Not sure if Donegal will necessarily take the same approach, but they should - it's a game in Croke park against a top 12 team and will stand to them in the summer. Both teams play a good brand of football so it should be an entertaining game!

If I was to call it, I'll go Donegal by 5

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 26/03/2019 15:22:15    2175572

Should be a good open game. Not much in it in the end. Really hope Niall O Donnell can continue with his form. Has the makings of an outstanding footballer.

From the team that played Meath in Ballybofey I'm expecting about 8-9 changes.

Hard to call.

DLlegends (Donegal) - Posts: 503 - 26/03/2019 15:29:04    2175578

This really is a bonus match as far as we're concerned. A few weeks ago it didn't look likely that we'd be promoted. However with the return of a few of the experienced lads and a result or two going our way we find ourselves in the final. Now that we're here I think the lads will go for it, albeit in a more open way than usual.

I can't see Declan wanting to show his cards too much. One of the odd benefits of operating in Division Two is that we flew under the radar. I think only one of our matches was televised. So I'd expect to see a strong enough line up, but maybe one which will operate more traditionally in a tactical sense, if you get my meaning.

Meath like playing the traditional way as well so it should make for a decent contest. I'll give us the nod to win it by about 3 or 4 points.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9132 - 26/03/2019 15:53:47    2175584

Tbh I don't know how seriously Meath will take it, the goal has been achieved, and I think it will be used as a getting use to Croke Park exercise for the newer players, I'm thinking about Ryan , campion, McCoy, Devine, lynch etc, also I don't think Brennan or mcentee have much experience of hq , will they go all out to win it? They should as it's a piece of national silverware, but I think all eyes are now on a good run in Leinster. I'd say it will be a good game of football on the national stage so maybe they will go all out even if it's for the supporters, there is a very strong bond between the players and supporters that I have not seen in many many a year. And I think we will have the largest group there , it'll be fun and a nice day out, I said earlier in this thread that if we could be offered promotion at that stage I'd gladly hand the cup to donegal or Fermanagh, however now that that's achieved I'm having a change of mind :).

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/03/2019 17:24:08    2175604

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1346 - 26/03/2019 18:34:12    2175624

Should be a good open game, the pressure is off for both teams. Which should lead to a very open game. No team will be wanting to show there hand with championship around the corner . After our win against Meath I said Meath were the best team we played in the league and I was glad to see them getting promotion. We were written off after the Fermanagh game but fair play to the lads for keeping the heads down and getting us promotion. I was very impressed with the Meath defence in our game in Ballybofey. There full back was excellent and the lad who marked Jamie Brennan was very good too. If we are to win on Saturday we'll have to stop there half backs from attacking like they done in Ballybofey. Anyway hoping for a good match and hopefully a win. But it's not going to be easy especially with Meath going to take a huge crowd with them.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2401 - 26/03/2019 18:39:05    2175625

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1346 - 26/03/2019 18:55:53    2175629

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2781 - 26/03/2019 19:41:59    2175638

Neither team will want to lose this game. The last time we won in the championship in croke park was v cork a few years back.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 26/03/2019 20:15:39    2175649

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/03/2019 21:02:53    2175670

Donegal by 7 plus.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 26/03/2019 21:19:34    2175678

Meath to win and they will not let go of div 1 next year either, just like Galway. When you claw your way back you do not take it for granted.

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1669 - 26/03/2019 21:44:56    2175687

If McBrearty was fit I would take Donegal comfortably, without him I think it will be close but I would still go for Donegal by a couple judging by the last couple of performances.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 26/03/2019 21:55:21    2175694

I see Derek O'Mahony has been rewarded for his poor display of officiating last weekend by giving him the Division 2 final.

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 26/03/2019 22:07:18    2175698

Meath to win by 2 or 3 and not because we want it more or Donegal are missing players, but because were better hon the royals

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 665 - 26/03/2019 22:16:18    2175703

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 26/03/2019 22:35:13    2175710

I hope Dongeal play there strongest possible team and ready to win on Saturday. It will be great test for us in Croke park and may the best team win.

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1263 - 27/03/2019 13:37:05    2175804

Its hard to know about Sunday.

My worries for Meath are Donegal have Murphy back and other players back since our meeting in early stages of the league. Murphy is one Donegals greatest players ever and one of the best footballers of his generation and when he plays he seems to lift the whole team. Donegal are Ulster champions and truthfully in the top 5 or 6 teams in the country. Meath have improved greatly since the longford game last year. In most rankings Meath were 15th or 16th in the country last year. Most rankings I see now Meath are 8th or 9th in the country currently.

