Meath Forum

The Championship

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Replying To MillerX:  "I did NOT say or post that "Keoghan had walked". Any day you score a goal late in injury to draw you can count yourself lucky. And as you seemed up to this to have the inside track on banty I was just wondering if you could confirm or scotch a rumour that came my way."
I don't know where you got the idea I would have the inside story on banty. ? Where have I ever stated that ?
And I didn't say it was you , I asked was it you. Surely you remember it been said on here ?? I can't remember who said it but it was said.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/04/2022 11:46:47    2409933

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Replying To Ashrules:  "Not sure if he is better than the other subs or not but he is an excellent player and definitely better than J Morris/Walsh/Reilly /C O Sullivan and some others. I have great respect for all of them but it must drive Banty mad"
Hes not better then any names you mentioned there.

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 889 - 08/04/2022 07:07:46    2410204

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Hes not better then any names you mentioned there."
Exactly, you would wonder about some posters on this lol

Utdroyal (Meath) - Posts: 61 - 08/04/2022 10:05:26    2410217

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Hes not better then any names you mentioned there."
I'd argue he's a better player than O'Reilly but they play different positions

The only player you can directly compare him to is Morris, a corner forward and Jordan is a better player who gets you goals (not in recent times) but he's a bigger threat, Banty is more likely to get you points but presents no goal threat. Banty is a more accurate player than Jordan but doesn't do enough. Now yes banty is hampered by how they play but he's been on the panel for years and should've learned to adjust by now.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 08/04/2022 10:45:57    2410222

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Replying To brian:  "I'd argue he's a better player than O'Reilly but they play different positions

The only player you can directly compare him to is Morris, a corner forward and Jordan is a better player who gets you goals (not in recent times) but he's a bigger threat, Banty is more likely to get you points but presents no goal threat. Banty is a more accurate player than Jordan but doesn't do enough. Now yes banty is hampered by how they play but he's been on the panel for years and should've learned to adjust by now."
Well Brian,while I get your point regarding Banty been on the panel for years and should adjust to it,I've a couple of points on this.First i don't believe he got a fair crack of the whip.He never got a run of games back to back to build up confidence,always started one game if he didn't have a stormer he was on the bench the next day.Now it's just my opinion but it would be very hard to play if you feel any mistake or miss and he could be pulled off(always seemed to be one of the first subs off if he started).As you rightly mentioned the game Andy wants to play doesn't suit him.A few years ago he had Niall Ronan beside him the forward line for the Cilles and he shot the lights out.He fed off Ronan,was near to goal and very hard to mark.Now I know that was intermediate but they made it all the way to an All ireland that year so that standard wouldn't have been far off senior.Btw I'm not blaming Andy for that we dont seem to have a big man to work off but also quick ball into space would work for him (not many lads would beat him for pace)but Andy prefers the running game.I think he is a confidence player and needs a manager who believes in him and by that I meqn he is not looking over to the line if he makes a mistake and thinking I could be gone here.It is very hard to play like that and produce your best.Ive played football all my life and had a couple of managers like that and you don't produce your best because you are constantly on edge desperate not to make a mistake.I'm not saying Banty is the answer to all our prayers and hyping him up to superstar status but I believe we haven't got the best out of him but I suppose you could say that about other players.Lenahan another hard done by and the list I'm sure goes on.If its true he is gone hopefully he will come back next year with a few others under a new manager and shine.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 256 - 08/04/2022 12:28:14    2410237

