Meath v Wicklow are usually 4 or 5 point wins for Meath. Wicklow are always dogged opposition for Meath. Today was all about gap between div 1 and div 4. The last time Meath hammered Wicklow was in 99 and 95 Meath were in div 1. Div 1 has brought Meath on. Meath look physically bigger then I have seen in ten years. Meath are improving every 6 months under McEntee. They are still work in progress.

If the semi final is kildare that is a 50 50 game. Meath and kildare there is very little between them. Meath are a little bit ahead of development in terms of being div 1. But kildare always up their game Meath. This could be the game of the championship. But kildare have to beat Offaly. And that will be tricky. John Maughan has a great record of getting underdogs to deliver big performances. He was manager of the greatest shock in gaa history when Clare beat kerry in 92. And also over Mayo when they were underdogs v Meath in both games in 96 Mayo played well. Also last year Offaly were unlucky not to beat Meath. Offaly have a chance tonight. But you would be expecting Meath v kildare semi final. And I think if it is it it will come down to if Meaths defence can keep kildare natural young forwards quite.

Meath are strong defensively. Dublin forwards told Bernard Flynn and national journalist that best toughest defenders they have faced in last few years were Meaths defenders. Might seem strange with Dublins hammering but Meath kept Dublin to lowest first half score in championship since Donegal semi final in 2011. For 55 mins keoghan McGill lavin Harnan Gallagher were excellent defensively. The reason Meath got promoted and to super 8s was because of their defence. Meath have one great defender eg keoghan and other good natural defenders eg McGill McEntee Harnan Lavin Ryan Hickey.

Meath while relegated where very competitive in that Mayo Galway and kerry struggled to beat Meath. Mayo beat Meath by 1 point, with a goal in 70th min won the game. Galway beat by 2, 2 points scored in injury time. Marc O Se said Meath should have beaten kerry and lost by three. Meath game v Dublin was the closest any leinster team has got to Dublin in league or championship in 8 years. Meath drew with Monaghan in Clones. Meath are not beating top teams. But they have gone from going 60 mins with top teams last July in Super 8s. To going full 70 mins and losing in injury time to top teams this year. Meath had youngest team in div 1 in last two ganes with ten Meath players playing v Dublin and Monaghan ten players who were aged 21 and under.

Meath have improved since the spring they have added to a good defence

1 Meath had ten to 12 first teams players injured in everyone of their first 5 games in the spring. This meant Andy McEntee had to play panel players. Many of these players played well. And when all the injured players came back meant for the first time ever Meath have a strong bench. In super 8 last year Mayo Kerry and Donegal bench made bigger impact then Meaths. The same in the spring kerry Galway Mayos bench made a bigger impact then Meaths. Last 3 games Meath bench has made a bigger impqat then opposition.

V Dubs
Meath bench scored 0-4
Dubs bench scored 0-0
V Monaghan
Meath bench scored 0-9
Monaghan bench scored 0-1
V Wicklow
Meath bench scored 2- 2
Wicklow bench 0-0

Meath now have a bench that can make an impact

2 Another improvement since spring is midfield. For first time since 2012 2013 Meath have a midfield partnership that looks strong . Meath lost a generation of midfielders for different reasons eg Conor Gillespie, Shane O Rourke, Conor Nash, Harry Rooney. Ronan Jones is best midfielder in Meath. He was in America for last 3 years. In the spring he travelled back and forth from America every week for every game and he hadnt trained for Meath for 3 years and played gaa for 3 years. He was very rusty. He is now permantly in Ireland and was excellent in Meath club chanpionship. First time he played gaa regularly in 3 years. He was outstanding v Monaghan and again today was class. At 24 Jones with Menton who is one best scoring midfielders in the county ( scored 1 - 1 today, and was top scoring midfielder in the country in last years championship). With Menton and Jones Meath have strong ball carrying athletic midfield.

So midfield a problem area for Meath since 2013 Brian Menton has had 10 different midfield partners in 3 years. Now with Jones Meath have a proper midfield partnership

3 Meaths other area of inprovement is the forwards since the spring. We saw problems Meath had upfront in last years leinster final. This problem contd in spring but with young talented forwards Shane Walsh 19 Mattthew Costello 19 and Jordan Morris 19, These are 3 new forwards that did not play last year or much in the spring. Morris wasnt on match day panel in Spring.

