stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 23/06/2023 11:14:45    2488597

kingofclubs (Meath) - Posts: 330 - 23/06/2023 12:16:53    2488625

Meathfor@life (Meath) - Posts: 85 - 23/06/2023 15:19:58    2488685

Meathfor@life (Meath) - Posts: 85 - 23/06/2023 15:20:44    2488686

Who should partner Conor Gray in midfield Jack Flynn or Ronan Jones? Thought Jack flynn was very good the last day and Jones might add something from the bench.

Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 182 - 23/06/2023 19:16:47    2488722

A good solid team named. It feels like there's a real competition for places now in some positions around midfield and the half forward like. Good to see Jones back and McGowan has impressed in the last two games he deserves the start. Flynn is a good impact off the bench. It's a toss of a coin between himself and McGowan to start. The defence has a very settled look about it. I'm looking forward to see this team in Croke Park. There's a bit of freshness around them and that has come from winning matches albeit not at the level we need to be. We can only beat what's in front of us and we should get the win on Sunday.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2003 - 23/06/2023 21:41:45    2488730

Meathfor@life (Meath) - Posts: 85 - 24/06/2023 11:44:51    2488768

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 24/06/2023 11:54:26    2488772

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 24/06/2023 14:56:56    2488807

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 24/06/2023 15:15:25    2488810

All along I said that getting to the last 4 would be a good acheivement for this group considering where they were in April/May. This is progress. Well done to all.

However if Im honest now, I feel like this squad should press on and win the cup altogether. It's just that the games were won easier (exception: Down) than they ought to have been and that tells me that this team has potentially a far higher ceiling than I would have said two or three months back. In fact I would nearly say that the biggest issue earlier in the year could have been nerves and confidence, and that corner seems to have been turned, hence the results. Ar least I think that is the case.

On the confidence and the nervous energy in the Meath team; Andy McEntee will be well aware of this fragility and if Antrim can put out a tidy ship, which they will, and bring some fire - they could ask questions... I would be highly surprised if they dont play very deep and put serious squeeze between the tramlines and between the halfway line and the 21 when Meath are in possession. Thats where Antrim can affect the game; get turnovers, force the Meath players into hasty decisions, force shots from distance etc, in that scenario Meath are very average. They may even give away frees in this area as they know Meath havent confident free takers.

Its obviously easier said than done but I dont see how an Antrim team that is on a good run, used to Ulster football, with a very cute manager who knows their opposition wont be very well organised on the day.

In saying all of that - I think it could take time but Meath should prevail. The other outcome I see is that Antrim dont face up; if that happens Meath will win easily.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 24/06/2023 19:18:40    2488888

After the league I wasn't sorry to see Meath playing in the Tailtean Cup , young team New management I believed it would give everyone a chance to win games and improve as a unit .
If it has done this then Meath must win today and win with a bit in hand the McEntee factor should only drive some Meath players on even more .
Antrim have had a few decent results this yea but this is still a team that Westmeath bey by 32 points in the league only a matter of weeks ago .
I'll be disappointed if we don't win comfortably best of luck to Colm and all the players Meath by 5+

mmc (Meath) - Posts: 280 - 25/06/2023 09:01:52    2489001

Bonjour. Just back from our wee trip to Paris with my beautiful wife and I see my fan club talked about me all week :). I'm flattered.
Couple of things Gallagher said b4 he was rightfully removed that Derry had to be playing in div 1 to improve and get better. But sure no according to some on here (or multiples of one account ) you have to be playing the likes of Wexford and Waterford to be able to compete with Armagh , Donegal cork Kildare. Ok ???
Anyway off to Croke park today expecting a win against a team who are well beneath our standard of players. And I mean no disrespect to them in saying that, who's players have came out and said that the players literally love their manager, so they will go above and beyond for him particularly against his native county. But that will only get you so far, and our players are better , now hopefully our biggest drawback this year is starting to sort itself out. The defection of two members to ladies and split their time hopefully will make no difference at this late stage but going forward has to be one or the other.
On that note best wishes to Colm donal and all involved today. The only way this will be a success is the prize of winning it otherwise we , I fear will be in it again next year.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/06/2023 09:10:29    2489003

Royal.1 (Meath) - Posts: 29 - 25/06/2023 12:12:46    2489059

Seated and ready to go. Looking through teams not one Antrim player has played for his county in Croke park. Vast majority of ours have. That must count for something. ? Some like keoghan harnan jones O'Sullivan, Morris mcentee etc have played here numerous times. I can't see anything other than an extremely comfortable win. Antrim for all them having a good target man and good manager have little else and tbh I think they May freeze in this game. They are in bonus territory we have to win this bloody thing to ensure we NEVER in it again.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/06/2023 12:51:32    2489065

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/06/2023 13:30:23    2489082

On another note very poor crowd here so far let's hope more come in. . Don't think this competition will catch on. Regardless of who is in it. Disappointed

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/06/2023 13:47:45    2489088

Costello Morris lynch harnan all excellent some of the subs were questionable mcentee was just getting into the game. 3rd quarter was decisive. Well done to Antrim on their performance and to Andy mcentee showing what a class manger he is, to take such a lowly ranked team to push Meath all the way in year one shows what a incredible manager he is.
I actually got excited for first time in the now often called tiddlywinks cup, so maybe not all bad .
Looking forward to the final and a chance to make absolutely sure we are not in this next year. Down will be a different animal. (They I think will beat Laois ) but we have a chance to win it out now. So let's do that.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/06/2023 15:46:19    2489130

A win is a win and we're in a final but we should've destroyed them when we got 6 or 7 up. It was 2 on 2 in our FF line every time, if we'd used the head a bit more would've won by 10. Feel like we've some really good athletes and conditioning improving but need to improve game management and know how on the field. FB line was in major trouble until Keogan went back. Still hard to tell where we're at. Final against probably Down will tell.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 31 - 25/06/2023 15:53:24    2489134

We have the makings of a team for this level, all be it BUT somehow we nearly managed to lose it. McEntee, who by the way was playing brilliantly at full forward and Aaron Lynch were taken off far to early. Their replacements never got into the game. We also need a fullback badly as well.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1080 - 25/06/2023 15:57:56    2489135