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Meath V Dublin

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A team for the birds......really lost it now.....mad cow disease is back!!!!

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 17/10/2020 10:02:51    2298285

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Replying To Furlong1949:  "Thanks Royallegend.
Meath (FL v Dublin) - Andrew Colgan, Eoin Harkin, Seamus Lavin, David Toner; Brían Conlon, Shane McEntee, Donal Keogan; Bryan Menton, Ronan Jones; Ethan Devine, Cillian O'Sullivan, Jason Scully; Thomas O'Reilly, Donal Lenihan, Barry Dardis.

Team picked a real strange one. McGill is missing and seems rest of Rataoth lads I think thats expected, but McGill a massive loss one of the best full backs in the country. Harkin is unproven, Shane Gallagher and Ronan Ryan are proven county players and good defenders, they must injured. No James McEntee or Harnam also must be injured. For me McGill Ryan Gallagher J McEntee P Harnan are first choice defenders. What about Gavin McCoy or Niall kane also options and Robin Clarke another option at the back. Midfield is good with Jones and Menton. Half forwards expected but with McMahon gone very surprised Campion not starting or even Costello. And big surprise Shane Walsh not starting. Looking at that team Conor McGill Shane Gallagher James McEntee Ronan Ryan Byran McMahon Paraig Harnan Two Wallaces Shane Walsh and Mickey Newman are missing thats 8 first teams players. Injuries, players in close contact, maybe a dummy team if not thats the most experimental side McEntee has picked since 2018. Maybe its a dummy team, I dont think one or two might not start. Very surprised by the team selection of Harkin Scully and Dardis is out of the blue. I dont think many would have had them starting and probaly not on the match day panel.

That team has 8 changes to the team that played Meaths last game in the league this year. That team has 9 changes to the team that started v Dublin in last years leinster final. We had settled team last year. I am genuinely puzzled by this selection.

The Dublin forwards told Bernard Flynn and journalist that Meath defenders they faced in last years leinster final were the toughest they faced in the last few years. Meath have issues upfront. Every team in div 1 have better forwards but Meath are good at the back. Kept Dublin to lowest score in championship in first half since 2011 Donegal semi final.
Lavin McGill Gallagher and Koeghan were outstanding v Callaghan and co up to 53rd min, then game was up. Meath kept Mannion Callaghan Kilkenny and Costello to 2 points from play up to 53rd min. Kilkenny was very quite on Keoghan. Meath forwards were shocking poor Meath lack quality upfront. No marque top class forwards but there is young forward talent coming through. But no gurantee there is another Giles or O Rourke on the horizon.
But Dublin forwards Callaghan and kilkenny and Mannion did tell Bernard Flynn and journalist that the best defenders they faced in the last few years were Meath, McGill and keoghan are two top class defenders. McGill Koeghan Gallagher Lavin were excellent one on one defending you dont seem much anymore. Why Meath were promoted and reached super 8 last year was because of the defence . The Defence that played v Dublin last year 4 are missing today in Conor McGill Padraig Harnan Shane Gallagher and James McEntee. I would be expecting the worst after seen that team picked for today, not confident at all."
Best of luck to all the lads today and fair play to them, I hope they can perform to the potential. But one would have to say that the team named is a lower table Div 2 team. Take out Menton and Keoghan and it's a competitive Div 3 team. Such a shame about the injuries etc V surprising not to see Cian McBride there. Can he still be named late? Hard to imagine we wouldn't have space in that squad for a full time professional midfielder!

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 17/10/2020 10:16:15    2298288

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Just want to wish Andy Bryan Donal and all the lads the best of luck! We can beat the Dubs if we just BELIEVE! and also if they let the ball in early to the inside forward line. Strong team named I like the look of it. Some lads missing dunno whether Covid related or not but one of the most glaring losses is young Adam Flanagan from Clonard? If we are going to be letting the ball in quick we will need a foothold in midfield and there is no better fielder than Adam. I'm incredibly nervous now waiting for this game. Sad we can't get to it but I'll have the fire lit and my Snack Box delivered and I'll br roaring the house down! HON THE ROYALS!

