james t i think you should really stop being so negative about o rourke. where you at the game against dublin? wen he lorded a ball in the last minute and meath went up and scored the winning point??? and was only on the field because one of your so called 20 keepers better than him was playing and couldnt kick the ball past his own 45! cop on and support all the young lads maybe we might win something if meath fans are actually supporting meath players!

skryne.stormer (Meath) - Posts: 18 - 15/02/2010 18:55:55    562223

That was a match to forget. Fowards making immature mistakes and seemed unable to handle the close attention of the Down backs. It looked like the barry days of players being afraid to shoot.

The game could have been easily the other way around on the scoreboard. Ward was in for a certain goal after a good move and had we taken our scores it would have been far more respectable

anyone else think the ref was a little harsh on the whistle for the frees. Im all for speeding up the game but feck sake

Theheinoking (Meath) - Posts: 128 - 15/02/2010 19:05:19    562235

Peadar Byrne has been very poor this year. I know he had a couple of good games in last years championship but he lacks a lot of qualities. He's okay when he's got his head down running with the ball but when it comes to passing the ball and shooting he is woeful at times. 'Peadar Byrne ran himself into the ground' is also becoming a bit of a cliché. He does do more tracking back than Stephen Bray and Joe Sheridan in the half-forward line but only a bit more. The amount of running he does also doesn't make up for the amount of times he gives bad passes away or the numerous wides he keeps hitting. Someone else should be given a run in the half-forward line instead of him!

Sexyboy (Meath) - Posts: 33 - 15/02/2010 19:58:29    562380

With regard to the goal against Kerry there were two men to blame and O'Rourke was not one of them. Firstly Tadgh cleaned out McGuinness and played a great pass to the wing. Then Moyles lost his footing leaving Walsh with a very easy kick from the edge of the square. Indeed if he had missed that goal he would probably have been instantly taken off as Kerry management are fairly unforgiving in these circumstances. He of course couldn't miss and afterwards scored two more points just to rub it into Moyles. Paddy is doing fine and will improve we all know that James hates all things Skryne (and most other clubs as well). If Paddy was a NOM man we certainly hear half the criticism about the lad. Leave him alone and start focusing on the players who are not delivering many of them from NOM.

Perhaps as mentioned by Squid on another page a keeper should now also be allowed the mark, as the square can be saturated by players after the ball is kicked. I also think that should that rule be kept then the square should be enlarged so as to even things out a bit for a goalie.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 15/02/2010 20:00:28    562388

I've been quite critical of this management set-up in the past but I have to say they seem to have learned from their previous mistakes and look like they are trying to do things right this year.

Saturday's match was awful but I wouldnt read too much into the result. For starters it was a bitterly cold night and the ball seem quite "dead" in the air so condutions were'nt the best. Down didnt exactly cover themselves in glory and both sides made mistakes that are typical of this time of year.

Our half-backs, midfield and full forwards (when they got the ball) actually played quite well.

Our full back line was suspect at times - but at least management reacted by bringing in O'Connor for McKeigue at half time. Changes like this were far too slow in happening last year. Macken seemed a bit naive at times but having seem now a few times this year - he is improving each game which is very encouraging. With Reilly out - it looks like Mcken is our man here (for the league at least so we need to get behind him).

It was interesting to see Micky Burke switching to centre back to mark Clarke - so he must be our "hatchet man" for the year and after how he playing against Goulding last year in the Sigerson Cup - I think he the right man for this job.

Distribution into our inside forward line is what killed us in the end. Although he tried hard, Stephen Bray is not a centre forward that can unlock a defense with a cheeky / ambitious pass. Either Joe / Moyles can fill this space so I wouldnt be too worried yet.

In realtion to Paddy O'Rourke. To be fair to the man - he is getting better all the time. Unfortunately though he has an inexperienced full back in front of him so the two of them have to learn quickly together. Personally I would bring in Murphy if he's fit. However if this does not happen, I would have no worries about Paddy being there for the year.

If we improve our distribution (which we can) - then we will beat Westmeath and depending how we fare afer that we should be set up nicely come May.

For what its worth I would like to see the following team line out against Westmeath:

1. O'Rourke / Murphy
2. O'Connor
3. Macken
4. Harrington
5. Kenny
6. McGuinness
7. Burke
8. Ward / Meade
9. Crawford
10. Byrne
11. Joe
12. Moyles (3rd midfielder for Mark - distribution)
13. D. Bray
14. Queeney
15. S. Bray

Thats McKeigue, Reilly and C. Ward out from the last day. I think we know what Cian can do at this stage - but with Queeny on free duty - I'd like to see those 6 forwards line out.

BTW - its great to see Dublin winning at the moment. More hype is what we need - and lots of it. I think they're certs for SAM this year myself..!!

BRING_ON_GURTY! (Meath) - Posts: 712 - 15/02/2010 20:39:50    562453

Yes i see Colm O'Rourke is playing mind games in the paper talking up Dublin.It can only be good for Meath and the rest of the teams out there.Eugene Magee is at it aswell.Roll on summer 2010.

12Royal (Meath) - Posts: 987 - 16/02/2010 12:56:39    562891

" 'Peadar Byrne ran himself into the ground' is also becoming a bit of a cliché. He does do more tracking back than Stephen Bray and Joe Sheridan in the half-forward line but only a bit more. The amount of running he does also doesn't make up for the amount of times he gives bad passes away or the numerous wides he keeps hitting."

Spot on. Meath supporters tend to over-value good, honest hard-grafting players and while these qualities have always been the hallmarks of Boylan's teams you need a bit more from your forwards when it comes to winning All-Irelands. Right now we need a lot more cuteness on the forty. The likes of Peadar Byrne or Mickey Burke, good players though they are, would be much more effective as impact subs when it becomes necessary to boss midfield during the final fifteen minutes.

Ollie99 (Meath) - Posts: 442 - 18/02/2010 19:56:46    566157

see what your saying ollie but we need workers around that area. but with kenny and burke playing i think we already have the two work horses there who'll win hard ball. maybe look at moyles in there instead of peader? its an option anyway.

jaffacake (Meath) - Posts: 720 - 19/02/2010 09:50:07    566435

Look it the sooner we stop playing backs in the forwards we will start winning!
To be a good team you need 6 scoring forwards something that we dont have! Like we all know C.Ward the 2 Brays Big-Joe B.Farrell J.Queenny B.Sheridan can all hit scores. But Peadar he has good days with the scoring but then he has awful days where he can't hit a score to save his life. I know he does all the donkey work for the rest of the forwards but we also have kenny,burke,o'connor or even mcguiness to win the ball for them and lay it off to them. So unless Peadar can get accurate shooting like the rest off them i dont think we can progress to be League winners, Leinster finalists or even winners and definitely not All-Ireland winners!

Royal_son (Meath) - Posts: 300 - 19/02/2010 11:28:03    566555

Lads I seriously reckon Moyles should be somewhere on the half-forward line. The lad can control games unlike say Peadar.

I'm a big fan of Peadar but the suggestion of him as an impact sub does hold serious weight.

TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 285 - 19/02/2010 14:22:06    566971