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Replying To Proudroyal:  "Well Brian,while I get your point regarding Banty been on the panel for years and should adjust to it,I've a couple of points on this.First i don't believe he got a fair crack of the whip.He never got a run of games back to back to build up confidence,always started one game if he didn't have a stormer he was on the bench the next day.Now it's just my opinion but it would be very hard to play if you feel any mistake or miss and he could be pulled off(always seemed to be one of the first subs off if he started).As you rightly mentioned the game Andy wants to play doesn't suit him.A few years ago he had Niall Ronan beside him the forward line for the Cilles and he shot the lights out.He fed off Ronan,was near to goal and very hard to mark.Now I know that was intermediate but they made it all the way to an All ireland that year so that standard wouldn't have been far off senior.Btw I'm not blaming Andy for that we dont seem to have a big man to work off but also quick ball into space would work for him (not many lads would beat him for pace)but Andy prefers the running game.I think he is a confidence player and needs a manager who believes in him and by that I meqn he is not looking over to the line if he makes a mistake and thinking I could be gone here.It is very hard to play like that and produce your best.Ive played football all my life and had a couple of managers like that and you don't produce your best because you are constantly on edge desperate not to make a mistake.I'm not saying Banty is the answer to all our prayers and hyping him up to superstar status but I believe we haven't got the best out of him but I suppose you could say that about other players.Lenahan another hard done by and the list I'm sure goes on.If its true he is gone hopefully he will come back next year with a few others under a new manager and shine."
PR, no disagreements from me on a word you said there. You're 100% correct in what you say.

If it looks like I'm having a go at James I'm not at all, and the points you make validate that he has the ability. The point i think i'm trying to make is he's been around the panel for 4-5 years at this stage and should know or have worked out by now what Andy wants from his inside forwards. Now i agree he's shown he can win matches but under Andy unless your names is X or Y then you're not getting an opportunity. As you rightly call out Lenihan kicking his heels up and watching have a go hero's in recent years, Michael Newman being told he'd have a role to play, busting his ass to get fully fit when clearly in physical pain (and likely needed to have hip replacements very soon) and being left kicking his heels last year. Like during the MOD era, its harder for some players to get off the staring 15 than it is for better players to get into the panel and matchday 26.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 08/04/2022 14:55:17    2410268

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Is Meath the worst county for nepotism?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 08/04/2022 18:51:07    2410305

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Replying To bert09:  "Is Meath the worst county for nepotism?"
It's no better or worse than any other county I'd say.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/04/2022 12:59:46    2410361

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I made a good few of the league games and missed others due to work.

From what I saw: hogan a decent keeper, good accurate kickout but needs more runs from the back line as we seem to do better with the short kickout
Back line - McGill made a big difference coming back
Half back line - Keogan still an absolutely class act. Overall our defence off the ball is actually a 13 man defence but the issue is when we win it back we too often give a hopeful loose long ball to isolated forwards who either spill it under pressure or the pass goes wayward in the first place.
Midfield - outside of Jones and menton there's no one. We are threadbare from a depth perspective
Halfforwards - Cillian works hard but prone to handling errors. TOR needs to speed up on the ball too often he turns back to lay off and slows the whole attack. Though he knows how to buy a free. Jordan Morris is the best forward but defences know it, he's well marked inside the 45 and when he drops deep to pick it up he tries to do too much on his own. SW - if he is going to be the big inside target man he needs to hang on to the long ball pass. Possession retention is something all of our forward line need to work on. Too often we spill the ball under pressure. Personally I would like an inside forward line of morris conlon and Walsh. Any player would be mad to walk away from the panel now because despite our level remaining static there's no denying Dublin have dropped. Although they will still probably win it, this year i am more hopeful than I've been in 10'years. And I'm sure the team are thinking the same.

Last point - I wish we were a bit more alert in terms of game management. I remember against Roscommon in the last 10 mins of the first half it was clear Roscommon we're getting hot, knocking over point after point, and we just needed to get to halftime still in the game. That's when we need some lateral passing, a convenient injury, a substitution, an organised scuffle - something to break momentum. But no, we just kept kicking out long to their midfield and the came straight back to us. We were 10 down by the halftime whistle and the game was gone.

