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It was deja vu really. I remember under Andy McEntee in 2019 Meath kicking ball into Conlon against two bigger men and got absolutely no change. Good scorer alright but just no going to win his own ball kicked from distance.
winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 14/04/2024 20:51:32 2537830 Link 1 |
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Not an unexpected result. Was actually quite happy for about 50 mins it was 1-13 to 0-10. Hammered then after that but something to build on going into the round Robin. The reality is there's an absolute gulf in class, both physicality and skills wise. Our team is young but there's so much improving they need to do and some of those guys have been on the panel 4 or 5 years now and unfortunately I'm not seeing much areas of improvement not sure the reason to blame for that. The reality is until we are consistently beating Dublin at under 20 level these beatings will keep happening and I don't think any manager could change that soon. But all the messing in the past 2 years like coups in the winter, coach and S&C man leaving, full time head of Atheltic development leaving makes progression impossible. Until all that background BS stops then we won't have an environment which allows players to keep improving and we will never get closer to bridging this gap which is absolutely killing both my happiness and the wider Meath's public interest in the team! LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 14/04/2024 21:07:05 2537837 Link 1 |
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Think it was alway's about getting this one over and done with. Still a dissapoint scoreline nonetheless. Our season depends on how we react to today's defeat. First half showed signs of promise but that goal took the wind out of our sail's and once Dublin got on top there was no way back. Turned over an amount of ball in second half, be it poor kickouts or running into blind alley's. Of course a lot will depend on draw and after today difficult to be optimistic, however, as you said we have a number of weeks to prepare for what lie's ahead.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2195 - 14/04/2024 21:16:32 2537841 Link 1 |
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Why kick high ball in to the smallest man on the pitch.I dont blame him at all crazy picking on him and crazy service into our forward line If you want to kick it high put a big man in there.Kick a ball in low and into space might give him a chance.Im not saying he was would've done serious damage but scapegoating one lad is not on.Gave the ball away so many times today and got caught out on the counter.We actually done well on their kickouts but poor on our own.When Dublin pressed high (especially 2nd half)why didn't we go long instead of going short and getting caught out.Second goal was so poor ran through 3 or 4clafs shouldve been stopped or fouled.We got a few lovely scores and played some nice football but like the rest of the year only in fits and starts never going to be enough against top opponents.
Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 294 - 14/04/2024 22:14:02 2537856 Link 1 |
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Some positives, but overall the second half was very poor. Dublin were there not to be beaten, but definitely there to be more competitive against. Dublin were poor by their standards and didn't look interested, and yet still hand out a 16 point beating. Meath did very well on both their own and Dublins kickouts in the first half, and were solid defensively, but they handed away possession on so many occasions. Second half was a non event and Meath didn't really show anything going forward apart from Jack O'Connor who was very direct when he came on. Goals conceded were all sloppy and obviously the one in the first half should not have stood, with 13 steps taken by Bugler. Meath looked like a side who never believed at all they could even compete with Dublin, never mind beat them. Some flashes, but very little aggression or intensity shown by Meath overall. BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 997 - 14/04/2024 23:34:42 2537869 Link 0 |
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Where has Diarmuid Moriarty gone? Is he injured?didnt feature much in the league and hasn't been involved in the first two games. Meath are not exactly blessed with big forwards. BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 997 - 14/04/2024 23:37:08 2537870 Link 0 |
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Meath gave away home advantage, and now they are now trying to spin it that they never had the option to play in Navan and that it was due to TV scheduling why the game was on in Croke Park. Absolute rubbish of the highest order. BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 997 - 15/04/2024 01:16:30 2537880 Link 1 |
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Perhaps I was a bit too negative yesterday. Postivies to take I think it's the best I've seen O'Higgins and Caulfield play for Meath. We got some nice team scores. Got loads of joy off their kickout. Frayne was able to pop in lots of space which is encouraging going forward. Some very good tackling in the first 45 mins or so. A bit like last season with positives in the Tailteann cup they're only really positives if we now go and back it up in the round Robin LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 15/04/2024 07:37:13 2537883 Link 1 |
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Wow! He's right! If we want to compete at the top level - we need a complete overhaul! Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 511 - 15/04/2024 08:05:34 2537886 Link 1 |
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Apparently he has dropped himself off the panel due to lack of game time
SillySimonsOpinion (Meath) - Posts: 61 - 15/04/2024 08:20:49 2537890 Link 0 |
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Where have you seen that it was said that Meath had the o option to play it in Navan? Last week O'Rourke said it was a decision made by people in blazers so I presumed that was Leinster council
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1523 - 15/04/2024 08:26:03 2537892 Link 1 |
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Higgins may have had his best game for Meath but left on his backside on far sideline allowing Paddy Small walk in to setup goal. Who was marking Mannion? Jones supposed to be one of leading men but is extremely raw and erratic in possession. Handpassed two balls away directly to Dubs and some wayward shooting. Our other leading man Keoghan didn't have a good outing. Booked early for awkward high tackle and also allowed Scully field a high backs ball over high on first play of 2nd half. Morris and Frayne both shot poor wides. Daithi McGowan not physical enough for midfield. Was the wind very strong close to canal goal as kickouts a disaster in 2nd half. It was clear that keeper just needed to launch it long to get over press but couldn't get over 45. Cluxton also struggled. Caulfied was our best player on the day. If we are going to look to kick direct long ball into full forward line, we need to have players inside to get it. Currently we don't. The most disappointing thing is the skill level and execution from our players. No matter how fit and strong you are, without basic skills you will not achieve alot.
winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 15/04/2024 08:44:23 2537893 Link 1 |
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What's the story with Danny Dixon? We was strong off the bench in the league. Off the panel now? MeathAbroad (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 15/04/2024 08:54:18 2537898 Link 0 |
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I think that's a fair summary. That was Eoghan Frayne's and Billy Hogan's first game in croke park, I thought both coped pretty well to be honest. Billy put some shift in providing the outfield option. Ideally you don't want to be playing the dubs as your first game in croker. Agree on Jones, the erratic turnovers have to stop. It's consistently happening and didn't the Dubs just punish them turnovers yesterday.
Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 181 - 15/04/2024 09:48:54 2537918 Link 1 |
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Moriarty was named in the extended panel in the program along with Flood, Cillian O Sullivan & Brendan McKeon. Dixon was not named on extended panel and unless he is injured like Conor Gray it seems strange he wasn't. madmeath (Meath) - Posts: 83 - 15/04/2024 10:00:58 2537928 Link 1 |
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It's not possible to close the gap on Dublin when we continue to loose players through injury or retirements from the panel . mmc (Meath) - Posts: 280 - 15/04/2024 10:09:13 2537933 Link 1 |
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Do young lads in Meath still dream of playing the Dubs in Croke Park? begining (UK) - Posts: 311 - 15/04/2024 10:14:37 2537936 Link 0 |
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Having also been in attendance, I would agree entirely with this summary. Meath played a style of football that was effective 10-15 years ago, but doesn't work anymore. If you don't have some form of a half forward line in-situ, then no amount of turnover ball will be worth anything to the team, as there is no outlet in position up the field for a quick transition. Meath's attacking play was too ponderous, and to me this was the one very clear difference between the teams. When Dublin were faced with Meath's "low block", they continuously attempted to move the ball FORWARD at speed (mostly with the hand), and also always looked to change the angle of attack, with multiple options for the player passing the ball. On the other hand, Meath's attacking players were not operating in these pods of 2's & 3's going forward. As a result, there was no penetration because the ball was just being passed around along the 45, in front of the Dublin screen. Any decent team, such as the Dubs, will just gobble this type of play up as it is really, really easy to defend. As I say, to me, this was the main difference between the two teams. I don't agree with the opinion of other posters that Meath were lacking in terms of S&C nor general "fitness". The nucleus of a good team is emerging, and with some better coaching, they can continue to progress. oceanofnoise (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 15/04/2024 10:28:29 2537940 Link 0 |
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Would tend to agree with most of what you're saying. Meath looked a little lost and void of ideas when Dublin just stood off them and went man to man. And when they did create an angle, the finishing wasn't there. But they will learn from the experience, there's few teams better than Dublin at doing what they did Dublin on the other hand were able to constantly recycle until the opportunity presented itself, and they look their chances. But that been said, we defended well in the first half, Dublin did struggle with the low block at times, and but for the goal we might have found ourselves only 2/3 points down at the break. But too many times we forced the turnover ourselves with sloppy play, I like Ronan Jones as a player - but too many times he just runs down a blind ally and into a sea of players, and you really can't do that at this level. Hate to single him out because a few others were at it too, and I don't think Billy Hogan offered enough when he came out. You always got the feeling he was going to fumble it. I'm more just disappointed with the margin of defeat, we tighten up the last 10 mins, lost maybe 1-18 to 0-13, and there's something to work on, it's encouraging considering we know Dublin are miles better than us. But the heads dropped and we ended up losing by 16, it's disheartening. hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 251 - 15/04/2024 10:56:50 2537948 Link 0 |
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Great to see Sean Boylan involved again and looking well. I have a lot of time for him. He is some man. Dubs were sloppy again yesterday and have a lot of work to do and improve on before the knockout stages of the Championship. As for Meath, a 1/4 final could be achievable if the draw is kind to them. I thought Caulfield was excellent yesterday. Costello was relatively quiet by his high standards. Keoghan was not up to high lofty standards for some reason. Both are excellent players. I think McGowan is better suited to the half forward line, as it could be suggested he is not yet strong enough for midfield. But he too, is a very talented player. Meath just need to dust themselves down and go again in a few weeks. They cant be overly critical of the players or the performance. It is a relatively young team and a lot of inexperienced players on it. They will learn from this and improve without a doubt. Judge the season on how it goes from here. Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3983 - 15/04/2024 12:00:05 2537983 Link 2 |