2019 Meath scored 0-14 v Donegal
2019 Meath scored 1-9 v Kidare
2019 Meath scored 0-4 v Dublin
2019 Meath scored 1- 13 v Donegal
2019 Meath scored 0-14 v Mayo
2019 Meath scored 2- 13 v kerry
2020 Meath scored 1- 9 v Tyrone
2020 Meath scored 0-7 v Donegal
2020 Meath scored 2-5 v Mayo
2020 Meath scored 1- 12 v Galway
2020 Meath scored 2- 13 v Kerry
Since we came back
2020 Meath scored 0-19 v Dublin
2020 Meath scored 1- 17 v Monaghan
2020 Meath scored 7- 14 v Wicklow

Jordan Morris scored 2 v Dubs as sub, scored 0-7 v Monaghan as sub and scored 3-4 v Wicklow today
Shane Walsh scored 4 points v Dubs, scored 1 point v Monaghan and scored 0- 4 v Wicklow and scored 6 points v kerry in his debut at 18 last in super 8s g kerry were was Meaths best player.

The emergence of Morris Walsh and Costello who scored goal of the game today means Meath have inside finisher in Morris and a target man in Walsh. Its years since Meath had threatening duo upfront.

They are young very young both 19 but they have huge potential both have been on underage teams who have beaten Dublin regularly. Shane Walsh on underage teams who defeated Dublin twice at underage Jordan Morris on Meath eams who defeated Dublin 3 times at underage. Meath have not made breakthrough at under 20. But that should come in the future. But at minor ten years agp at the start of the last decade Dublin were hammering Meath at minor. Dublin players were bigger and better ten or 6 years ago. Now at minor Meath are beating Dublin year and in many cases hammering Dublin at minor. Meath footballer look in many cases bigger and better at Dublin at underage minor. Meath hammered Dublin ar minor by 11 point in leinster minor a month ago. Some said that was third victory Meath had over Dublin at minor in four years. Its a better record in that if u included Meath hammerings of Dublin by 10 points at minor in 2016 and Meaths beat Dublin twice in the inaugural minor under 17 championship in 2018 this all means Meath have beaten Dublin 6 times in 6 years at minor level in leinster. This is unprecendented.. Dublins organisation finance and professionalism at under 20 kicks in. But with huge work done at underage I think you will see a breakthrough at under 20 for Meath soon.

But these young playerw Morris Walsh Costello have won leinster underage titles and beaten Dublin regularly at underage. This means Meath 10 young players who are 21 or under 21 who played in last two league game or able to make an immediate impact at senior and have confidence I havent seen from Meath young players in years.
.
Meath forward line is much stronger then the one which misfired v Dubs last year or the one which only scored averqge 13 or 14 in the league in the spring. Meath are now scoring 19 to 20 and today 7 goals.

Meath are far from.finished if it is kildare in next game that is a derby a 50 50 game. This is the best set natural forwards I have ever seen play for kildare. Kildare always play like possesed men v Meath. If its Offaly, Offaly wouldnt fear Meath. But whatever happens this year I think in next 2 years Meath development will be worth watching. Meath have one of the youngest teams in the country and are improving every few months and there is no reason why 19 or 20 or 21 years old wouldnt improve in next year and in 2021. The league next year is pivotal Meath have to get back into div 1. Meath are not finished article there are issues with goalkeeper with 9 goalies under McEntee and our still developing and are still far from finished article. There is still mistakes and cannot beat top teams. But I defintely think in next 24 months Meaths developmet will be intereting to see can they break into top 6. Meaths aim is not to win Sam. The aim is to reach Monaghans level be top 6 7 team stay in div 1 reach super 8s yearly and close the gap with Dublin. Thats Meath aim. And kildare Cork Armagh Down are also trying to break into top 6 or 7. I think.Meath have one big advantage over Armagh ot kildare. Armagh have some exciting young forwards but are very poor at the back. Kildare also have excitibg young forwards. But also have issues at the back. Meath for years were shakey at the back.But Meath since 2018 have improved at the back. Upfront and midfield was problem last year. But with Jones at midfield and emergence of young forward talent like Morris 19 , Walsh 19, Costello 19 and Conlon 21 means Meath have improved and are improving.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 08/11/2020 18:27:19    2306200