Actual last point - shooting accuracy. I haven't seen the stats but this league our shooting has been absolute cat. I remember the down game, the weather was a HUGE factor don't get me wrong. But we were missing from absolutely everywhere even close in. I'm not sure that's something that can be really worked on or it's something you either have or you don't. But apart from Morris and conlon none of our forwards when they shoot do I think "oh this will be a score for sure"

Prediction - sorry to say guys but I think we will be up against Laois on the may bank holiday weekend and I think we will be beaten.

cabbage (Meath) - Posts: 162 - 10/04/2022 07:47:44    2410416

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Replying To royaldunne:  "It's no better or worse than any other county I'd say."
Is it holding us back?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 10/04/2022 12:46:29    2410434

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Replying To bert09:  "Is it holding us back?"
Well look I'd call it more politics than anything else. It's not nepotism really, it was there before boylan and during him too. Only then it didn't matter , it came to a head towards the end between him and Barry, who in turn was turfed out after a year, something similar with coyle and forces working behind the scenes to undermine him. The absolute disgraceful treatment of Eamonn O'Brien (our most successful manger since boylan) mod getting the job ahead of far more experienced and better candidates for what apparently was a hope of a sponsor return. I think Andy got it on merit, but his abrupt attitude doesn't go down well with many, we had the Flynn debacle (which transpired to be exactly what Bernard had agreed to, ) and left you wondering was it anything to do with players. Then we had the laughable situation with cb and the vote only to be thrown back in their faces by the clubs. If people are trying to say nepotism cause of Shane and James then they are talking though the sausage roll. As Shane has been one of the most consistent players on the team over the last number of years (unlike some who never get mentioned ) and was actually brought in by mod into team. James is one of the best players in county. So that argument doesn't hold water. I expect both to be part of team next year under new management,if both commit.
So for me it's all politics of you scratch my back I'll scratch urs, look at the house draw fiasco. I mean how did they manage to f that up ? Let's not forget the floodlights embarrassment, that actually should have been taken further. Many many other instances. What we may need is a complete clear out of everyone and everything in cb. Start completely anew with perhaps some people from outside county. But that won't happen. Every year we see the same names and the same results.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/04/2022 13:52:09    2410442

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Very disappointing to hear young James Conlon has apparently dropped himself off the panel. I didn't want to comment until I had some evidence and received that today. This I got to say is down to Andy and his man management (or lack of it) I wish James well and hope to see him in a Meath jersey in the coming years.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/04/2022 15:24:48    2410450

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Very disappointing to hear young James Conlon has apparently dropped himself off the panel. I didn't want to comment until I had some evidence and received that today. This I got to say is down to Andy and his man management (or lack of it) I wish James well and hope to see him in a Meath jersey in the coming years."
That is really disappointing especially at this stage as James would have gone through the hard part of the preparations for the season. He must not have felt that he had a good chance of playing very much. He does not come across as an arrogant chap so I would doubt that he had put a gun to Andy's head and insisted on playing all of the time. I really feel for the guy and lets hop that you are correct that he will be back again in the coming years.

Our options up front are even more limited now. Some of the most accurate forwards (Lenihan / Conlon) have left the panel and another (Lynch) doesn't seem to have been asked in at any stage.

And Andy makes up for it by getting the goalie to take all the frees!!

stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 224 - 11/04/2022 11:09:31    2410502

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As I have said previously, Banty lacks the size and strength for intercounty football. He was given a good run of games a few years back and once we came up against any decent defence he was ineffective. I don't think you can blame Andy on this one RD although you've always had a blind spot for Banty he just isn't physically up to the standard. He often struggle to kick points out the field as they would drop short. A great man for a tiring defence against weaker sides where he could snipe close to goal but if we have ambitions to go further he won't be in the 15. There is 100% a role for him in the panel and off the bench but it's a lot of commitment for him, best of luck to him enjoying himself

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 11/04/2022 15:41:54    2410553

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Very disappointing to hear young James Conlon has apparently dropped himself off the panel. I didn't want to comment until I had some evidence and received that today. This I got to say is down to Andy and his man management (or lack of it) I wish James well and hope to see him in a Meath jersey in the coming years."
So apparently I can get an odd matter correct. Naturally I would prefer if the news was better.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1063 - 12/04/2022 19:23:27    2410740

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Any word on anyone that has joined the panel recently?

Any challenges played last weekend? Any coming up this weekend?

stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 224 - 13/04/2022 14:06:32    2410840

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Very disappointing to hear young James Conlon has apparently dropped himself off the panel. I didn't want to comment until I had some evidence and received that today. This I got to say is down to Andy and his man management (or lack of it) I wish James well and hope to see him in a Meath jersey in the coming years."
How do you know it is down to Andy's man management or lack of it? Have you been told the reason for him stepping away?

