Meath Forum

Club Transfers

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Replying To Meathfootball12:  "O'Fearraigh, a very smart player, reminded me a lot of a fellow native Irish speaker, Stephen "Merot" Sheppard.

Regarding Ratoath, it was bound to happen that they would get a few players from the outside. A big town close to Dublin was bound to happen naturally with the influx of people moving into it. Any suggestion that there's money being thrown around or they're buying lads is utterly ridiculous.

Does anyone know what happened to Carty the Dub, who transferred to Summerhill (Meath)? He would make a great midfield combination with Adam Flanagan. Hopefully, we get to see him in 2026"
Apparently Leinster Council weren't happy with it. So it just went away?

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1130 - 11/12/2025 11:49:33    2647947

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Replying To thelutch:  "The word "took" isn't accurate here. Niall played underage with the amalgamation of Bracks and Clonard.

He wanted to play at senior level, as did young Flanagan. Both requested transfers, there was no poaching involved.

Players come and go everywhere. In fact, The Bracks have signed over 10 transfers to allow players join other clubs in Meath and other counties.

Our club has a very simple motto, if a player wants to leave, who are we to stop them? Of course, we'll have a conversation, but if they need or want a transfer, it's never challenged, ever.

This is an amateur game. Let lads play. If you wish them well, chances are they'll return in a year or two.

Blocking a player only creates conflict and increases the likelihood they'll never come back."
"Thelutch" and I have disagreed with many things in the past, and we will do so again here,

What makes the GAA so great is the fact that it's where you're born and the pride in the community. I completely agree if lads have moved a considerable distance, for example, lads from the west of Ireland who live in Dublin. However, leaving for another team 20 minutes away sets a dangerous precedent that we should not just walk on eggshells around. Rural clubs and junior clubs will be picked at, like many of us here will pick at the biscuit thin over the next few weeks. Before you know it does jerseys dont need to be ordered player fit and its not because of an extensive gym plan if ya know what i mean

Meathfootball12 (Meath) - Posts: 52 - 11/12/2025 12:22:24    2647955

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Replying To Meathfootball12:  ""Thelutch" and I have disagreed with many things in the past, and we will do so again here,

What makes the GAA so great is the fact that it's where you're born and the pride in the community. I completely agree if lads have moved a considerable distance, for example, lads from the west of Ireland who live in Dublin. However, leaving for another team 20 minutes away sets a dangerous precedent that we should not just walk on eggshells around. Rural clubs and junior clubs will be picked at, like many of us here will pick at the biscuit thin over the next few weeks. Before you know it does jerseys dont need to be ordered player fit and its not because of an extensive gym plan if ya know what i mean"
I completely agree and I'm against poaching. However, Niall wasn't poached, he made a personal choice to play at a higher level, and that has to be respected.

Clonard is going through a tough spell, but they'll bounce back, their underage teams are flying. It's a great club that I proudly represented at underage level. Our county board chairman is a proud Clonard man and a great servant to both club and county.

Back in the '80s, when we were struggling, we lost lads to senior clubs in Meath, and those weren't next door either. That's just how it goes sometimes.

For the record, we have five lads from Ballinabrackey on the Kinnegad panel. Would they strengthen us? Absolutely. Would we be Keegan Cup contenders? Yes. Do they want to play with us? No-because they went to school in Kinnegad, which was closer, and played there with friends. I fully support that.

The same applies to some of our lads born on the Offaly side of the parish, they went to school in Meath and played with the parish team. This happens in every county.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1137 - 11/12/2025 14:37:00    2647991

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I listened to a podcast this week about the death of rural clubs in GAA due to population movements etc. It got me thinking about player transfers etc. I look down the road at Ratoath and how they fielded 3 adult teams very comfortably for championships this year - Finalists at Senior and their 2nd and 3rd teams won their respective championships. They had a few lads playing seconds and a few playing thirds who I would love to have here in Curraha! We are really struggling with lads travelling etc.
Would Ratoath's 2nd and 3rd teamers be better served by playing at Intermediate level (I know we are Junior now!) and would it make it a more competitive competition.