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1175 - 08/11/2020 19:04:58    2306284

Borderroyal (Meath) - Posts: 496 - 08/11/2020 20:12:11    2306391

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 08/11/2020 20:47:34    2306435

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 08/11/2020 21:21:14    2306475

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 08/11/2020 21:40:20    2306485

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 08/11/2020 21:57:46    2306498

Look, a lot of lads getting carried away here. Big talk on several threads. We have respect for everyone we play but with the utmost due respect we can't take a huge amount from the Wicklow game and we have a job to do in the next game before we start getting caught up in dreamland.
I watched Kildare/ Offaly and I found Offaly to be wasteful. They spurned goal opportunities that could've won them the game. At times Offaly were the better side, but Kildare simply were better at putting the ball over the bar, and didnt have to work hard to do so. They also didnt look like world beaters, with respect to them. In saying that Kildare will raise their game considerably at the sight of a Meath jersey as we know, and they have talent aplenty. They can win midfield. They can score from distance. Theyre good up-front. They absolutely can rattle our keeper and our kickouts. They have an all-Ireland winning coach who knows the game inside out. That with the added incentive of beating Meath, whom they hate like a hole in the head, and getting to a Leinster final vs. the Dubs. They will be frothing. This is a different beast altogether, but if it all comes together right, we can win. It will take a big, big performance, always does. If we get goals in this game, which we threaten to do in every game, we could be in business.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 09/11/2020 05:48:55    2306576

Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 401 - 09/11/2020 10:07:04    2306638

Perfect match to see where we are at in my opinion. 50/50 game, would love to be in Croker for it.

AthboyCelt (Meath) - Posts: 148 - 09/11/2020 10:07:32    2306640

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1080 - 09/11/2020 10:16:42    2306646

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/11/2020 10:42:17    2306675

Agree, we have to be confident going in against Kildare. We can not however underestimate them and have an eye on the Dubs, Kerry done that yesterday and are now out of championship before any provincial final has been played.

Kildare are in a much better position than the last time we played them, but so are we.

We've added depth to our backs, strengthened up midfield and unearthed a few new forwards.

It could simply come down to who makes less mistakes next weekend as I feel there won't be a whole lot between us.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 09/11/2020 16:07:19    2306877

There is very little between these 2 teams I think if u played ten games Meath would win 5 and kildare would win 5. Both are top div 2 teams who are trying to break into div 1 top 6 or 7 teams. Until one of them break into top 6 or 7 basically stay in div 1. They are both at same level. Both young both have potential. Its 50 50 game. If kildare win no one and I mean no one in Meath will be surprised. We are expecting a huge challenge on Sunday and if we dont perform and if kildare click upfront, 2017 could happen again.

. In the last 24 months Meath are ahead in terms of playing div 1 teams, defeated kildare and manager in job longer

Since start of 2019
Meath have played 12 div 1 teams
Kildare have played 3 div 1 in the same period.
Meath 10 of Meaths last 11 games were div 1 teams. Kildares last 8 games were div 2 and 3 teams.
Thats what I mean in that those 12 games mhi have played v vest teams of the country have developed Meaths tackling and overall game. The same way in 2018 the 7 games in div 1 brought on kildare to beat Mayo and Super 8s in 2018.
Meath last year were unlucky not to beat Donegal twice and this year should have beaten Mayo lost by 1, Galway lost by 2 and kerry lost by 3. All wothout 10 to 12 first team players. And without 9 first team players v Dubs Meath went toe toe with Dubs for 70 mins. Meath also drew with Monaghan. In 2017 if Meath played the top teams with so many players they would have lost by 20 point plus. Meaths games v Kerry Dublin Galway Mayo playing better teams helps a teams development. We saw that with kildsre in 2018 when they were in div 1 we saw that with Cavan in 2019 and Roscomon in 2019 playing in div 1 helped them later on in the championship.