Meath have improved particularly in the defence were Meath have a strong defence with particularly strong centre of the defence with Conor McGill , now becoming one of best if not best full back in the country and keoghan who is now playing at a level of a Darren Fay or Robbie O Malley. The improvement in Meaths fortunes have been since the Longford game. Keoghan has been playing at centre back since that game. Meath have a top class full back and a top class centre back together at the heart of the Meath defence for the first time since Lyons and Harnan. Also Gallagher Ryan lavin Mcoy have been very good in Meaths defence also. And James McEntee is becoming a sort of Colm Boyle James Mcarthy of the Meath team. Attacking wing back who plays well in every game. McEntee since he moved to wing back v Down last year has been Meaths best and most important player. Its pity Niall kane is injured , as he also is an excellent attacking wing back who was excellent v Donegal a few weeks ago.

But a defence is only so good at what is happening out the field. And if we were to struggle at midfield and fast ball is coming in the open spaces of Croke Park, most defences can struggle. But overall Meath promotion was based on a couple of top class defenders and Meath defence as a whole defending brillantly.

Donegal I think will be up for this. Ulster championship is around the corner. This is a young team who won Ulster last year and will.want to add a national title , as they develop. A comprehensive Donegal victory cud not be ruled out. Meath are not the finished article. I feel next year Meath will be more stronger to deal with teams like Donegal. But saying that we have improved greatly that u couldnt rule out a Meath victory. A Meath victory wud indicate Meath are making huge and significant progress. But if Meath were to lose badly I wouldn't read to much into it. Donegal r simply a stronger team and further on their development as a team then Meath. I think Meath will have more ups and downs and supporters will be saying comments like its another false dawn. Its wouldnt be another false dawn. Why? Meaths improvement has allot to do with 4 or 5 under 21 making a straightaway impact this year. This is the first time since this has happened for years. And if you examine things on the ground on Meath there is lots of young talent coming thru, the best since 90s. Overall Meath and also kildare will be more stronger in the coming years.

Another worry is the dymanic of these league finals. They have followed a thread in last two years. In 2017 Kildare were not expected to be promoted. They were the surprise team in 2017. Galway were favourites after winning Connacht title the year beforehand. Galway at times were not overly impressive in league but still reached the final. In the final kildare the surprise team played poorly and Galway won easily. Last year the surprise team was Cavan . Cavan were brillant in last seasons league. Roscommon were favourites for promotion but overall didnt play great in the division but still were promoted. In the final Roscommon were impressive v surprise promtion team Cavan.

U can see the pattern in the last 2 league div 2 finals . Galway in 2017 and Roscommon in 2018 played well in the final and won after being favourites to be promoted and were current provincial champions at the time. While kildare in 2017 and Cavan 2017, no one expected to get promoted. Both counties were delighted when they were promoted. Almost the fans were in celebratory mood when they were promoted. But when it came to the finals they were poor.

So u can see the trend , Donegal favourites just like Galway and Roscommon in the last two finals , played well while Meath r in the same boat as Kildare and Cavan in last two finals. Hopefully Meath dont follow kildare and Cavans performance. I have a feeling when a team wins promotion no one expected, when they win promotion, theyre is a celebratory mood in the county . While the other teams who people expected to be promted ie Galway Roscommon and Donegal, come into the final more focussed on adding a national title to their provicial title. I dont know. But there has been a trend , a pattern in the last two finals . And it will be interesting to see if Meaths performance is any way similar to kildare in 2017 league final or Cavan last year.

It must be said though Donegal v Meath games are usually very tight affairs with Donegal always usually winning in modern times. Prior to 2000 Meath and Donegal were tight affairs where usually Meath alway won. Since 2000 the games are always close but Donegal usually always win. Since 2000 Donegal and Ulster teams in general have been bogey teams for Meath and also kildare. Meath were knocked out 7 times in last 15 years by Ulster opposition in the championship. Kildare 7 or 8 times were beaten by Ulster opposition in 15 years out of the championship. Our last three games , Meath drew with Donegal in 2014 , lost by point in 2017 v Donegal and lost by 2 points this year. In every one of those 3 games with ten minutes to go Meath looked like the likely winner. But Donegal got over the line. A Meath victory would be very significant for Meath . It would signify Meath beating a top 5 or 6 team in the country fo the first time since hammering Dublin in 2010.

So it should be a good game. How Meath deal with the great Michael Murphy will have a big bearing on the game. But overall the championship will be the main concern for both counties overall. But a national title would be great boost for both of these young teams development.

PS Just regards the gesture by the Meath county board before the league game after the terrible tragedy that happened a few days before the match which directly impacted players on the Donegal panel and Donegal fans. The idea for the gesture came from the Meath players themselves. The Meath players went to the county board and asked them could they do something before the game. I know the Donegal supporters appreciated the gesture.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 27/03/2019 16:07:28    2175843

Its hard to know about Sunday.

My worries for Meath are Donegal have Murphy back and other players back since our meeting in early stages of the league. Murphy is one Donegals greatest players ever and one of the best footballers of his generation and when he plays he seems to lift the whole team. Donegal are Ulster champions and truthfully in the top 5 or 6 teams in the country. Meath have improved greatly since the longford game last year. In most rankings Meath were 15th or 16th in the country last year. Most rankings I see now Meath are 8th or 9th in the country currently.