I know lads playing 2nd team with Ratoath, Ashbourne and Dunboyne who feel the second team competitions are poor quality and that they would rather play in Intermediate championship!

I don't know what the right answer is!!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 535 - 12/12/2025 12:35:14    2648089

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "I listened to a podcast this week about the death of rural clubs in GAA due to population movements etc. It got me thinking about player transfers etc. I look down the road at Ratoath and how they fielded 3 adult teams very comfortably for championships this year - Finalists at Senior and their 2nd and 3rd teams won their respective championships. They had a few lads playing seconds and a few playing thirds who I would love to have here in Curraha! We are really struggling with lads travelling etc.
Would Ratoath's 2nd and 3rd teamers be better served by playing at Intermediate level (I know we are Junior now!) and would it make it a more competitive competition.

I know lads playing 2nd team with Ratoath, Ashbourne and Dunboyne who feel the second team competitions are poor quality and that they would rather play in Intermediate championship!

I don't know what the right answer is!!"
It's a fair point, and in truth, it would improve the overall quality of teams in junior and inter as they would be there on merit. On the other hand, do we want two large towns, with a third team competing in the junior final in October?

Meathfootball12 (Meath) - Posts: 52 - 12/12/2025 13:52:05    2648106

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Replying To Meathfootball12:  "It's a fair point, and in truth, it would improve the overall quality of teams in junior and inter as they would be there on merit. On the other hand, do we want two large towns, with a third team competing in the junior final in October?"
I guess what I'm thinking - is that for example - Ratoath have a few lads who can't get into the first team - for any number of reasons - that they could transfer to Curraha (if Curraha wanted them of course!) and play with Curraha. It would make Curraha stronger - and by extension the championship we will playing in will be stronger.

I think Garett Rooney went from Ratoath to Kilbride this year - he wasn't getting into the Ratoath first team but was a great help to Kilbride

I know also some minor players coming into adult with the big clubs find it hard to get into Senior teams and might be better served playing with a neighbouring intermediate team!

I know the issue of course is the players 'home' team would not want to lose any players - but it could be done on the basis that a player remains with his home club but is sanctioned to play for a season with the alternative club. If the home club call the player back, and it could only be done the following season, then the home club would have to play that player in the championship

I haven't really thought it true fully but it seems crazy to me that some clubs are struggling to field a team in championship while there could be 80 or 90 players in another club! I know from talking to some lads - they feel the 'premier' championship isn't working! It doesn't even get covered really!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 535 - 12/12/2025 15:21:25    2648132

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "I guess what I'm thinking - is that for example - Ratoath have a few lads who can't get into the first team - for any number of reasons - that they could transfer to Curraha (if Curraha wanted them of course!) and play with Curraha. It would make Curraha stronger - and by extension the championship we will playing in will be stronger.

I think Garett Rooney went from Ratoath to Kilbride this year - he wasn't getting into the Ratoath first team but was a great help to Kilbride

I know also some minor players coming into adult with the big clubs find it hard to get into Senior teams and might be better served playing with a neighbouring intermediate team!

I know the issue of course is the players 'home' team would not want to lose any players - but it could be done on the basis that a player remains with his home club but is sanctioned to play for a season with the alternative club. If the home club call the player back, and it could only be done the following season, then the home club would have to play that player in the championship

I haven't really thought it true fully but it seems crazy to me that some clubs are struggling to field a team in championship while there could be 80 or 90 players in another club! I know from talking to some lads - they feel the 'premier' championship isn't working! It doesn't even get covered really!"
Transferring from big town clubs to smaller rural clubs is quite common place in kildare. The likes of Naas who would have lots of players capable of playing a good standard football but can't get near their senior team . Normal enough to see them move to smaller clubs rather than play mickey mouse 2nd team championship

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1089 - 12/12/2025 17:03:06    2648153

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "I guess what I'm thinking - is that for example - Ratoath have a few lads who can't get into the first team - for any number of reasons - that they could transfer to Curraha (if Curraha wanted them of course!) and play with Curraha. It would make Curraha stronger - and by extension the championship we will playing in will be stronger.

