Meath V Dublin Leinster Final.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5282 - 16/11/2020 17:04:20    2310231

meath by 5+

thecraw1 (Meath) - Posts: 106 - 16/11/2020 17:57:03    2310257

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4243 - 16/11/2020 18:01:27    2310260

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 16/11/2020 18:37:01    2310287

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 1151 - 16/11/2020 19:42:52    2310327

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 1151 - 16/11/2020 19:44:30    2310329

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 1151 - 16/11/2020 19:55:24    2310337

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 2022 - 16/11/2020 20:15:35    2310346

Dublin. And by whatever they want.

lilylanger (Kildare) - Posts: 758 - 16/11/2020 20:27:27    2310359

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 16/11/2020 20:45:07    2310383

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13671 - 16/11/2020 21:17:25    2310410

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 16/11/2020 22:24:16    2310442

Meath are improving young team, and evolving and changing every few months

1 On this Sat in upcoming leinster final, 8 of the starting 15 who will start v Dublin didnt start in last years leinster final. 8 new Meath players who didnt start in last years leinster final.are Marcus Brennan, David Toner, Ronan Ryan, Ronan Jones, Jordan Morris, Thomas O'Reilly, Shane Walsh, Matthew Costello . 5 players who will start on sunday werent on Meath panel in last years leinster final eg Walsh, Toner, Costello, Morris, Jones. While subd like Joey Wallace, Jason Scully, Eoin Harkin, Cathal Hickey who all will probaly come on as subs v Dubs next sat werent on Meath panel last year leinstet final. Meath could have up to 9 players who will get gametime v Dublin who werent on Meath panel in last years leinster final. This is a new Meath team with 50% changes to the starting 15 of 2019 leinster final. It also is a changed team to Meath team which played in early stages of the league when Meath were riddled with injuries. For example of the starting 15 next saturday 8 didnt start in Meath opening game v Tyrone or Donegal this year.

As I said Meath are team young team who are evolving and changing and growing every couple of months.
Age profile of Meath players
Matthew Costello 19
Jordan Morris 19
Shane Walsh 19
Cathal Hickey 19
James Conlon 21
Ethan Devine 21
Dara Campion 21
Jason Scully 21
Eoin Harkin 21
While players like Thomas O Reilly and Ronan Jones are 23. Meath could have 3 teenagers starting as attackers on Sunday eg Morris Costello ( he is attacking wing back but he really is centre forward).Walsh. They are making a big impact.

Jordan Morris has scored 4- 14 in 4 games for Meath 2 as sub
Jordan Morris scored 0- 2 V Dublin as Sub
Jordan Morris scored 0-7 v Dublin as Sub
Jordan Morris scored 3- 4 v WIcklow
Jordan Morris scored 1- 1 v Kildare.
Walsh has been target man not profilic yet but did score 4 excellent points v Dubs a few weeks from play. Some Meath forwards always played well v Dublin eg Ken Rennicks, Colm O Rourke, Brian Stafford, Graham Geraghty, Ollie Murphy,Stephen Bray. Walsh is a huge talent one of best young ffull forwards in the country scored 6 v kerry last in super 8 last year 3 from play and kerry defence couldnt handle. He destroyed Dublin at underage could be big game player on Sunday
Mathhew Costello has only started last 2 games for Meath. He was wing back
V Wickkow he scored 1-0
V Kildare he scored 1-1. Both goals were the best goals of the game.

In last years leinster final Meath misfired upfront. But they have 4 new attackers this year, Meath have a completely new full forward line wg Morris Walsh O Reilly. New attacking wing back eg Costello. A new midfield partner for Menton eg Jones and 2 new defenders eg Ryan Toner. And new goalie eg Brennan. In the early stages of league this year and last year Meath were averaging 12 or 13 point game. Since lockdown Meath have scored 0- 19 v Dubs, 1-17 v Monaghan, 7-14 v Wicklow and 5- 9 v Kildare. Meath have better forward line then last year or since the spring this year.

