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Two stories in this weeks Chronicle that caught my attention , On the first one I just wanted to wait till results of Convention were in. ...So....County Chairman, County Secretary & esteemed Head of Referees....present a set of Kit bags to David Goldrick , for himself and His Officials in honour of them being chosen to officiate at what will be the most watched Irish Sporting event this year. Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 401 - 17/12/2020 14:15:50 2323158 Link 0 |
I think it was bad judgement to say the least. Was he contacted directly to go on? I'm sure he wasn't the only intercounty manager contacted. Regardless of Dublin's advantages over other counties, there are huge questions for Andy and his team to answer on their performances. Have we any less resources and population than the other Div. 1 teams?
winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 17/12/2020 15:03:27 2323181 Link 0 |
I dont think any Meath supporter (proud or otherwise) needs to apologise for asking serious ,and very relevant questions. I hope the CB will do exactly that also. Top of the agenda is " Why are we continuing to see the same basic shortcomings in performance after a prolonged period of time"? No need to spell it out what those failings are again and again. The top table organise a proper review in this instance in relation to the POOR performace from the management team in relation to the Senior intercounty team's preparation in areas of coaching and overall management. Call a spade a spade .It is clear that basics footballing skills such as fielding, Kicking, etc seem absent from play too often with too many players. The same players dont seem to lack these skills at club level. Apart from the fact the intercounty standard is higher, there is something else missing ..confidence. I ask the question why so much FEAR evident with our players?? They are young only goes so far as an excuse! They need confidence building coaching to help free them from fear. I see too much fear and not enough confidence! Dont know the story with Sean Boylan and his plans. I did see him demontrate his man managent skills with the team many times, Would love to see him brought in as a consultant or whatever .It seems considerable help is needed. That is not to take from Andy's passion for the job .we need that passion also! Jim Gavin had assistants for everything . Our players fully deserve all the assistance they need ,as does the managemant team What do i want for christmas a serious review of "WHERE WE ARE AT".. Over to the CB for leadership NOW! Leave any politics outside the door please! nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 17/12/2020 16:58:14 2323229 Link 17 |
Fair play, your user name says it all, straight talk. BUT the top table apparently don't like criticism from a keyboard, they accept the Leinster Final performance was disappointing but that everyone did their best, so review is over, completed. So we must accept that eventually the 'stars will align' mysterious and we will leave the Land of Nod to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand. Happy ever after. Probably my last post, the greatest loss of all is loss of heart. MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1080 - 17/12/2020 20:09:46 2323270 Link 0 |
Dont think top table can continue to ignore the facts any longer. Somebody at the table may just say enough is enough ! Lets get serious ,the dogs in the street know we cannot continue as we are without serious remedial action. We cannot continue to expect players and supporters tolerate hammerings through poor preparation. The facts are there for all to see resourses in terms of coaching and management are inadaquate . Stop pretending ! Lets try to fix the problem! Is that not a key part of our job ? Whats new ? nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 18/12/2020 12:31:20 2323406 Link 17 |
Probably my last post as well. Seemingly the moderators don't post any of my messages anymore for some reason. Their loss and when everyone loses interest in the Meath team they won't be getting much traffic either on the Meath site. As for McEntee, I'm very surprised he dared to show his face on national TV after the way his team performed in the Leinster Final. Maybe he's proud of it and sees nothing wrong with the performance or how he prepared his team. His performance in the debate in any case was reminiscent of his team's performance in the Leinster final. Obviously county board are happy so why would he doubt himself. Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 18/12/2020 14:08:14 2323430 Link 16 |
At the moment Andy McEntee seems to be quite close to a number of individuals in the county board which looks quite stable over the last few years. The clubs need to be brought into the discussion to have a say to get a general consensus rather than little or no discussion from in house. Eamon O'Brien was treated totally differently after guiding us to a Leinster championship and an All-Ireland semi-final.
winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 18/12/2020 14:53:58 2323448 Link 1 |
I think we saw where we at last night, we cannot blame Dublin for our fortunes. But let's be honest everyone, even some dubs (they won't admit it) know Dublin played around for 55 minutes of that game to keep the score tight so the calls to defund them and particularly to split them up will die down. It won't . The real Dublin team showed up v Meath , the hatred is still there (listen to Farrell and O'Leary talk about 95 highlight been beating Meath by 10 points, not winning all ire , nope it was the Meath game ) Meath were getting notions of coming back, they had to be walloped, and we were. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 20/12/2020 09:44:24 2324388 Link 0 |
Eamon O'Brien was treated very badly, but the last manager before Andy McEntee got 4 years and didn't have the achievements of a super 8 (or quarter final as it was then) or getting to division 1. So there's 2 ways to look at it
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 20/12/2020 10:58:43 2324433 Link 7 |
Funding helps provide resourses of course. It can also be a handy excuse ,and can thus prevent us from accepting the facts as they are displayed.. What i saw yesterday was a well prepared Mayo team provide a full blooded challenge to a great Dublin team. The more experienced team won in the end. For the vast majority of the match Dublin played as well as they were allowed play. Their bench was the difference .Their substitutions made the difference. More power to them !... For Mayo full credit to their Manager for putting out a team with a lot less money ,but showing preparation of a high quality in every area .Tacking in particular. Fielding in the middle against Fenton a really great midfielder especially in the first half full credit to Mayo again. Kickouts again Mayo showed it can be done rather than it CANT be done Mayo let us see what we know already any team CAN be beaten .It takes proper preparation ,and of course experience ( which was their shortcoming plus a weaker bench) So no surrender to Dublin or anybody else . Leave Dublin as they are .Applaud them for now just like all the other teams in the past who deserved what they got through hard work and proper preparation.... It is up to us to raise the bar ,as Dublin wont lower it to a height that suits us. We can find a dozen EXCUSES rather than face reality. Mayo let us see Dublin CAN be beaten. PROPER preparation would be a good starting point ! As a long time Meath supporter Well done Dublin ! Well done Mayo (the 2nd best team in the country) for showing whats possible if we look beyond excuses! nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 20/12/2020 11:34:22 2324464 Link 19 |
On a side note what's the situation with Cian O'Brien. Is he still likely to stay out in Australia or come back? LoyalRoyal (None) - Posts: 464 - 20/12/2020 11:52:08 2324480 Link 0 |
Finally a genuine and honest post on this subject, sick to death of all the sour grape nonsense and excuse making bulls##t.
Monkeycatcher (Meath) - Posts: 155 - 20/12/2020 12:00:28 2324488 Link 2 |
If you ask me I think we're somewhere between division 1 and 2. I think we'll get promoted again but struggle to stay up in division 1. LoyalRoyal (None) - Posts: 464 - 20/12/2020 12:50:39 2324514 Link 1 |
Agreed. The problem I have at the moment with this Meath team is that I am really unsure of its playing identity. Dublin and Mayo have clear identities how they setup and play and the players apply themselves accordingly. Meath under Sean Boylan had the same and while there were some disappointments, you knew what the intentions were. We have had huge trouble translating success from minor level to U20 and beyond. Meath are on track to win their 2nd Leinster in past three years at this grade. Dublin GAA have direct input and contact with DCU and UCD following the progression of their young players. Have Meath got the same? There really needs to be honest analysis of the management and organisation from U20 level and adult level of our teams and try to understand how we can progress. Funding and population are a very small part of the conversation.
winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 20/12/2020 13:36:50 2324543 Link 0 |
How did Mayo show us any team could be beaten, they lost by 5 points. Yes they put up an excellent fight and they have been an excellent team over the last 9 years since Horan first took over. And yes we have to make improvements both in coaching at senior level and crucially in commitment and organisation level at under 20's. But the funding isn't just an excuse, it's an enormous problem and will destroy inter county football if it's left the way it is
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 20/12/2020 14:13:11 2324565 Link 5 |
Mayo were short in areas like experience which they have no control over Not every match will the first goal be scored in 13 seconds etc. They were NOT found out in areas where can directly control such as coaching and in particular mental approach. They could have given up early ,and didnt. Like teams under Sean Boylan who fought back regardless . I dont recall any real issue regarding funding being an issue when the great Kery team produced 4 in a row either. Instead a team like Offaly under Eugene Mc Gee came up with the answer on the pitch. Belief,Confidence and determination coupled with physical fittness ,teamwork through coaching is the currency that matters. Of course success brings sponsorship and funding etc. Funding ,and how its used well thats another story! Of course funding spent wisely is a massive help....no argument! Mayo provided motivation to all other teams to believe the gap between Dublin and the rest can be bridged. Deal with the areas like proper coaching and motivation where you have direct control. Experience ...well that will come! No i dont believe the game is over for Meath. I do believe leadership from the top( and that includes extra funding and how it is spent is important). I dont believe we focus on excuses and us being powerles or victims in some way will produce anything.. I say learn from mistakes, invest wisely to meet needs clearly identified and monitor progress as we go. Look after the players in every way possible.....Id say the 3 wise men mentioned here a few years might have something to offer . But then maybe thats another story also ! nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 20/12/2020 15:36:39 2324613 Link 18 |
