Meath Forum

Meath V Offaly

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Well we know who we facing and we know what we have to do. I have been critical of Colm management and the player's attitude during the league. Now is a chance to put a few things right. If we are all honest with ourselves we all expected when draw was made to make Leinster final. The problem for that is we have been playing particularly bad and unmeath like during the league. So that has made us all weary about Leinster.
But to hell with it. My confidence is increasing, we park the league and go for the final . It's Offaly Westmeath and louth. If we can't beat 2 out of them 3we can throw our hat at it. And as a olde poster use to call for here during Dublin heyday pull out of championship altogether from now on :). We can do this. We have to do this.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/04/2023 17:44:41    2470083

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Well we know who we facing and we know what we have to do. I have been critical of Colm management and the player's attitude during the league. Now is a chance to put a few things right. If we are all honest with ourselves we all expected when draw was made to make Leinster final. The problem for that is we have been playing particularly bad and unmeath like during the league. So that has made us all weary about Leinster.
But to hell with it. My confidence is increasing, we park the league and go for the final . It's Offaly Westmeath and louth. If we can't beat 2 out of them 3we can throw our hat at it. And as a olde poster use to call for here during Dublin heyday pull out of championship altogether from now on :). We can do this. We have to do this.
Hon the royal"
We've given Offaly hope by the way we finish the league but they are a mid tier Division 3 team. It'll be rocky and uncomfortable but its winnable and like the 20's tonight, a win here will give us confidence and momentum

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 344 - 11/04/2023 12:02:06    2470205

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Replying To seasiderblues:  "We've given Offaly hope by the way we finish the league but they are a mid tier Division 3 team. It'll be rocky and uncomfortable but its winnable and like the 20's tonight, a win here will give us confidence and momentum"
Exactly. A clean slate. Let's pack out tullamore and get fully behind the team and manager. A loss here would do untold damage to everyone including supporters

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 11/04/2023 12:37:40    2470224

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It is now like only 12 days away. Is it true Meath played a challenge v Cavan at weekend? Anyone know any news or what possible starting team to expect in opening round?

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 511 - 11/04/2023 14:37:57    2470273

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Replying To seasiderblues:  "We've given Offaly hope by the way we finish the league but they are a mid tier Division 3 team. It'll be rocky and uncomfortable but its winnable and like the 20's tonight, a win here will give us confidence and momentum"
We were lucky in Navan a few years back when they had us there for the taking only to run out of steam in last ten minutes, again in league last year we got a late goal for a draw. At the moment there is little between us, home advantage and their u20 A/I winning players even things up, so expect a very difficult game. No evidence to suggest its anything other than 50/50 outcome. As you say its winnable, but going to be tight.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2151 - 11/04/2023 17:23:39    2470354

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It will be a tough game no doubt, Offaly are improving. Division 3 was a bit tougher this year with Cavan, Down and Westmeath all on the up. Offaly have a good crop of their u20s coming through and are on a small bounce since the passing of Liam Kearns which has motivated them in a different way which you can't replicate.

From a Meath perspective we need to tighten up in the backs and that's not just marking, there needs to be a defensive shape and players need to defend as a unit all the way from corner forward. Offaly might be a bit more open than teams we played against in the league and it will allow us to play a kicking game but if they do set up more defensive then it has to go through the hands which is something we didn't do too much of in the league.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 355 - 11/04/2023 19:41:26    2470379

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Surprised Meath are favs for this one. We are on a par with offaly form wise, and our realistic ranking possition is prob 18th or 19th at then moment. A better team then us got relegated from div 2, and yhe top 3 or 4 from this years division 3 seem to be playing better then us too. Offaly by 2 or 3 points.

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 891 - 12/04/2023 07:16:00    2470399

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Surprised Meath are favs for this one. We are on a par with offaly form wise, and our realistic ranking possition is prob 18th or 19th at then moment. A better team then us got relegated from div 2, and yhe top 3 or 4 from this years division 3 seem to be playing better then us too. Offaly by 2 or 3 points."
The bookies are rarely wrong and it be a shock if they are here, offaly had a very mixed league like ourselves and were lucky to beat a poor longford team last weekend, don't know why people think clare are better then us considering we have beaten them so often bar once the last few years comfortably most of them times includingthis year, we need to keep the faith people, meath by 5.