Also Meaths bench was poor last year. Mayo Donegal Mayo kerry Dublin all their bench made a bigger impact then Meaths last year or in this years spring 2020. With 10 to 12 first team Meath players missing in every of Meaths first 5 league games this year. McEntee was forced to try panel players many played well and when injured player returned v Monaghan game, ( Meath had 9 first team players missing v Dubs) meant huge competition for places. Meaning Padraig Harnan one of Meaths best defenders who is returning cannot get on Meath bench

V Dublin
Meaths subs scored 0- 4
Dublins subs 0-0

V Monaghan
Meaths subs scored 0-8
Monaghan subs scored 0-1

V Wicklow
Meath subs scored 2- 2
Wicklow subs scored 0 - 0

V kildare
Meath subs scored 2-1
Kildare subs scored 0-0

So in last games Meaths bench has made bigger impact then Dubs Monaghan Wicklow or kildare. Meaths bench has scored 4 - 11 in last 4 games. That is huge improvement since the spring. And new development for this Meath team.

Its also noticeable Meath look physically stronger, strongest I have seen Meath since 2009 2010. Meath for most of the last decade had one of the smallest teams country and were outmuscled bullied of the ball and out tackled and lost physical battle to Ulster teams and Dublin and kildare teams. Since football came back a few weeks ago, Meath are competiting much better in the physical stakes. Meath have a new S and C coach this year. Niall Ronan is a Meath man who played for Munster rugby. He is a deep thinker and it is clear to me Meath have done serious S and C work in the break. Also players like Sullivan Lavin McEntee Wallace are now 4 or 5 years with S and C conditioning and are now stronger physically. While young players coming through are first Meath players who have S and C and many them are physically strong eg Walsh Devine Costello. Even small player like Morris is quite stocky. Meath have ball carrier like keoghan, Sullivan, Menton, Jones, Costello who can break the tackle.

Nally has turned Meath from old fashioned direct football team into hard running, hard tackling, running possesion game counter attacking game in. 2 years. For first time Meath are playing modern style game sucessfully.

Meath are improving since the spring this year midfield has improved, Meaths full forward line has improved, Meaths bench has improved, Meaths scoring rate has increased and Meaths tackling has improved all since the spring this year. And in the spring without 10 or 12 first team players Kerry, Mayo and Galway all struggled to beat Meath., all beating Meath by scores in injury time.
Meath have one of the youngest teams in the country and Meath after kerry were greatest championship county in Ireland for 90 year 1930 to 2010. Meath football thrived on knockout football do or die football. Its part of Meath football DNA. Knockout football suits Meaths mentality.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 16/11/2020 22:41:46    2310446

Meath have no chance I don't see them doing it they don't have enough quality the lack scoring forwards , they all look good against Wicklow and Kildare but when dublin show up I can see the Meath forwards hiding but I'm optimistic and hopeful they play well

Pintsandpoints (Meath) - Posts: 12 - 16/11/2020 23:43:53    2310461

There is evidence allot of games to show this can be a competitive game. Meath cannot beat top teams but kerry Mayo Galway Dublin and Donegal twice last year have all struggled to beat Meath in last two year especially this year.

It began end of 2018 when it took Tyrone point in 5th min of injury time to save a defeat v Meath. Since then Meath have failed to beat top teams , but top teams have struggled to beat Meath. In the spring Meath were 1 point up v Mayo in 70th min when Mayo scored goal from mistake to beat Meath by 1 won. Meath were much better team in secovd half. According to Marc O Se Meath should have beaten kerry in killarnry in the league as Meath played that well. Meath lost by 3 points scored in injury time. Meath played some brillant football v Galway were 4 up half time and again went toe toe toe with Galway until Shane Walsh 71st min and 74th min two points won the game for Galway by 2. In all those games Meath had 10 to 12 first team players who injured.

In last few weeks With 9 first team players missing or injured v Dubs after 15th min Meath went toe with toes with Dubs and 53rd min Meath went ahead and were in the ascendency and it was til again in injury time Dubs scoring winninh points to win by 4. This is the Closest any leinster team has got to Dublin in 8 years. Meath also drew with Monaghan in clones. Last year twice Donegal struggled to beat Meath. Up to 63rd min and bad mistake for a goal Meath were 4 up and Meath were better team but Donegal ahowd their class and won by 2 in Ballybofey. Same in thw league final Meath were 5 up at half time and played some great football. Donegal won by 2 in injury time.