I think Garett Rooney went from Ratoath to Kilbride this year - he wasn't getting into the Ratoath first team but was a great help to Kilbride

I know also some minor players coming into adult with the big clubs find it hard to get into Senior teams and might be better served playing with a neighbouring intermediate team!

I know the issue of course is the players 'home' team would not want to lose any players - but it could be done on the basis that a player remains with his home club but is sanctioned to play for a season with the alternative club. If the home club call the player back, and it could only be done the following season, then the home club would have to play that player in the championship

I haven't really thought it true fully but it seems crazy to me that some clubs are struggling to field a team in championship while there could be 80 or 90 players in another club! I know from talking to some lads - they feel the 'premier' championship isn't working! It doesn't even get covered really!"
I believe there is some merit to this, how many times have promising county underage players disappeared after a couple of years of struggling to break into a strong senior club team. The same players would be a huge addition to a junior or intermediate club down the road, perhaps players should be allowed to affiliate with the closest neighbouring who operate at a lower level. This way there would be still some control against widespread transfers and at the same time maybe players wouldn't lose motivation due to playing second team football.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 480 - 12/12/2025 21:22:08    2648168

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Replying To Thunderstruck:  "I believe there is some merit to this, how many times have promising county underage players disappeared after a couple of years of struggling to break into a strong senior club team. The same players would be a huge addition to a junior or intermediate club down the road, perhaps players should be allowed to affiliate with the closest neighbouring who operate at a lower level. This way there would be still some control against widespread transfers and at the same time maybe players wouldn't lose motivation due to playing second team football."
Don't agree. Goes against what GAA is about. How would it be controlled? It would end up in a situation where it could go the other way where junior clubs could be feeder clubs to senior clubs and effectively junior/intermediate neighbouring teams would be seen as reserve teams to the larger senior clubs.
Maybe it's a case of making the 2nd/3rd team competitions for senior clubs more appealing.
They took these teams out of the intermediate, junior and junior b championships and not sure it has worked. Junior championship used to have alot more teams and was extremely hard to win. Teams play as little as 3 games in this now. How does that benefit anyone.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 862 - 13/12/2025 09:32:00    2648183

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Don't agree. Goes against what GAA is about. How would it be controlled? It would end up in a situation where it could go the other way where junior clubs could be feeder clubs to senior clubs and effectively junior/intermediate neighbouring teams would be seen as reserve teams to the larger senior clubs.
Maybe it's a case of making the 2nd/3rd team competitions for senior clubs more appealing.
They took these teams out of the intermediate, junior and junior b championships and not sure it has worked. Junior championship used to have alot more teams and was extremely hard to win. Teams play as little as 3 games in this now. How does that benefit anyone."
Weakening the quality of the junior championship was the entire point. Junior clubs originally gave out that the 2nd teams strength varied too much from round to round. The solution to this was to put all the 2nd teams into their own group.

This wasn't enough and they later had them eliminated entirely. From a purely selfish point of view it's understandable; winning the junior becomes a lot easier if you ban half a dozen teams from entering, but it hasn't been to the benefit of the quality of the competition or to the 2nd team players.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1714 - 13/12/2025 13:34:06    2648205

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "I guess what I'm thinking - is that for example - Ratoath have a few lads who can't get into the first team - for any number of reasons - that they could transfer to Curraha (if Curraha wanted them of course!) and play with Curraha. It would make Curraha stronger - and by extension the championship we will playing in will be stronger.

I think Garett Rooney went from Ratoath to Kilbride this year - he wasn't getting into the Ratoath first team but was a great help to Kilbride

I know also some minor players coming into adult with the big clubs find it hard to get into Senior teams and might be better served playing with a neighbouring intermediate team!

