proveoa how quick we are to forget that it was the new lads mixed in with the experienced lads helped us get to the leinster final now u want us to go back,the previous team lost to kildare 5 times in a row ,but thanks to banty taking a gamble on the young lads i now believe that the injection of pace that the`new lads have brought is going to really worry the dubs,we need to go forward not backwards come on the royals.

to be honest i dont think brian farrell has been given enough credit, hes our top scorer so far and against kildare when they got the goal he was one of the players who really dug deep and got a couple of scores to bring us back into it, and most importantly he has been there when we have needed him this year, like he hadnt started a game since 2009 and this year hes really taken his chance and had made the jersey his own again.

Analyst
County: Meath
Posts: 156

1219844
I have a feeling lads that before the year is out Farrell will let us down as regards free taking.....

Thats a ridiculous statement to come out with. In all the years watching Brian Farrell I have never saw him so motivated and up for games as much as this Championship. The lad is giving it his best and there is no point in putting him down, and his frees have been better than a certain other free taker on the team.

If anything the lad has been a bit frustrated in the games, several times against Kildare and Carlow he was open in a good position and other players took the wrong option, I don't see anybody slating them.

I agree with the Farrell statement,he has been our most consistent player so far in the championship.

Lads, Kevin Reilly will start this game, in the only change on the team. Lenhan indirectly to get replaced, it is unfair in my opinion to drop any other player. They have got us here. Like I said before, we neede 20 players and the 5 lads to come in are great impact players, we would lose this edge should Peadar, Bray or Queeney start the game.
As for Brian Farrell, nobody has put in a bigger effort and wants it more than this guy. In my opinion, deserves his place any given day, all he ever needed was 2 or 3 games for his confidence. Banty has seen this in him and stook to it, I have to say one thing about Banty, he has his tactics and selection spot on so far, give or take 1 or 2 players the majority of fans agree with his selections

tackleberry
County: Meath


Agree with you 100% re: farrell.

Lads were way to eager to knock the lad and throw digs. He's always had great ability, but needed a run to get his confidence up.
His attitude has to be commended. He's been on the recieving end of what I'd call harsh decisions a few times, but kept plugging away rather than get in a huff or drop himself off the panel like other. He's a joy to watch when he's on form and hopefully gets another handfull of scores this Sunday too.

Lads Stephen Bray has to start,look what he did to them in 2010

anyway my team..

1.GALLAGHER
2.KEOGHAN
3.REILLY
4.MENTON
5.BURKE
6.MCINARNEY
7.TOBIN
8.GILLESPIE
9.REILLY-WILL WEAR 12 BUT PLAY HERE
10.FORDE
11.CARROLL
12.MEADE
13.FARRELL
14.SHERIDAN
15.BRAY

On Cian Ward,

I notice a lot of people dropping him from their team or criticising him over the past few games.

Yes he hasnt been scoring a lot, and the frees havent been of his usual standard, but I think a lot of people are missing the fact of where he's operating from.
He may be wearing 15, but he is spending 80% of his time behind midfield. Against Wicklow and Kildare in particular he won a huge amount of ball back here and set up attacks from here.
Maybe Im reading it wrong, but I think people seem to think that once 15 is on his back, then he should be giving 6 or 7 points, but not allowing for where he is actually playing on the pitch.
Banty obviously has him doing a particular job back there so although lots are calling for his head, I wouldnt be surprised if he starts Sunday, is given his role their to work as hard as he can till he tires, and is replaced like Bray.
Very much like Meade, word as hard as ya can for 40 mins and when the legs are gone, bring in Peader.

Graham Reilly is one of our paciest attacking players, probably the best one at scoring long range points from deep. And yet some feel he should be given the task of or expected to man mark one of Dublin's powerful midfielders. That is the job of Gillespie and Meade. Otherwise we wouldn't be getting the best out of the three of them.

lads are some of you for real? Stephen Bray if fit has to start on sunday on form he is one of the best forwards in the country he can also win his own ball and kick scores off both feet, and Grahm Reilly is not a midfielder h e is a class forward who runs at defenders and can also score off both feet and needs to be played where he can inflict the most damage and in my humble opinion that is in the half forward line, Good luck on sunday, P.S hope the short passing game is not overdone as it was in the first half against kildare, mixed it up much better in the second half i thought