So there is 5 games this year and 2 last, 7 games were Meath put it up to best teams in the country and yes yes Meath didnt win. But for young upcoming team these are great learning experiences and show Meath can take on the best and compete. With 7 new players this year there is no reason not to think Meath can improve further with one of the youngest teams in the country.

2018
Meath lost by 1 point to Tyrone in championship
2019
Mesth lost by 2 points to Donegal in league
Meath lost by 2 points to Donegal in league
2020
Meath lost by 1 point to Mayo in league
Meath lost by 2 points to Galway in league
Meath lost by 3 points to kerry in league
Meath lost by 4 points to Dublin in league
Meath dreaw with Monaghan in league ( First time Meath had nearly fully fit panel).

Outide top 8 the county that has consistently being very competitivev v top teams in last 2 years Meath. Meath came very close to beating Donegal in Ballybofey last year and beating kerry in killarney and Monaghan in Clones and came very close to beating Mayo and Galway also this year and had missed 3 clear goals chances v Dubs when Meath went toe to toe with Dublim few weeks ago. For upcoming young improving teams those performances are significant. Its the only way to suceed you have to go through hard luck stories moral victories and 1 or 2 point loses. Meath might not suceed. But they are going in the direction.

Meath reached super 8s and leinster final last year and won promotion because of their defence. Meath were shaky at the back from 2000 to 2018. But that has improved since start of 2019. Teams around Meaths level like Armagh and kildare are very poor at the back. Even county like Galway and even kerry have issues at the back. Meath dont have defence like 80s and 90s were you have two footballers of the year and two of the greatest full backs ever. But Meath have improved at the back in last 2 years. This is shortage of great defenders nationwide, one major reason Dublin were sucesful they had best defenders in the country.

Meath do have one great defender & allot of natural defenders eg Keoghan, McGill, Lavin, McEntee, Ryan, Harnan, Toner, Hickey, Harkin, Clarke.
However there is one worry about Meaths defence which that did so well last year as Meath are missing three of those defenders all injured eg James McEntee with broken hand is gone for the year), Padraig Harnan has been out for nearly whole year only back training in last 2 weeks clearly not ready as cannot make bench. Shane Gallagher who is Meaths best man marker is also out injured.

Meath have found a new defenders David Toner, Eoin Harkin and Cathal Hickey. And Meath are playing with sweeper 7 defenders first time ever. Meath defence is still good.

Last year in leinster final Meath defence did some top class defending. It was forwards who misfired .
Lavin McGill Keoghan Gallagher were excellent on Callaghan, Mannion, Kilkenny Costello up to 50th min. Up to 50th min Meath kept Callaghan Mannion kilkennt Costello to 2 points from play. Kilkenny had his quitest game ever for Dublin keoghan marked him out of the game. Around 50th min Dubs took Keoghan. At that stage Meath forwards had missed for upteem time and the confidence drained from team. Meath defenders legs were run off them. And Dublin just ran over Meath team in last 15 mins who misfired all day. But defensively Meath gave Dublin one toughest examination in recent times. Who says that Dubs players themselves.

First fact to prove how good Meath were defensively in fist 50 mins
Meath kept Dublin to lowest first half score in championahip in 8 years since McGuinness Donegal kept Dublin to low score in an notorious semi final where McGuinness put 15 men behind the ball.

The Dublin forwards told Bernard Flynn and national journalist the toughest and best defender they have faced in recent year were not kerry or Mayo or Donegal they were Meaths defenders. It might seem strange if you look at score but if you know good defending Meath for 50 mins were excellent v Dublin forwards.

Meath are missing three defenders from last year. I think Gallagher who is real man marker which many teams dont have is a loss. But Toner who is wing back had done well all year at corner back. Ronan Ryan was a good find last year a real proper defender and with Shane McEntee as a sweeper Meath defence still has some good defenders. Meath have depth to their defence. MAgainst Dubs a few weeks ago Dubs scored 20 points. But Meath had rookie full back line with two debuts 19 year old Cathal Hickey, 20 year old Eoin Harkin and James McEntee who really is wing forward at corner back. Meath had the most inexperienced full back line I have ever seen play Meath in 20 years. They were missing first choice in full back line eg Lavin McGill Toner/Gallagher.

Against kildare it was oretty much a carbon copy of the league game last year. Kildsre on sunday in first half nd in first half v kildsare in league 2019 kildares forwards were getting the better of Meaths backs.

