Saw this is starting in about two weeks, what do people think? And when will the fixtures be announced?

Meathgaa5 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 19/01/2012 16:56:25    1096652

I think i read that the grading meetings are Friday (20th) and the draws will be on the 23rd or 24th (can't remember which)

Loinne (Meath) - Posts: 61 - 19/01/2012 17:59:40    1096704

Is the Minor League starting in early Feb.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 1018 - 21/01/2012 11:04:40    1097456

ashbourne to be favourites. wouldnt be surprised to see na fianna shake things up this year

Sth.K1992 (Meath) - Posts: 26 - 21/01/2012 16:03:37    1097554

Round 1 12th Feb

Havoc (Meath) - Posts: 296 - 22/01/2012 19:10:30    1097940

Any news on the draws?

Meathgaa5 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 24/01/2012 18:24:52    1099698

the draw is on tonight and should b up later on

robklad (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 24/01/2012 18:40:53    1099720

Would fancy Donaghmore Ashbourne or Simonstown i hear are strong in Div 1??
Would fancy Skyrne for Div 2 but Summerhill could be a threat there??

meathman96 (Meath) - Posts: 14 - 25/01/2012 13:05:58    1100057

Simonstown wont get anywhere near the division 1 title, 3 big teams are don/ash, ratoath and dunboyne

Meathgaa5 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 25/01/2012 13:22:56    1100073

Why does it sat Dunboyne/Kilbride in the draw have they joined together ?

royalgooner (Meath) - Posts: 23 - 25/01/2012 16:32:12    1100238

ye, and Blackhall Gaels and Moynalvey have joined for Minor. A bit worrying that Blackhall need to amalgamate considering they are already an amalgamated club.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 1018 - 25/01/2012 16:51:48    1100253

if its due to start in 2 weeks when will it actually start ? a month or 2 maybe ?

northsidegael (Meath) - Posts: 108 - 27/01/2012 10:02:54    1101176

2 weeks..

Meathgaa5 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 27/01/2012 17:30:26    1101477

Its an early start for the minor league this year so its hard to know how the first couple of rounds will go because some teams might have very little training done. Its also a bit of a concern at the amount of amalgamations popping up at minor level; Moynalvey and Blackhall are joined and they are two senior clubs...Moynalvey had a strong minor and U-16 team last year so I am suprised that they are going down this route because ultimately some players will not be getting matches and end up quitting.

Likewise Blackwater Gaels (Carnaross, Kilmainham and Drumbaragh) they will be playing in Division 5 (13-a-side) it is a bit of a concern that these 3 clubs joined together are only in Division 5. North Meath Gaels; Drumconrath/Meath Hill/Kilmainhamwood are joined together in Division 4 which is also a concern for the longterm futures of these clubs because if they are struggling for numbers at minor level they will really be under pressure at adult level in a few years time.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 483 - 29/01/2012 13:05:32    1102023

Thunderstruck:

Meath Hill, Drumconrath and Kilmainhamwood joined up because Kilmainhamwood don't have enough underage players at this age group, and other players from Meath Hill and Drumconrath have quit.. All these clubs need is 3 or 4 players from each age group to carry on to the adult teams.. Meath Hill and Drumconrath have that, but Kilmainhamwood don't, and when Ray Magee and the other older players retire they will struggle to stay in Junior.

ComeOnTheHill (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 30/01/2012 11:31:00    1102433

ComeOnTheHill - the problem is that 4-5 players from each club making up a minor team is not great in the longterm because the drop off rate in all clubs from minor to adult level is high, so if for example there are only 5 Meath Hill lads on the North Meath Gaels minor team by the time these lads are 20 there might only be one or two of them playing for Meath Hill and thats when numbers will become a problem.

Kilmainhamwood are an aging team and considering that they have very few players coming true it has to be a real concern, if Magee, Owens, Gilcreest and a few others hung up the boots well then there would be little or nothing left. Interesting to see young Malone and Mc Cabe coming on for Meath Hill against Drumconrath last weekend, 2 quality young players that would be a welcome addition to any club team - dark horses for the junior!

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 483 - 30/01/2012 14:13:08    1102539

Thunderstruck: I know the drop out rate is high, but there's 5 or so Meath Hill players in their last year of minor this year, and 3 are training with the adult team, it's the same with the age groups above and below minor.. Yeah it was nice to see them come on, they added something different to the forward line, especially Malone, he scored 3 good points.

ComeOnTheHill (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 30/01/2012 14:56:44    1102576

ComeOnTheHill things are moving in the right direction so... you's had a good U-21 team for the last couple of years and were very unlucky to be pipped by Carnaross this year... with good young players like that coming through it would be a great time to win the junior and become an established intermediate team over the next few years but the junior grade has plenty of good teams in it at the moment and the gap between intermediate and junior had narrowed quite a bit.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 483 - 30/01/2012 15:32:08    1102608

ratoath don't concentrate on minor league they just think its a waste of time. just look at what they done last year they done nothing in the league and the blitzed the championship and loads of people said they had no chance after what they had done in the league.

bigdog222 (Meath) - Posts: 67 - 30/01/2012 19:51:15    1102743

Any predictions??
I reckon it will go something like this:
Div1 Dunboyne or Don/Ash
Div2 Moynalvey or Skryne (I know nothing about Summerhill)
Div3 Dunderry or Walterstown

shldrs2thewheel (Meath) - Posts: 200 - 30/01/2012 21:20:16    1102814