The other thing Meath have played kildare in a competitive game in last 2 years. Meath won by point. But should have been lot more. Kildare forwards were excellent in the first half. But in the second half Meath backs were excellent and dominated the second half and should have won by 6 or 7 points. But Meath forwards missed score after score. It was basically a carbon copy of the malfunction Meath forwards had in leinster final.

And my main point is the managers. Kildare have a better manager this years. Cian O Neill did a good job but he is an excellent coach.. JOC is a a better manager. But in terms of development this is where Meath are slighty ahead

Andy McEntee is in year 4 as Meath manager
Jack O Connor is in year 1 as kildare manager.

There is a big difference in year 4 and year 1. When Jack O Connor is i charge in year 2 and year 3 kildare will get better and better. JOC is getting to know his players it does take a year or two for manager to get grips with job.

For example
In 2017
Andy McEntee was in year 1
Cian O Neill was in year 2
Meath in 2017 and into 2018 were a mess. It took McEntee year 3 to make improvements. This is normal.
The three most sucessful managers in leinster football ever outside Dubs are
1 Eugene McGee who took 4 years to make breakthrough with Offaly and after 2 years was near sacked
2 Sean Boylan who took 4 years to make breakthrough with Meath and in year 3 was near sacked
3 Mick Dwyer who took 5 years to make breaktbrough with kildare and left after 3 years to come back 2 years later.

Andy McEntee is in year 4 JOC in year 1, Meath defeated kildare in the last competitive game and Meath have played 12 games v div 1 teams in last 2 years. Meaning Meath are slighty ahead in terms of present and current development in that mabager is in year 4 and Meath were in div 1 this year and kildare were div 2 and manager is year 1.

kildare are ahead in development overall in the last 6 years and had more underage sucess. But Meath have improved at underage also and with east project I expect Meath kildare and louth and Wicklow to have good decade at underage in 2020s.

Just a bit of background regards underage
Meath were ten years behind Dublin at underage and 3 or 4 years behind kildare. What I can see McGeeney had a big role in kildares underage sucess beginning before Meath. For 3 or 4 years kildare were wiping floor with Meath at under 21 level. They were bigger and better. McGeeney was under 21 manager also for kildare. He introduced strenght and conditioning at underage into kildare in early part of last decade. From that Kildsre at under 21 as I said wiped floor with Meath for 3 or 4 years. And those players were part of kildare team who beat Meath twice by big scores in 2017. It was linked to under 21 victories.

In 2017 Meath started to introduce strenght and conditioning at underage and you can see this in at least 10 players of those underage team who played v Monaghan and Dublin who were 21 and under who received this S and C at underage. Meath young players are physically able to deal with inter county football mich physically better then Meath young players 2014 to 2017.

Kildare won a great under 20 All Ireland I would say outside Dubs, kildare under 20 All Ireland in 2018 is the greatest underge All Ireland won in leinster football in last 50 years along with Meaths 93 under 21 All Ireland win and Westmeath and Laois All Ireland u21 All Irelands wins in late 90s early 00s. It was a great win. But the only team to beat that kildare team in the championship in 2018 was Meath. Meath were fully deserved winners in that championship game. Which shows gap at under 20 has closed with Meath and kildare. The problem for Meath is Dublin at under 20.

Kildare have challenged Dublin with 3 leinster titles at under 20/21 level in last 10 years. Meath are competitive at under 20 but have a massive issue problem beating Dublin at this level. Dubs professional kickin at under 20. But I think for Meath its mental at u20 21 and if we could get one win v Dubs at u20 I think that will change things. And I think it will come. But again just to say kildare win at under 20 in 2018 was one of the great underage leinster all Irelands wins ever.

At minor kildare have more leinster minor titles but Meath are strong at this level. Meath won leinster minor title in 2018. And won leinster minor ( un17 inaugural minor championship ) in 2017 also and that had team players like Mattew Costello and Shane Walsh and Jordan Morris. And Meath this year at minor hammering Dubs by 11 points this year a month ago means Meath will be strong contenders this year. Even tbough kildare have a great chance in that they on the opposite side of the draw to other top teams. For Meath to win minor this Meath will have to beat Dublin Westmeath laois and kildare. Its hard to know with young lads. But its the biggest minor team I have seen play for Meath in ten years and Summerhills Eoghan Frayne for me would be best young forward in the county. A huge talent.