Meath have improved particularly in the defence were Meath have a strong defence with particularly strong centre of the defence with Conor McGill , now becoming one of best if not best full back in the country and keoghan who is now playing at a level of a Darren Fay or Robbie O Malley. The improvement in Meaths fortunes have been since the Longford game. Keoghan has been playing at centre back since that game. Meath have a top class full back and a top class centre back together at the heart of the Meath defence for the first time since Lyons and Harnan. Also Gallagher Ryan lavin Mcoy have been very good in Meaths defence also. And James McEntee is becoming a sort of Colm Boyle James Mcarthy of the Meath team. Attacking wing back who plays well in every game. McEntee since he moved to wing back v Down last year has been Meaths best and most important player. Its pity Niall kane is injured , as he also is an excellent attacking wing back who was excellent v Donegal a few weeks ago.

But a defence is only so good at what is happening out the field. And if we were to struggle at midfield and fast ball is coming in the open spaces of Croke Park, most defences can struggle. But overall Meath promotion was based on a couple of top class defenders and Meath defence as a whole defending brillantly.

Donegal I think will be up for this. Ulster championship is around the corner. This is a young team who won Ulster last year and will.want to add a national title , as they develop. A comprehensive Donegal victory cud not be ruled out. Meath are not the finished article. I feel next year Meath will be more stronger to deal with teams like Donegal. But saying that we have improved greatly that u couldnt rule out a Meath victory. A Meath victory wud indicate Meath are making huge and significant progress. But if Meath were to lose badly I wouldn't read to much into it. Donegal r simply a stronger team and further on their development as a team then Meath. I think Meath will have more ups and downs and supporters will be saying comments like its another false dawn. Its wouldnt be another false dawn. Why? Meaths improvement has allot to do with 4 or 5 under 21 making a straightaway impact this year. This is the first time since this has happened for years. And if you examine things on the ground on Meath there is lots of young talent coming thru, the best since 90s. Overall Meath and also kildare will be more stronger in the coming years.

Another worry is the dymanic of these league finals. They have followed a thread in last two years. In 2017 Kildare were not expected to be promoted. They were the surprise team in 2017. Galway were favourites after winning Connacht title the year beforehand. Galway at times were not overly impressive in league but still reached the final. In the final kildare the surprise team played poorly and Galway won easily. Last year the surprise team was Cavan . Cavan were brillant in last seasons league. Roscommon were favourites for promotion but overall didnt play great in the division but still were promoted. In the final Roscommon were impressive v surprise promtion team Cavan.

U can see the pattern in the last 2 league div 2 finals . Galway in 2017 and Roscommon in 2018 played well in the final and won after being favourites to be promoted and were current provincial champions at the time. While kildare in 2017 and Cavan 2017, no one expected to get promoted. Both counties were delighted when they were promoted. Almost the fans were in celebratory mood when they were promoted. But when it came to the finals they were poor.

So u can see the trend , Donegal favourites just like Galway and Roscommon in the last two finals , played well while Meath r in the same boat as Kildare and Cavan in last two finals. Hopefully Meath dont follow kildare and Cavans performance. I have a feeling when a team wins promotion no one expected, when they win promotion, theyre is a celebratory mood in the county . While the other teams who people expected to be promted ie Galway Roscommon and Donegal, come into the final more focussed on adding a national title to their provicial title. I dont know. But there has been a trend , a pattern in the last two finals . And it will be interesting to see if Meaths performance is any way similar to kildare in 2017 league final or Cavan last year.

It must be said though Donegal v Meath games are usually very tight affairs with Donegal always usually winning in modern times. Prior to 2000 Meath and Donegal were tight affairs where usually Meath alway won. Since 2000 the games are always close but Donegal usually always win. Since 2000 Donegal and Ulster teams in general have been bogey teams for Meath and also kildare. Meath were knocked out 7 times in last 15 years by Ulster opposition in the championship. Kildare 7 or 8 times were beaten by Ulster opposition in 15 years out of the championship. Our last three games , Meath drew with Donegal in 2014 , lost by point in 2017 v Donegal and lost by 2 points this year. In every one of those 3 games with ten minutes to go Meath looked like the likely winner. But Donegal got over the line. A Meath victory would be very significant for Meath . It would signify Meath beating a top 5 or 6 team in the country fo the first time since hammering Dublin in 2010.

So it should be a good game. How Meath deal with the great Michael Murphy will have a big bearing on the game. But overall the championship will be the main concern for both counties overall. But a national title would be great boost for both of these young teams development.

PS Just regards the gesture by the Meath county board before the league game after the terrible tragedy that happened a few days before the match which directly impacted players on the Donegal panel and Donegal fans. The idea for the gesture came from the Meath players themselves. The Meath players went to the county board and asked them could they do something before the game. I know the Donegal supporters appreciated the gesture.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 27/03/2019 17:24:49    2175860