Replying To Daith: "A proper team would have destroyed that Meath side. The goals were well taken but 3 of them were from suicidal drunk junior C stuff from an inept kildare defence. The coaching staff who set that defence out should be ashamed of themselves. It's another annihilation that sets the county back even further.
Leinster football is in the toilet. Nothing against Meath here, I just hope they keep it within 20 points v the Dubs. Not that I'll be watching."
Leinster football is not in any worse state compared to what it has been in recent years. Meath are probably in a similar position to what Kildare were a few years ago, question is can we move on from here or will we stall like ye did. Meath, in the first half (especially the second quarter) performed the worst we have this season but the second half was better (10 scores, 5 of them goals is not bad). Kildare were good in that first half but the 2 goals at the start of the second half knocked the stuffing out of them. Will Meath beat Dublin?, unlikely but it will be hard for anyone, after all Dublin are odds on to win their sixth All Ireland in a row.
Have to say I am bitterly disappointed after yesterday. I can't fathom how we went out and conceded 5 goals in one half of football after being so dominant in the first half. We don't have a bit of cynicism in us to be able to kill a goal chance and take a black card in the process. I'm not sure Jack is the man for the job based on this year. Overall we haven't been good enough to take the next step although I do believe the players are as good as any other county outside the top have available.
We don't have the killer instinct in front of goals that's needed. Brennan a few times caused problems for his defence with some wayward short kicking and instead of going for the jugular we took a handy point when we had a forward over. The likes of Monaghan / Donegal / Mayo are wouldn't miss that opportunity. Kevin Flynn went through on goal and only took a point which really should have been 3.
To be fair Andy Mc and his management saw how exposed we were at the back and took full advantage of that. The speed at which the ball was transitioned and carried by Meath in the second half yesterday caused us massive issues that we couldn't deal with. Meath identified how slow we where around the middle of the field and used it to their advantage.
In truth the pick of Meath / Kildare wouldn't cause the Dubs any problems. It's got to be hard at this stage being a Kildare or Meath footballer knowing the Leinster Championship is a foregone conclusion. The Dubs with the resources at their disposal may not be bet in Leinster for another 10 years. Kildare and Meath are to soft mentally after all of the beatings. I do feel that both teams have the potential to cause top division one teams serious problems on their day but there is a huge mental block when it comes to the Dubs.
Not sure where we go in Kildare now. Probably going to enter into a period of transition soon enough but I don't see anything coming through that will improve things drastically.
Replying To daytona11: "Have to say I am bitterly disappointed after yesterday. I can't fathom how we went out and conceded 5 goals in one half of football after being so dominant in the first half. We don't have a bit of cynicism in us to be able to kill a goal chance and take a black card in the process. I'm not sure Jack is the man for the job based on this year. Overall we haven't been good enough to take the next step although I do believe the players are as good as any other county outside the top have available.
We don't have the killer instinct in front of goals that's needed. Brennan a few times caused problems for his defence with some wayward short kicking and instead of going for the jugular we took a handy point when we had a forward over. The likes of Monaghan / Donegal / Mayo are wouldn't miss that opportunity. Kevin Flynn went through on goal and only took a point which really should have been 3.
To be fair Andy Mc and his management saw how exposed we were at the back and took full advantage of that. The speed at which the ball was transitioned and carried by Meath in the second half yesterday caused us massive issues that we couldn't deal with. Meath identified how slow we where around the middle of the field and used it to their advantage.
In truth the pick of Meath / Kildare wouldn't cause the Dubs any problems. It's got to be hard at this stage being a Kildare or Meath footballer knowing the Leinster Championship is a foregone conclusion. The Dubs with the resources at their disposal may not be bet in Leinster for another 10 years. Kildare and Meath are to soft mentally after all of the beatings. I do feel that both teams have the potential to cause top division one teams serious problems on their day but there is a huge mental block when it comes to the Dubs.
Not sure where we go in Kildare now. Probably going to enter into a period of transition soon enough but I don't see anything coming through that will improve things drastically."