You are living in lala land. Mayo provides motivation? Mayo were outclassed by a Dublin team in 2nd gear. Dublin played with more intensity as they wanted to set Meath back a decade and trample on us, which they have and they did. Forget about the whole thing, it's corrupt to its core. Pull Meath out of the farce and let's pour the 400k saved this year into paying 4 good coaches full time for 3 years to take care of a few select areas. The money set aside to be wasted on the corrupt farce for next year should also go into coaches and facilities and to provide coaching courses. Again, let's have some self respect and get out of this nonsense. Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 20/12/2020 15:52:55 2324625 Link 14 |
Dublin in 2nd gear........i dont think so ! but another excuse if it suits ! No Mayo put it up to Dublin ! Meath did not thats the difference ! Why ? Well thats the problem !! Corruption ? dont know about that ! but anyway it will do as another excuse . If you believe we are helpless victims then it will fit ! Our problem is clear .... LACK of leadership from the top ALL questions in relation to team preparation especially player support and welfare. They would of course ensure that Meath gets its fair share of any cake ,and any possible alleged corruption as a part of that. Its even possible that they may come up with some novel ideas to move us forward from WHERE WE ARE AT NOW . Id even settle for a bit of wheel spin now rather than nothing .AT least we would know we are trying to solve a problem!! nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 20/12/2020 16:54:08 2324659 Link 18 |
Funding wasn't an issue when Kerry's great time of the 80's were winning because funding wasn't an issue it was a golden generation of Kerry players and when Paidi, Sheehy, Ogie, Bomber etc. got old the team fell back and started losing to Cork. This Dublin team lost Brogan x2, McCaffrey, Flynn, Connolly. Unbelievable giants of the game lost them and only got better so that comparison just doesn't work. Same with Kilkenny's 00 teams once Tommy Walsh, JJ, Henry got old they fell back to the pack albeit still very good but not unstoppable. And to say funding follow success is a lie. The Games development funding for Dublin started in 2003 when they had won 1 All Ireland in the previous 20 years and 1 Leinster in the previous 8. Funding followed failure in Dublin as the GAA felt this couldn't be allowed, but if any of the other 31 counties fail then it's their own fault. Yes, our county board are a shit show at a lot of things. But this idea of Dublin as the model. We can talk about how good their county board is the reality is with a full-time CEO, commercial manager and S&C coach it's a lot easier to be well run. Maybe we could afford to pay these 3 roles but also maybe not. Also, the main criticism of a county board is how it spends its money. We had to finance a centre of excellence in Dunganny and now a stadium in Pairc Tailteann. Imagine we got a premade COE similar to DCU in the county and we got to play all of our home league and championship games in the best stadium in the country which is in our county. Now throw on top of that that we will get 1.6 million euro a year to take care of the grassroots of the game with Games Promotion money handed to us. Suddenly we know have the biggest population by a country mile so we can receive way more sponsorship money. We have no travel expenses because all the colleges and the jobs are in the county, we have a catering partner so we don't pay for the food players get and we have no capital expenditure or expenditure on grassroots because central GAA took care of that. Now you have 800,000 a year from AIG and the only thing left to spend it on is the performance of players. So I get that our county board has many ineptitudes but for the love of God can we not downplay the advantage Dublin has over every county. I know we are traditional rivals and so don't want to be seeing ourselves as inferior. You talk about how great Mayo are, they've lost to Dublin by 10 and 5 the last two years. Watch what happens when the last of their golden generation in Keegan, Cillian O'Connor and Aidan O'Shea decline. They are in a similar situation as we were in 2012, 13 where Dublin are clearly better but we can hang around with them. Dublin will crush them one of the next few years and then will continue to do it from then on. Two things are true, 1. our county board are holding the county teams back with an inability to innovate but 2. we are playing in a rigged game where one team has everything stacked in their favour
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 20/12/2020 17:18:45 2324672 Link 7 |
Exactly. You can't expect Meath county board to compete with Dublin. MCB are amateurs in an amateur sport. Dublin CB are professionals in an amateur sport. GAA isn't supposed to reach standard Dublin are at and I don't want Meath to waste millions trying to compete in a rigged system. Let's just do the dignified thing and pull out and focus on our club game. We can create an amateur intercounty championship with likes of Kildare and other counties if we have to. But intercounty football is dead - I don't think enough people realize that yet. Dublin might lose the odd flukey game every 4/5 years (at best) but that's not good enough. Every team should have a chance at winning. Otherwise pull out. I honestly think in 10 years we'll look back and say to ourselves what were we thinking taking part in that farce. It's doing more damage to the game in the county than anything else. We've great potential in our club scene, let's nurture it, it deserves it. Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 20/12/2020 18:10:53 2324712 Link 15 |