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 666 - 12/04/2023 13:17:41    2470528

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Replying To Royal.Legend:  "The bookies are rarely wrong and it be a shock if they are here, offaly had a very mixed league like ourselves and were lucky to beat a poor longford team last weekend, don't know why people think clare are better then us considering we have beaten them so often bar once the last few years comfortably most of them times includingthis year, we need to keep the faith people, meath by 5."
I think we will win this one. As that is a really bad Offaly team. And I think we have to show a reaction to the league form. The league is over park it, we are lucky to an extent that we still in division with the comeback of dubs v clare which ultimately saved us. So I'm expecting a reaction from the players. I'd go with Meath by 8, showing heart and determination. The last part is the most important part.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 12/04/2023 18:41:56    2470651

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We definitely didn't beat Clare comfortably this year. It could be argued we were fortunate unough to beat them at all.
That aside I can see Offaly posing us problems. This Meath team is very low on confidence and we have a very poor scoring record this year. Offaly lost their manager this year which might leave them feeling the need to perform for him.

atta (Meath) - Posts: 698 - 13/04/2023 14:56:47    2470837

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Replying To winatallcost:  "It is now like only 12 days away. Is it true Meath played a challenge v Cavan at weekend? Anyone know any news or what possible starting team to expect in opening round?"
It's true, but I didn't hear a thing about it eg. Result or teams.

blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 884 - 13/04/2023 18:29:29    2470876

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Replying To blueman1903:  "It's true, but I didn't hear a thing about it eg. Result or teams."
Meath played a defensive style and supposedly played much better

loyalroyal23 (Meath) - Posts: 20 - 15/04/2023 17:36:39    2471093

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Replying To loyalroyal23:  "Meath played a defensive style and supposedly played much better"
Think that's the best way to go. Players use to that style. Not only from previous years. But club scene too. It might not be how we would like to play. But it's how we have to play.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/04/2023 20:50:23    2471109

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Replying To blueman1903:  "It's true, but I didn't hear a thing about it eg. Result or teams."
Played okay I believe, had a few changes of personal who impressed ( 2 or 3 from extended squad played )

Shane Walsh still struggling and is doubtful for game is the word.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1049 - 16/04/2023 13:55:47    2471181

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Replying To thelutch:  "Played okay I believe, had a few changes of personal who impressed ( 2 or 3 from extended squad played )

Shane Walsh still struggling and is doubtful for game is the word."
Who were the lads from extended panel ?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 16/04/2023 14:22:50    2471189

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Who were the lads from extended panel ?"
Not sure , I know Young Sean Coffey played and did well at wing back

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1049 - 16/04/2023 14:43:37    2471194

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Replying To thelutch:  "Not sure , I know Young Sean Coffey played and did well at wing back"
Excellent thanks

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 16/04/2023 16:01:02    2471210

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I think we will win this one. As that is a really bad Offaly team. And I think we have to show a reaction to the league form. The league is over park it, we are lucky to an extent that we still in division with the comeback of dubs v clare which ultimately saved us. So I'm expecting a reaction from the players. I'd go with Meath by 8, showing heart and determination. The last part is the most important part."
Meath by 8, what are you smoking. Based on what I saw all year with Meath and particularly in Newbridge, we are definite underdogs.

AthboyCelt (Meath) - Posts: 147 - 17/04/2023 11:09:31    2471326

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Replying To AthboyCelt:  "Meath by 8, what are you smoking. Based on what I saw all year with Meath and particularly in Newbridge, we are definite underdogs."
Based on a reaction. I expect one. If not then we have to say we well and truly screwed.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/04/2023 12:29:18    2471355

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Replying To AthboyCelt:  "Meath by 8, what are you smoking. Based on what I saw all year with Meath and particularly in Newbridge, we are definite underdogs."
Also from RUMOURS, the players had a meeting with management after league. Only 4 players spoke at the meeting, keoghan, O'Sullivan, mcentee and jones (current capt and previous 2, plus our best player in league) . They held their hands up and said they hadn't performed but that they felt the style of play that was been asked had left confusion and a inability to execute it as management would have liked, and it was decided that we would revert to a more defensive type of play, using the running game as the main game plan . Again this is what I was told over the weekend by a man from a club who has someone on team from his club. It was a very healthy meeting. I've been critical of Colm during league. But credit where credit is due, if he has listened to the players and taken them views on board then we have to give him and the other management team credit. I hope and pray we see a game plan that they can execute. As you said in newbridge the players looked awful and had 0 faith in the way they were playing. IF that has changed then we have to get behind management and players as they embark on a more familiar type of play.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/04/2023 12:48:14    2471365

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