GlasshouseOr if you think B.Meade can do a big job for us around the middle it will be a first for him at this level . Your previous post said he has played well except against Kildare . Here is a run down of his last few important games for Meath . Kildare last year in Navan taken off after 20 min very poor , final game in the league this year against Louth . When we needed a big game from him he got sent off . First round against Wicklow this year played his best game in a long time , we must look at who beat wicklow last weekend to see how good Wicklow were . First game against Carlow midfield totally outplayed for a lot of the game Carlow midfielder got man of the match . Second game had done nothing in the first 20 minutes taken off injured when he went off Meath played great football . Last day against Kildare the same taken off after doing very little and Meath Played better . I think Playing Meade on Sunday hoping for a big game is a Hugh risk . The first 20 minutes is going to be played at a fast pace and Meade lacks pace

Ye but he is a tough hard rugged player the this Meath team needs around the middle to help Conor Gilispie. And Meath supporters need to cut Meade some slack as he is sacrificing his own role in the team to the benefit of Graham Reilly. And I can assure you if you take Brian Meade out of the team now it will have a big effect on Biggy as if you watch closely Reilly just hoovers up the breaking ball the Meade knocks down and Reilly takes off and tears teams apart down the middle!

MMC, your been very hard on him. As if his centrefield partner and other team mates weren't more responsible (collectively) for the poor performance against Carlow in the first match. Never mind Louth where there were many fall guys. The Kildare match was the first time Conor Gillespie played better than him in the championship this season. Anyway, given our long term injuries elsewhere (SOR, Mark Ward), we have very few options. I never stated that I was expecting a huge game from him, but still feel he is worth a starting place (with Peadar in reserve if the team needs a shake up). He may even surprise a few of his critics. What I merely stated is that IMHO Graham Reilly shouldn't be bottled up man marking (or constantly following) a Dublin midfielder. He cannot do that for 70 minutes and be expected to deliver the goods going forward, throughout the game. Play to his strengths and that is wing forward, where he can drop deeper for kickouts or when defending or counter attacking. He got booked the last day in the first half and will need to be even more careful, not to pick up any silly bookings against Dublin.

They all will, I can see somebody getting sent off on Sunday for two (soft) yellow cards.

Bigjoe G.Reilly has only being Playing this role for the last few games . Meade has being poor in my eyes for the last couple of years . Meath have Played better when he has being taken off . If he's picked to play on Sunday I hope he has a great game and I will come on this Forum on Monday and say I was wrong . I dont thing I
Will have to .

ward earns his keep ,as jinxie says just cause he wears #15 and scores a couple .its not a reflection on his over all game.

Glasagusor - They all will, I can see somebody getting sent off on Sunday for two (soft) yellow cards.

Yeh the Duffy has the potential to ruin the game for both sides. In the Cavan/Kildare game he gave Kildare 6 yellows and Cavan 7. And a lot of those were for absolutely nothing and the game wasn't even rough/physical.
Compare that to our game v Kildare where 3 yellows were given to each team.

The player I would love to see partner Gillespie at midfield is Menton . If K.Reilly is fit to play I hope Menton is not wasted in the corner . Banty won't change the halfback line and Harrington done well when he came in the last day so I would leave him there. I thing the type of football Meath are playing a player like Menton could be the answer at midfield . He has power , great pace ,can carry the ball and can catch good ball . And I thing he would help tighten up the area in front of the centre back when teams run at the defence . This was probably our worst area agains Kildare . I dont think he will be playing here on Sunday but I would love to see it happen some day . I'm looking forward to Sunday have my ticket for the hogan and no matter what 15 Banty starts on Sunday I will shout them all on . If we can hold Dublin for the first 15 minutes the same way Wexford did we will win I am convinced of that .

The forgotten man at midfield seems to be tom walsh,imo he was our best midfielder in the league but hasnt had a look in since

yeah maybe cian should start, hes been doing well getting the breaking ball and kicking it accurately into the forwards which we could miss if he didnt start, i just hope aleast for some of the game he can come up in front of goal, i think especially with joe not been too accurate with goal chances so far this year that cian is probly the best goal getter we have. He can get goals far enough out from goal by just firing it past all the defenders, sometimes from positions other forwards wouldnt dream of trying to have a shot at goal but it usually works.
Does anyone else think were coming in very nicely under the radar? with none of our players doing interviews etc and it all seeming to be very quiet from the meath camp, even the players on twitter not tweeting or anything, its good their having a quiet build up to the game.

Yeh all is extremely quite from the camp, compare to Dublins with the two Brogans having plenty to say to the papers. Hopefully it will work in our favour and the players are focused.