The thing is people often talk about the 'top teams' as if Kerry/ Mayo/ Donegal are at the same level as Dublin, this is not the case. In reality it would probably be a bigger shock if one the other top teams beat Dublin than if the likes of Meath/ Cork etc. beat Kerry/ Mayo/ Donegal in a championship match. Dublin rarely have off days. Even if they do their superior preparation/ conditioning means they can really hurt teams late in games. That's why it's so much harder for the likes of Meath/ Kildare now to make a breakthrough and win Leinster than for the likes of Cork to win Munster. Winning a provincial title is a huge boost to team development, but much less likely when the modern day Dublin are in your Provence. Still, honestly, while I would be very surprised if we win I expect a decent showing on Saturday.
I think Dublin superior conditioning is a myth to be honest.
Ever wonder why Dublin keep pocession and play the ball in front of a blanket defense for large junks of the game. They let the ball do the work, the use their full 14 out field players, conserve their energy, let the opposition chase shadows and put in a massive effort to win it back.
What happens, Dublin allow other team to run their battery down containing them, while conserving their own energy, if the other team do win a turnover they are to knackered after putting in the effort to get it up the pitch quickly. Eventually they get to tired and fatigued mentally and physically with the huge effort in containment and pick them off eventually. Thats exactly why Dublin always have more in the tank. They use your own system against you to wear you down.
Dublin have a plan around conserving their own energy level and maximising the opposition's expending theirs. I dont think it has much to do with conditioning to be honest, its a great myth and adds to the aura, there are loads of counties who have spent significant amounts with the very belief in mind to little avail, in fact likely those counties are over conditioned on S/C.
Replying To bdbuddah: "The thing is people often talk about the 'top teams' as if Kerry/ Mayo/ Donegal are at the same level as Dublin, this is not the case. In reality it would probably be a bigger shock if one the other top teams beat Dublin than if the likes of Meath/ Cork etc. beat Kerry/ Mayo/ Donegal in a championship match. Dublin rarely have off days. Even if they do their superior preparation/ conditioning means they can really hurt teams late in games. That's why it's so much harder for the likes of Meath/ Kildare now to make a breakthrough and win Leinster than for the likes of Cork to win Munster. Winning a provincial title is a huge boost to team development, but much less likely when the modern day Dublin are in your Provence. Still, honestly, while I would be very surprised if we win I expect a decent showing on Saturday."
I dont think people on hoganstand consider Donegal Mayo Kerry as the same level as Dublin. They consider them the tier for contenders. Dublin are on their own at the top table and of course it would be a shock if either Donegal or Mayo beat them. Folk are so used to see the dubs win they talk about contenders but most know that the teams you mention are not up to the Dublin standard.
Replying To Bon: "A period of transition?...as opposed to what? Kildare have been going nowhere fast for years and years. Sheep in a heap."
Sheep in a heap... ouch..!
Look if that is the best defensive structure Jack O'Connor can come up then it is time for change. Kildare had the game won imo but for a 2nd half which was inexcusable... To concede 5 goals in 1 half of football...
No point in having excellent attacking players and a good midfielder, if the 6 behind them are all over the place.
Before the game most had highlighted the Kildare backline v the attacking prowess of Meath and yet JOC didnt come up with a plan to stop goals being scored....
Replying To CiarraiMick: "I dont think people on hoganstand consider Donegal Mayo Kerry as the same level as Dublin. They consider them the tier for contenders. Dublin are on their own at the top table and of course it would be a shock if either Donegal or Mayo beat them. Folk are so used to see the dubs win they talk about contenders but most know that the teams you mention are not up to the Dublin standard."
I mean the fact that many constantly talk about Leinster football being dead as a criticism of Meath and Kildare, put Monaghan/ Roscommon/ Cork into Leinster in recent years and they would have similarly struggled. This isn't defeatism, last 18 months playing good teams regularly will really stand to Meath going forward and I am hopeful of a good showing on Saturday.
I was impressed by Meath's ruthless finishing last Sunday. But it should be noted that Kildare's second half attempt at defending was Junior C stuff. If it was any other county but my own I would be laughing at it.
An area of huge concern for Meath should be that they were wiped out at midfield and the breaking ball throughout. I dont think they have progressed at all since 2017. Dublin will probably beat them by 15 - 20 points.
I will of course be cheering Meath on though and hope I am completely wrong.