Meath Forum

Meath Hurling 2023

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Is the issue with Meath the actual hurling championship? There is no bite to it at all, with teams being able to lose multiple games and still progress to knockout games.
If we reduced the Senior to 6 teams everyone gets 5 games with top in the final and 2nd & 3rd into a semi final against each other. Bottom 3 into relegation playoffs - It means there are no dead rubber game as everyone has to win to survive
Last year for example would have seen Na Fianna, Trim, Kildalkey, Kiltale, Dunboyne, Ratoath in a Senior championship group of 6 with each game meaning something. Even if you were to lose your 5 group games you could still pull off a shock in the relegation final.

Also create a senior B with 6 more teams and run it the same way. Same with a premier intermediate & and lower intermediate.

Not only would it hopefully create a more competitive championship but it would also enhance the chances of each team in the Leinster championship especially if we could allow the Senior B winners into the Leinster Junior Championship each year.
On a side not is the Leinster Junior Club Special still being played? BB

bountyboy22 (USA) - Posts: 29 - 08/02/2023 13:23:10    2457253

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Good piece about the manager on GAA website. Didn't realise his credentials if I am honest

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 342 - 11/02/2023 17:19:32    2457830

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Replying To bountyboy22:  "Is the issue with Meath the actual hurling championship? There is no bite to it at all, with teams being able to lose multiple games and still progress to knockout games.
If we reduced the Senior to 6 teams everyone gets 5 games with top in the final and 2nd & 3rd into a semi final against each other. Bottom 3 into relegation playoffs - It means there are no dead rubber game as everyone has to win to survive
Last year for example would have seen Na Fianna, Trim, Kildalkey, Kiltale, Dunboyne, Ratoath in a Senior championship group of 6 with each game meaning something. Even if you were to lose your 5 group games you could still pull off a shock in the relegation final.

Also create a senior B with 6 more teams and run it the same way. Same with a premier intermediate & and lower intermediate.

Not only would it hopefully create a more competitive championship but it would also enhance the chances of each team in the Leinster championship especially if we could allow the Senior B winners into the Leinster Junior Championship each year.
On a side not is the Leinster Junior Club Special still being played? BB"
Its an easy fix to reduce championship to 8 teams, 6 teams is too drastic a cut. All you'd have to do is cut it to 10 teams first year & 8 the following year.
Theres only 8 teams in offaly senior champ, and 10 in wexford. But we have 12, madness

PatrickTopping (Meath) - Posts: 112 - 11/02/2023 21:38:17    2457880

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Easiest solution to the amount of teams currently 4 groups of 3 and then either top in each group into semi finals or top 2 into quarter finals. Bottom teams are in relegation.

Every game then starts to mean something.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 355 - 12/02/2023 09:20:09    2457887

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "Easiest solution to the amount of teams currently 4 groups of 3 and then either top in each group into semi finals or top 2 into quarter finals. Bottom teams are in relegation.

Every game then starts to mean something."
How would every game mean something with a 3 team group, if you only had to win 1 game to reach the QFs? You could even get through on a loss and a draw.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 12/02/2023 12:47:27    2457907

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "How would every game mean something with a 3 team group, if you only had to win 1 game to reach the QFs? You could even get through on a loss and a draw."
There's a slight chance you can get through with one point but realistically. It's the fact that you can lose 3 matches and still have a chance of winning a championship. I don't think we need to reduce the amount of teams but make it more cut throat. Some teams are happy to remain senior, I think if every game meant something either a quarter final or relegation spot it could improve hurling in Meath

Team A, B, C

A vs B - A wins then it is advantage them
A vs C - A wins they are through to quarter final
B vs C for second spot if it finishes a draw then score difference

A vs B - B wins then advantage them
A vs C - A wins then it is all to play for in the final game
B vs C - C wins and it comes down to score difference

A vs B - B wins then advantage them
A vs C - C wins then A are out
B vs C - C wins and tops the group playing second from another group

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 355 - 12/02/2023 15:03:08    2457923

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Are Meath ever really at the races? How many more years are Meath gonna compete in hurling before they realise its about as productive as standing in one spot and banging your head against a wall. A total waste of time and resources that would be better put towards football in the county."
The footballers get far more resources than the hurlers already, and they still can't win anything. Don't blame the hurlers for that. Don't see why it's always football v hurling very narrow-minded. There's some brilliant hurling matches at Christy Ring level some might say they're far more exciting than some of the inter county football matches but that's not the point. Saying it's a waste of time is very insulting, if that's the case why bother with the football either can't see them winning anything anytime soon. The difference is the hurling people would still support the footballers and wouldn't be so arrogant

Meathabu22 (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 12/02/2023 17:27:44    2457950

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After an unconvincing win last week, Donegal should prove a nice chance to put in a performance, and hopefully another win.

countyman123 (Meath) - Posts: 34 - 17/02/2023 16:40:26    2458717

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Good luck !!