Evernal (Meath) - Posts: 74 - 17/10/2020 12:20:36    2298340

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Best wishes to Andy Brian donal and all the team today. Strange times. Feels very odd not going to a match, ordered in eir so at least get to see it. But really strange feeling. But should we beat the auld enemy I won't care.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/10/2020 12:22:21    2298341

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Best wishes to the lads. I have a gut feeling we can do it tomorrow. Everyone needs to believe, be proud to wear the green and gold. Get stuck in from the start, touch tight, don't let the dubs settle on possession. Don't work it through the hands as its dangerous against a team like Dublin, let the ball in. We can beat them inside. Hon Meath

LoyalRoyal66 (Meath) - Posts: 80 - 17/10/2020 12:56:44    2298350

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Replying To MillerX:  "A team for the birds......really lost it now.....mad cow disease is back!!!!"
Contact tracing enforced a few absences I believe
Seems to be the order of the day with Kerry and Galway 20s having wholesale changes, Leitrim conceding, Fermanagh with only 3 subs etc
In that context we have done fairly well but I would fear a Dub onslaught
Delighted for Harkin who was dropped at Christmas of his minor year but stuck at it showed great character and has got his break now after making UCD Sigerson panel last year

ABK67 (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 17/10/2020 16:54:15    2298409

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Replying To ABK67:  "Contact tracing enforced a few absences I believe
Seems to be the order of the day with Kerry and Galway 20s having wholesale changes, Leitrim conceding, Fermanagh with only 3 subs etc
In that context we have done fairly well but I would fear a Dub onslaught
Delighted for Harkin who was dropped at Christmas of his minor year but stuck at it showed great character and has got his break now after making UCD Sigerson panel last year"
Looks like a taste of things to come, how can teams prepare in any meaningful way, never knowing who will be available week after week. Dublin are missing a few as well but look very strong from midfield onwards. No a whole lot at stake so lads can play without undue pressure.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 17/10/2020 18:27:03    2298453

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Kickout disaster again. Shane Walsh looks good.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1347 - 17/10/2020 19:28:07    2298480

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We've already gifted Dublin 1.4. How can the upper hand in matches when your constantly chasing games. 4 years of keepers errors.

Foley91 (Meath) - Posts: 418 - 17/10/2020 19:36:37    2298482

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Replying To bdbuddah:  "Kickout disaster again. Shane Walsh looks good."
Sure CN sold plenty of books during lockdown.
Poorly coached team.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 724 - 17/10/2020 19:56:08    2298491

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Gutsy performance and well done to the lads tonight, played well.

If you've not got a good kickout strategy though, you are at nothing. Just breaks a teams spirit conceding goals like that and it's 100% on managements shoulders. We've been looking at disasterous kick outs costing us for 3+ years now.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 17/10/2020 20:37:19    2298507

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Replying To ryan:  "Sure CN sold plenty of books during lockdown.
Poorly coached team."
Delighted with Meath performance with 8 first team players missing eg Lavin McGill Gallagher Harnan Wallace McMahon Newman Wallace. Thats the closest any leinster team has got to Dublin in league and championship in 7 years, since 2013 Leinster Final when Meath lost by 7 to Dublin.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 17/10/2020 20:48:19    2298513

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Have to say I found it annoying Ethan Devine being taken off. Unless you absolutely have to make a major tactical alteration or a players confidence is totally shot, you should never take off a player in the first half of a match. It's not like he was playing badly either. If you're going to do that to him then why start him in the first place?

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 17/10/2020 20:56:55    2298518

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Good performance from your lot today with Walsh and Scully impressive

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 219 - 17/10/2020 21:07:23    2298523

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Good performance; lets be real it could have been very ugly if the Dubs pressed on at 1-3 to 0-1 up. From a Dublin perspective, they cant be too happy with that; sloppy, ill-disciplined, lethargic, it wasnt good. From our perspective a lot of positives. Morris did well. Conlon too when he came on. Walsh looked very solid at this level. Keogan must be used as much as possible going forward; lethal runner. We did ok in the midfield battle and really turned them over a lot in our own half. Hickey/Harkin also did really well. Workrate was excellent. If I was to be honest though we still didnt look like a side capable of winning that game in my view. You could sense we clicked well and the Dubs were in 2/3rd gear. We still make too many errors, cough up kickout possession too often (goal aside), and lack killer instinct up front in a big way. I wouldve also liked to see our lads rough it up a bit more, but they did physically acheive relative parity as well. One of the cleanest Dub/Royal games you'll see. 1-20 to 0-19 is a result we can take and build on. I say the upcoming year in div.2 will be important to build and consolidate our panel, and once again the ultimate aim should be to seek promotion. This wasnt an ideal game to be going off; but Meath are slowly eaking closer to the level we want to be at. Also well done to our minor team on a huge win over Dublin in Navan today. A very positive day for Meath.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 17/10/2020 21:10:56    2298526

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Meath new lads Hickey and Harkin did very well Better than the Dublin new players
Walsh did well but should have scored the goal Can't blame Hickey for his as up until this year he was a corner back
Morris missed 2-1 though which he should have finished particularly as he was on the Dubs worst player His two points came under no pressure late in the game Banty was a better option or Jack O Connor
Thomas Reilly kicked some great frees
Keoghan and Menton still the leaders and never stop running
Andy will be remembered for not addressing the goalkeeper problem even though I think Brennan is the best we have but nothing coming through in early / mid 20's
Might be time to convert an outfield player- Not Joe!!!

