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Your full back line has been good, but as an outsider who only seen Meath play against Clare this year your half back line was woeful, in fact for long periods they were non existent against Clare. Better teams who can shoot from distance would have wrapped up Meath handy enough last weekend. Clares half back and full backs sauntered down the field at ease unopposed on several occasions. Donegal who can break at speed would expose the half back line a lot more than Clare would. They are very quick at transitioning the ball from back to front as was seen against Cavan in the Ulster final and have no fear shooting from distance.
The_Biler (Westmeath) - Posts: 84 - 08/07/2019 21:07:10 2208156 Link 2 |
I think it might be a wee bit like the Cavan game, but would expect Meath to put up more of a fight. I just think they might have too many fires to put out. Even if Murphy or McBrearty are held, you have the likes of Ban, McHugh, Brennan etc. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9073 - 08/07/2019 21:09:49 2208159 Link 0 |
Yes I would echo these thoughts too. Realistically I like many, will travel supporting in hope and expectation of the team and squad learning from one of the best in the current footballing climate. I would believe that, having seen Donegal up close twice this year (in ballybofey and Croke Park's division 2 league final) and Dublin 3 times throughout their forays in Leinster, Donegal are every bit a match for the 5 in a row chasers. With this in mind, and Ballybofey being such a championship fortress, it should be a shot to nothing for us. Play with our heart on our shelf, with workrate and desire, hopefully putting the learning from both previous matches v Donegal this year to go measure. All expectations and realistic opinions would indicate a victory for the Tir Chonaill men. Defensively I believe that we are improving and playing as a unit with some quality. These are lovely young talented footballers learning every day. Conor McGill is developing into an accomplished full back aided by Seamus Lavin and Shane Gallagher in the corners. And IMO the half back line is our strongest on the pitch. Donal Keoghan and Padraic Harnan are excellent defenders as well as counter attackers. However when all said and done Donegal are, and should prove to be, a number of steps ahead of Meath on Sunday. We will trouble the defense for periods, after all we average 16.7 points per championship match in 2019. But the cream always rises and with Micheal Murphy, Ryan McHugh, Eoin Ban Gallagher, Jamie Brennan, Paddy McBrearty etc in your ranks, I feel Meath will be learning. But it will be how we improve from the learnings going into the Mayo and Kerry matches. David (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 08/07/2019 21:19:33 2208169 Link 2 |
Haha, somehow I don't think the Donegal players care what us supporters expect. If they did, they wouldn't of bothered showing up v Tyrone as most of us didn't fancy our chances at all for that game. This is a really focused group of players who as far as we know have a fully fit squad to choose from. Its sport so anything can happen but the bookies odds would suggest that Donegal supporters are right to be confident.
Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 08/07/2019 21:41:30 2208188 Link 0 |
Newman was very effective in the league with the mark rule.
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1298 - 08/07/2019 21:52:00 2208197 Link 0 |
I had you down as a spicebag man royal.
MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/07/2019 22:07:56 2208206 Link 0 |
As often pretty spot on comments Lock. See it similar myself with just like the Cavan game too many fires for Meath to put out. Plus given our recent history and with MM complacency won't be an issue. Saying that think Meath will bring enough to keep it reasonably competitive. Donegal by 4 plus but I do expect an element of energy management in the latter stages with an eye on Croke Park. Expecting a much improved performance from Niall O'Donnell who had a nervous Ulster final but was excellent in the league final between the sides.
panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2771 - 08/07/2019 23:03:33 2208244 Link 0 |
Ballybofey is probably not the place where Meath would ideally like to go to first. NuttyMeathMan (Meath) - Posts: 35 - 08/07/2019 23:17:29 2208249 Link 0 |
Meath always raised their game against us and we were lucky to beat them in Navan a few years ago when Mc Brearty stood up for us. Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 09/07/2019 00:23:10 2208263 Link 0 |
If Clare's full back and half back line breaking out with the ball was our half back line fault, then you are right to criticise them cause they must have been woefully out of possition. Harnan was immense against Clare at 6, and keogan, at 5, has now secured an all star nomination with super 8 qualification. All meaths issues are from 9 to 15 imo, not enoigh physical presence to win any type of ball and or defend well enough rom the front to stop any sort of momentum building..... this is why clare sauntered out so easily and why donegal will do the same unfortunetwly. Wouldnt be confident of our gk either.
southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 879 - 09/07/2019 07:19:27 2208278 Link 7 |
They handicap is ridiculous, and I think the majority of donegal people will accept that. The last 3 meetings have been very tight close affairs. And I see nothing to suggest this game will be any different, donegal are rightly fav , as has been said Meath are under no pressure whatsoever. So a close game I think is on the cards. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/07/2019 08:24:45 2208284 Link 0 |
Meath's defence was great against Dublin's kicking game in the Leinster Final but once Dublin started to move the ball at pace through the hands they got a lot more joy. MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13692 - 09/07/2019 09:22:14 2208301 Link 6 |
Dead right hey. It's just a conspiracy on behalf of the bookmaking industry to slight the good name of Meath GAA, even if that means that they lose money!
the_walls (Mayo) - Posts: 495 - 09/07/2019 09:36:30 2208311 Link 0 |
2 of the last 3 meetings were league games. The championship game a few years ago was during Rory Gallagher's final year which was a total shambles. Was there in person and we were awful and still scraped by. Meath have improved for sure but Donegal will be unrecognizable on Sunday from that team which played in Navan a few years back.
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1317 - 09/07/2019 09:36:42 2208312 Link 0 |
I think that's a fair assessment Lockjaw. I've been very impressed with Donegal this year, to me they are the top challengers to Dublin and in the likes of Murphy, McBrearty and McHugh etc you have top quality match winners. It's great for us to make the Super 8s, it gives us a taste of what's ahead next spring and what will be required to compete in Div 1. Realistically our best bet in the Super 8s is to try and take a scalp, and to be honest the place we're least likely to get it is anway in Ballybofey. I'm just hoping we can keep things tight, win our own kickouts (this is a big concern) and use our possession well, if we're still in it with 10-15mins to go then great. But if we let Donegal pull away I can't see any way back into the game for us. Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 09/07/2019 09:37:07 2208313 Link 0 |
And so will Meath
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/07/2019 10:58:25 2208348 Link 0 |
Very fair point. You'll probably see Hugh McFadden back there as a sweeper so even if Newman wins the ball in he'll be swarmed straight away, similar to what happened Mattie Donnelly and Cathal McShane after the first 10 minutes. We will give you plenty chances though, that's one thing that's been obvious all summer. JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 09/07/2019 11:13:29 2208356 Link 1 |
Mighty stuff. Should be titanic stuff!
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1317 - 09/07/2019 12:55:07 2208404 Link 0 |
My point is your half back line didn't know how to deal with the runners. They backed off, ball watched and allowed them run. Your half forward line was also slow to track back to help out. If they do this against Donegal they will get slaughtered. Donegal popped over long range points for fun against Cavan. I do hope it will be an even game.
The_Biler (Westmeath) - Posts: 84 - 09/07/2019 16:33:17 2208531 Link 0 |
Brilliant interview with McGill in star today. We fear playing no one. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/07/2019 18:16:53 2208579 Link 0 |