There is also another extraordinary stat that for me explain Morris and Walsh excellent begining for Meath. Beating Dublin at any grade is like injecting confidence steriods into Meath footballers. Kildare have won more minors but Meath have gone on a run of minor victories over Dublins which is unprecedented. I think kildare have beaten Dublin twice at minor in last 6 years. Meath have beaten Dublin 6 times in last 6 years at minor and some them by huge score 10 and 11 points. Players like Morris and Walsh and Costello have beaten Dublin numerous times at underage and there confidence is helped by that. Shane Walsh when he scored 4 points v Dubs in league from play shows he doesnt fear Dubs. Meath young forwards in 2014 2015 2016 did fear Dubs.

I think Mark Feehily could have a big role in 2017 he was outstanding in both games. But Ronan Jones has been very good in last 2 games and does look like a huge find for Meath. He. Is a ball carrying midfielder. Feehily is more high fielder and one best midfielders in the country. Meath will need to keep ball away Feehily and crowd him at midfield. Every kildare supporter tells me if you run at kildare it causes problems. An issue Meath had at the back for years. Meath are a possesion team who can open up defences with hand passing up the field in rows . They scored brillant goal v Monaghan like this and created two great goal chances v Dubs like this. If kildare have issues with players running at them Meath will get goal chances but will Meath take them thats another question. Kildare seem to be more long kicking. Meaning lavin and McGill will need to be strong on kirwan and D Flynn. In many ways the style of play are unusual for Meath and kildare. Meath are hand passing possesion team kildare seem to be more direct. Traditionally kildare were hand possesion passing team and Meath direct. Kildare are strong upfront and issues at back. Traditionally kildare were strong at the back with issues upfront. Meath are strong at back with issues upfront. Traditionally Meath were strong upfront.

This is hard game to make out. I am very wary of kildare why? 6 reasons 1998 2003 2010 twice in 2011 and 2017. Some of those games kildare were underdogs and blew Meath away eg 2010. The game in 2017 was also huge win for kildare. Kildare will not fear Meath you actually get the feeling kildare like playing Meath. Even when Meath had best footballers in Ireland in late 90s kildare threw kitchen sink at Meath. But Meath have had wins also in 97 01 07 12 14. 2012 and 2014 Meath were much the better team and Meath were underdogs in 2012. When you look at all these games of Meath v kildare in 97 98 01 03 07 10 11 12 14 17 before hand not many predicted the outcome. 2010 kildsres performance or Meath performance in 2012 were not expected. So kildare are slight underdogs. Even though it Jack O Connor first I expect an huge performance fron kildare, their best this year and if Meath are not ready for that. They will be beaten.

Leaving Dublin to one side in the last 20 years the county that has caused Meath biggest problems in leinster is kildare. Meath have won many games but so have kildare. But one thing kildares record at reaching leinster finals in the last 10 years is poor. Kildare have won 1 leinster semi final and reached 1 leinster final in last ten years. Meath have won 5 leinster semi final and reached 5 leinster finals in last ten years. However Meath be wary as the only leinster semi final kildare won in last ten years was against Meath in 2017. As a Meath man becaude of 98 and 2010 and 2017 I am very wary of kildare. I think this could be the game of the championahip and cud go extra time maybe peno. If Meath dont turn up like 2017. Meath are out. This is the best derby in leinster and Meath v kildare knockout football in late 90s were classics I think we could have real classic on Sunday. But if it downpours then its a dogfight who knows then.