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 870 - 13/04/2022 16:26:56    2410871

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Replying To Thejoeshow:  "As I have said previously, Banty lacks the size and strength for intercounty football. He was given a good run of games a few years back and once we came up against any decent defence he was ineffective. I don't think you can blame Andy on this one RD although you've always had a blind spot for Banty he just isn't physically up to the standard. He often struggle to kick points out the field as they would drop short. A great man for a tiring defence against weaker sides where he could snipe close to goal but if we have ambitions to go further he won't be in the 15. There is 100% a role for him in the panel and off the bench but it's a lot of commitment for him, best of luck to him enjoying himself"
Great post. I like Banty alot and he is a superb club forward and has done reasonably well when we've played lower level opposition but unfortunately when we play against the Div 1 standard teams he has struggled more often than not. He is certainly worth his place on the panel but as you pointed out that its a big commitment when you are not playing.

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 870 - 13/04/2022 16:34:11    2410872

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Very disappointing to hear young James Conlon has apparently dropped himself off the panel. I didn't want to comment until I had some evidence and received that today. This I got to say is down to Andy and his man management (or lack of it) I wish James well and hope to see him in a Meath jersey in the coming years."
RD, I'm not trying to have a go at you here and accept that i might be totally in the wrong here so apologies if i'm misquoting you here or misrepresenting your opinion. If I'm wrong, hands up and I apologise in advance.

Weren't you one of the people who defended Andy and said there was no issues with his man management. When several people said why are players walking away i.e. the Simonston guys a couple of years ago, Donal Lenihan, Harry Rooney,Ruairi O'Coileain, several goal keepers and others you said that was a players issue not an Andy issue.

Why now that its James Conlon, from your home club is this an Andy issue - "This I got to say is down to Andy and his man management (or lack of it)"

I think several players over the 6 seasons have been jettisoned and kicked their heels while the same lads got chance after chance and eventually walked away. Donal Lenihan, Michael Newman and now James Conlon have delivered and then been shunted to the side and other given repeated chances.

Conlon got the winning score in Clare and yet when there was a chance to beat Derry he was left sitting until the injury time. Ethan Devine, Bryan McMahon and Jack Flynn were all introduced before James and none had an impact.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 13/04/2022 16:56:46    2410874

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Replying To brian:  "RD, I'm not trying to have a go at you here and accept that i might be totally in the wrong here so apologies if i'm misquoting you here or misrepresenting your opinion. If I'm wrong, hands up and I apologise in advance.

Weren't you one of the people who defended Andy and said there was no issues with his man management. When several people said why are players walking away i.e. the Simonston guys a couple of years ago, Donal Lenihan, Harry Rooney,Ruairi O'Coileain, several goal keepers and others you said that was a players issue not an Andy issue.

Why now that its James Conlon, from your home club is this an Andy issue - "This I got to say is down to Andy and his man management (or lack of it)"

I think several players over the 6 seasons have been jettisoned and kicked their heels while the same lads got chance after chance and eventually walked away. Donal Lenihan, Michael Newman and now James Conlon have delivered and then been shunted to the side and other given repeated chances.

Conlon got the winning score in Clare and yet when there was a chance to beat Derry he was left sitting until the injury time. Ethan Devine, Bryan McMahon and Jack Flynn were all introduced before James and none had an impact."
I think there's probably a simple reason for that though Brian. Bigger men, Derry were physical so Banty would not have gotten into it. Clare a much less physical side so Banty was able to get some room.

I think Newmans body had just tapped out so don't think you can blame Andy on that, Banty hasn't the size as I alluded to. I don't understand Donal Lenihan and always liked him and didn't seem to be given any sort of go the last time.

Unfortunately the game today demands a certain level of athleticism and physicality that some of our forwards don't have, no amount of man management will fix that. Not a slight on the lads ability but just the reality.

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 13/04/2022 19:11:08    2410895

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