I know the issue of course is the players 'home' team would not want to lose any players - but it could be done on the basis that a player remains with his home club but is sanctioned to play for a season with the alternative club. If the home club call the player back, and it could only be done the following season, then the home club would have to play that player in the championship

I haven't really thought it true fully but it seems crazy to me that some clubs are struggling to field a team in championship while there could be 80 or 90 players in another club! I know from talking to some lads - they feel the 'premier' championship isn't working! It doesn't even get covered really!"
To be perfectly honest, I think it's a terrible suggestion, proposing essentially a loan system like the Premier League, where some young hotshot from a big town team comes down to play junior football for a year and then just leaves. What pride will he have in the Jersey community? It's soulless

Meathfootball12 (Meath) - Posts: 52 - 13/12/2025 13:42:52    2648207

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This loan proposal sounds totally unworkable.

Do you play minor/U20 as normal with your home club then get shipped off at adult level to a junior club?

Or do you play 2nd team football for your own club for a few years then volunteer to get loaned to an intermediate/junior club?

Is there a limit on how many players can leave/join a club? If so what is it? And who decides what players get to go where?

What happens to the players who get pushed off their own club team to make way for the senior loan players?
Do they play 2nd team football, or is it a chain where they they get loaned out themselves to a Junior B club and replace their players?

Considering the number of strong 2nd teams in the South East of the county, wouldn't clubs like Curraha and Blackhall Gaels get swamped with senior players?

Wouldn't it also majorly benefit intermediate/clubs clubs which neighbour big clubs, at the expense of others? For example Moylagh or Clonard would never benefit from this, while clubs in the East of the county would.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1714 - 13/12/2025 14:23:32    2648213

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "This loan proposal sounds totally unworkable.

Do you play minor/U20 as normal with your home club then get shipped off at adult level to a junior club?

Or do you play 2nd team football for your own club for a few years then volunteer to get loaned to an intermediate/junior club?

Is there a limit on how many players can leave/join a club? If so what is it? And who decides what players get to go where?

What happens to the players who get pushed off their own club team to make way for the senior loan players?
Do they play 2nd team football, or is it a chain where they they get loaned out themselves to a Junior B club and replace their players?

Considering the number of strong 2nd teams in the South East of the county, wouldn't clubs like Curraha and Blackhall Gaels get swamped with senior players?

Wouldn't it also majorly benefit intermediate/clubs clubs which neighbour big clubs, at the expense of others? For example Moylagh or Clonard would never benefit from this, while clubs in the East of the county would."
Simple solution to it, is to just get rid of the premier or all county championship, as a blackspot said it's a Mickey Mouse championship. Let the second and third teams compete in a real competition like junior a or b etc. it's not their fault that the junior teams are giving out about it being hard to win a championship, it's not meant to be easy. The first teams don't value the premier championships at all, they just take players from the second teams at will. I remember first teams used to respect it and not take players at will.

Meathboyos86 (Meath) - Posts: 104 - 13/12/2025 15:16:02    2648227

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "This loan proposal sounds totally unworkable.

Do you play minor/U20 as normal with your home club then get shipped off at adult level to a junior club?

Or do you play 2nd team football for your own club for a few years then volunteer to get loaned to an intermediate/junior club?

Is there a limit on how many players can leave/join a club? If so what is it? And who decides what players get to go where?

What happens to the players who get pushed off their own club team to make way for the senior loan players?
Do they play 2nd team football, or is it a chain where they they get loaned out themselves to a Junior B club and replace their players?

Considering the number of strong 2nd teams in the South East of the county, wouldn't clubs like Curraha and Blackhall Gaels get swamped with senior players?

Wouldn't it also majorly benefit intermediate/clubs clubs which neighbour big clubs, at the expense of others? For example Moylagh or Clonard would never benefit from this, while clubs in the East of the county would."
Castlebravo, let me be honest here and call what we all think, it's probably one of the worst suggestion ideas that I have heard on this forum, and I have seen Meathboysof86 come out with plenty of suggestions that would make even Simon Cowell raise his eyebrow, and I'm pretty sure that's stuck solid from the botox

What's next, salary caps or something? A few clubs here might struggle with the financial fair play rules

Meathfootball12 (Meath) - Posts: 52 - 13/12/2025 22:32:35    2648277

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