PS I think this has to be said. There has been Meath man who many have questioned in recent weeks. He hasnt played well. But fair is fair he did yesterday. The Star newspapers had him man of the match yesterday, The Irish Independents he was man of the match also and they gave him 9 out of 10 and he was We are Meaths podcast man of the match. Thats Shane McEntee. I though he was excellent. I think we saw yesterday what Shane McEntee is , hes not midfielder even though he did a decent job for us last year there last year. Hes not a wing back even though he can play there. Hes not sweeper where played v Monaghan, Hes a centre back a proper holding defensive centre back. He can hold the defence, works himself to the bone, has a good kick pass, great pass yesterday for a score and he is physical anyone running through the middle he will be there to block them. And I think he has leadership qualities. He is a centre back. Now he needs to be consitent. Its an area we have so much in the half back line Yesterday we saw Matthew Costello as a wing back and he was excellent his goal was brillant.Cathal Hickey got a great goal yesterday he looks like a real quality baller also.
We can play in the half back line Donal keoghan, James McEntee Shane McEntee Padraig Harnan Gavin McCoy Ronan Ryan Ross Ryan Cathal Hickey David Toner Eoin Harkin Niall Kane, Brian Conlon and now Matthew Costello.

At centre back we can play attacking centre backs like keoghan or Harnan or B Conlon but I dont think they hold the middle well for me they our better on the wing. Ronan Ryan and S Mcentee are best holding defensive centre backs we have. I think we are playing 7 defenders which is goood and 5 forwards. And I think S McEntee at six just holding the middle which he did well yesterday and Ronan Ryan coming back as a kind of sweepers as a defensive forward working the lines this works. We need 7 defenders and I think this good development. I am big fan of Ronan Ryan, he covers the ground hard tackling natural defender
Meath Defence V kildare

lavin McGill Toner
Ryan
Keoghan S McEntee Costello/J McEntee/Haran

Playind 7 defenders make us stronger defensively

There are options and it is an area we are stronger then kildare. Kildare have issues at the back. The kildare defence of ten years ago you had defenders like Peter kelly. I think there are weaknesses there. But playing with 7 defenders I think is the way to go. And Padraig Harnan was fit and able to play yesterday and couldnt make the bench. And I was talking to someone close to Padraig they said he was very disappointed. But I think Harnan will be on the bench v kildare. And he will get game time. He could be a real good impact sub. It just shows you the depth of our panel, he would have walked back on to the Meath team 3 or 4 years when he came back from injury. Its pity James McEntee seems to be injured he is one of our best players. And while David Toner has very good year Shane Gallagher is our best man marker its pitys he not available. But I heard Robin Clarke will be back injury and he got great experience. The competition to get on Meath match day panel is unreal. I have never seen such depth on a match day panel

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 09/11/2020 17:39:44    2306927

Great post as always Furlong, you're a mine of information and remind me of the long departed Ard Ri who we don't see around here anymore. If you are Ard Ri incarnated its great to have you about. Ard Ri reminded me of my dearly departed father who could talk about the teams from the 40's onwards. Ask him a qustion about a match in the 50's and he'd give ye chapter, verse and where he saw it ;)

I'd slightly counter your argument on Shane Mcentee yesterday and say Ryan was the one holding the centre with Shane sweeping and building attacks. Now thats not to say Shane wasan't holding at times too with Ryan sweeping. You get what i mean

Shane's a great kick passer of the ball and that helps to build quick attacks. It gets balls out of defence and gets you into the back line, He's one of our best at it and there's certainly a place for him in the squad. With a fully fit 15 for me he doesn't start but is a great player to back up several positions. And as a county that's what we need is to be building out a panel of 30-40 players who can all come in and do a job. Look at banty and Joey yesterday, came in and ran at the defence and caused havoc. No reason Shane couldn't do that for you either a he's got an engine on him.

Onwards to the next match which will be ding dong no matter what anyone things.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 09/11/2020 18:02:19    2306938

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 09/11/2020 21:39:14    2307014

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/11/2020 20:26:10    2307348

Big game for this young panel on Sunday. Meath are threatening to take the next step and really develop into a side that can challenge.

Agree with all the positives and most of the negatives, kickouts remain an issue and composure in front of goals and free taking Altho I am less worried about composure in front of goals as it is improving each game.

Does anyone know if harnan is back training? I assume not as he wasn't in the panel.

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 11/11/2020 11:13:12    2307488

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 11/11/2020 11:51:10    2307509

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 11/11/2020 11:54:06    2307511