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 342 - 18/02/2023 18:47:18    2458898

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Another decent win today. Respect to Donegal, they put it up to Meath, especially in the first half but it seemed Meath were in total control second half. Meath really tightened things up in the backs and broke through the middle more to take great scores from play. Possibly could have had more goals but at least they were creating the chances and some lively players in full forward line. Good win considering there were a few regular players not on the team sheet. Great opportunity to try some younger players and give them game time and build on the future, it's not easy stepping up to senior level from underage no matter how good a player is. This league is the ideal opportunity for this.

Meathabu22 (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 19/02/2023 20:49:25    2459214

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Replying To Meathabu22:  "Another decent win today. Respect to Donegal, they put it up to Meath, especially in the first half but it seemed Meath were in total control second half. Meath really tightened things up in the backs and broke through the middle more to take great scores from play. Possibly could have had more goals but at least they were creating the chances and some lively players in full forward line. Good win considering there were a few regular players not on the team sheet. Great opportunity to try some younger players and give them game time and build on the future, it's not easy stepping up to senior level from underage no matter how good a player is. This league is the ideal opportunity for this."
Agree, great opportunity for the young lads… all bodes well for the future of hurling in the county !!

Royalman11 (Meath) - Posts: 29 - 23/02/2023 15:52:31    2459907

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Replying To Royalman11:  "Agree, great opportunity for the young lads… all bodes well for the future of hurling in the county !!"
How exactly does beating Sligo and Donegal bode well for the future of hurling in Meath....?

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 23/02/2023 18:49:00    2459928

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "How exactly does beating Sligo and Donegal bode well for the future of hurling in Meath....?"
Better than losing to them, Have to start somewhere?

countyman123 (Meath) - Posts: 34 - 24/02/2023 16:29:41    2460034

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Big difference between "It could be worse" and "The future is bright" though. Call me over ambitious but I think we should aim a bit higher than beating Sligo and Donegal.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 27/02/2023 11:59:00    2460614

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "How exactly does beating Sligo and Donegal bode well for the future of hurling in Meath....?"
Have to start somewhere. Wasn't that long ago they won the CR cup, I assume you were in Croker that day. Hurling does exist in the county ?!!

Royalman11 (Meath) - Posts: 29 - 08/03/2023 15:25:04    2462804

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But anyone who follows hurling in Meath would know that beating Sligo and Donegal isn't anything to get excited about. A "bright future" for a Meath hurling fan would be consistently competing at the Kerry/Westmeath/Carlow level and maybe having a crack at Laois.

When Kilkenny hockey Westmeath or Carlow do they say the future is bright as a result?

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 08/03/2023 16:13:50    2462828

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "But anyone who follows hurling in Meath would know that beating Sligo and Donegal isn't anything to get excited about. A "bright future" for a Meath hurling fan would be consistently competing at the Kerry/Westmeath/Carlow level and maybe having a crack at Laois.

When Kilkenny hockey Westmeath or Carlow do they say the future is bright as a result?"
Yeah they need to up their game and compete with the counties you listed… whom they have competed well in the last few years… need time ….
At least they are giving it a go…should be getting behind them or is the ball to small for you?

Royalman11 (Meath) - Posts: 29 - 08/03/2023 18:15:06    2462864

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Replying To Royalman11:  "Have to start somewhere. Wasn't that long ago they won the CR cup, I assume you were in Croker that day. Hurling does exist in the county ?!!"
We beat the Antrim B team (as players were on strike over mileage payments) & we beat down in the other final (toughest team in it that year, doesnt say alot)

PatrickTopping (Meath) - Posts: 112 - 08/03/2023 22:05:32    2462897

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Will be doing well to come out of Omagh with a win, they beat Sligo far easier than we did. Tyrone will be well organised probably with a sweeper who will know his job. Anything less that 100% for the 75+ mins could mean trouble.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1062 - 09/03/2023 12:39:12    2462955

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Typical that the first round of hurling league is scheduled for St Patricks morning, have football ever played that weekend or on bank holidays?

bountyboy22 (USA) - Posts: 29 - 09/03/2023 15:46:01    2463017

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