ABK67 (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 17/10/2020 21:17:05    2298532

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Good performance but another defeat, and I will never go down the road of moral victories. Just ain't my style.
That all been said we are getting there. And are improving, we lacking one or two killer forwards and that is our downfall, the kick out for the goal? Was just Dublin been cuter than us, small instantly knew Brennan was goin to go short, it is one of those things that u learn with experience . And that a gk disguises better. Andy is definitely improving us, we are without a lot of lads same as every other county but I just feel we can't afford to be without some of them. Morris was excellent and has to be a future starter imo , O'Sullivan had one of his better games but keeps running down blind alleys. Conlon should have been brought in earlier. Who is the go to forward in Meath for court team at this stage ?? I see plenty of assistants but no stand out. Anyone any idea who that could be ?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/10/2020 21:25:46    2298539

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Replying To Crinigan:  "Have to say I found it annoying Ethan Devine being taken off. Unless you absolutely have to make a major tactical alteration or a players confidence is totally shot, you should never take off a player in the first half of a match. It's not like he was playing badly either. If you're going to do that to him then why start him in the first place?"
At least twice on the tv he could be seen jogging back while his man was bombing forward. I like devine alot but if him or any player can't/won't track back as a wing forward against the all Ireland champions well then they need to be replaced no matter how long is gone in the game. We can't afford to carry any passengers and unfortunately tonight he looked like he was blowing a bit IMO. no big deal doesn't make him a bad player and i wouldn't be writing him off and there will be plenty of good days in a meath shirt for him but was just a bad night at the office for him.

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 870 - 17/10/2020 21:30:27    2298543

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Replying To ABK67:  "Contact tracing enforced a few absences I believe
Seems to be the order of the day with Kerry and Galway 20s having wholesale changes, Leitrim conceding, Fermanagh with only 3 subs etc
In that context we have done fairly well but I would fear a Dub onslaught
Delighted for Harkin who was dropped at Christmas of his minor year but stuck at it showed great character and has got his break now after making UCD Sigerson panel last year"
Maybe Covid is having an effect but when I seen the team this morning I knew in my heart of hearts that NOTHING had been done about kickouts, then I seen the change before throw in I again hoped that there may have been a effort to remedy our No 1 problem. But NO within a few minutes we are again picking the ball out of the f...g net. Must stop. What is this manager and coach doing about this? The coach has published articles about kickout strategy!!! Past a joke, it's not like that it can't be done, within the county several clubs are managing to retain 75% plus of their kickouts and they are not all senior.
Going back to tonight, while it is absolutely brilliant to get a performance against Dublin it is appalling that a goal was given away so cheaply, it's like that retaining possession from kickouts doesn't matter and before you accuse me of picking on the goalkeeper I am not, there were two players in the vicinity who did not move to meet the ball, that's why I think it is not considered as a problem with the squad or the management. Until this is addressed we will not be up there. End of.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 17/10/2020 21:32:13    2298548

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Good performance but another defeat, and I will never go down the road of moral victories. Just ain't my style.
That all been said we are getting there. And are improving, we lacking one or two killer forwards and that is our downfall, the kick out for the goal? Was just Dublin been cuter than us, small instantly knew Brennan was goin to go short, it is one of those things that u learn with experience . And that a gk disguises better. Andy is definitely improving us, we are without a lot of lads same as every other county but I just feel we can't afford to be without some of them. Morris was excellent and has to be a future starter imo , O'Sullivan had one of his better games but keeps running down blind alleys. Conlon should have been brought in earlier. Who is the go to forward in Meath for court team at this stage ?? I see plenty of assistants but no stand out. Anyone any idea who that could be ?"
Good point on the goal, not sure it's Brennan's fault necessarily. You'd have to credit the forward maybe as you say.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 17/10/2020 21:33:57    2298550

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