In 2019 Meath v kildare game kildare were 5 up at half time
In 2020 Meath v kildare game Kildare were 6 up at half time

In both games Meath defence got control of kildare forwards in second half

In 2019 v Meath kildare scored 1 point in second half
In 2020 v Meath kildare scored 5 point in second half.

In both games kildare forwards had better of the Meath backs i first half. These are best set of natural forwards who I have ever seen play for kildare. Very comfortable on the ball natural forwards who will cause team problems. In both games in second half Meath defenders really got tighter. Yesterday Brian Menton came back to help defence in second half. And S McEntee played deeper as sweeper in second half.

The difference was in 2019 league game Meath forwards missed chance after chance after chance. Should have won by 7 or 8 or 9. Only won by 1 point. This year a new Meath forward line of Morris Walsh O Reilly Costello took their scores and scored 5 - 5 from 5 -8. Meath missed and missed in 2019 v kildare. In second half. On Sunday Meath took every chance they got becaude they have a new young exciting full foward line.

Last year Meath were depending to get scores from Brian Menton at midfield anf half back line and Newman. But Meath half back line by 60th its legs were run off them having to all the attacking and then defend. This year Meath have more scoring options. The half backs are still scoring and Costello offers a real new scoring threat at wing back. Jones adds another scoring option at midfield. Him anf Menton scored 1 - 2 from play v Monaghan and 1- 1 v Wicklow. But the big addition is Meath new full forward of Jordan Morris Shane Waksh and T O Reilly. And another scoring option is the bench with players kike James Conlon and Joey Wallace making impact in. Every game they are scoring.

Another thing this young Meath footballers have beaten Dublin regularly at underage. Sometime hammered Dublin at underage. One of the reasons Cork beat kerry was many of those Cork players have beating kerry at underage its helps. Yes Meatu havent made breakthrought at under 20 Dublins organisation and finances kicks in and Meath mentally have issue at under 20 21 but I think in 2020s we will see change and Meath more succesful But at minor Meath have won leinster minor titles, titles at under 16 under 17 under 18. Dublin were hammering Meath at minor 5 years. But in last 6 years its changed. Meath have gone on incredible run which is unprecendeted and historic at underage v Dubs

Meath minors defeated Dublin by 11 points recently. Some say that was 3 victory over Dubs at minor recently. If yoy add 10 point hammering of Dublin by Meath minors in 2016 and two victories over Dubs at minor in inaugurak under 17 minor championship in 2017, Meath have defeated Dublin at minor 5 times in last 6 years in leinster championship. This is important because those players who have beating Dublin year after year at underage are now playing senior for Meath and making a impact. These players are Walsh, Morris, Devine, J Conlon, Costello, Harkin, Hickey, Scully
This is important vety very important. Beating Dublin at any age group is like giving Meath players injections of confidence. Look at Morris or Walsh. Walsh defeated Dublin twice at underage and Morris 3 times ( twice at minor and was man of the match v Dubs in leinster league in early this year). Meath teams of 2014 2015 2019 those players were hammered v Dublin at underage. Look at confidence and swagger of these brillant young players. People dont understand outside the counry the confidence that Meaths gets from beating Dublin.

People in Dublin dont understand what Dublin means to Meath. People throughour the country dont understand what Dublin means to Meath. Its a hundred year obessesion. Meath are obssesed about Dublin the same way Cork and kerry same way Tipp and kilkenmy. It is of the one great rivalries and its peaks was the number one rivalry in GAA. Meath players manager its all about knocking Dublin from thwir perch. Beating Dublin in leinster final is nore important to Meath then winning All Ireland final. Colm O Rourke said and he was 100% right.

Dublin are the most powerful most populated most wealthy most famous Irish county and its being like for hundreds of years. Meath up to 2000 had smaller population then Mayo or Donegal when Meath won Sam in 96. From 1960 to 2010 counties with smallest pop to win Sam were Offaly just under 100000 and Meath just over 100000. Meath was average rural midland county from.15th to 20th in terms of stature in Irish society up to 2000 and with pop growrh might jump 12th or 13th currently.

Meath and Dublin is the most unequal rivalry in Irish sport. Cork and kerry are similar enough counties so are Tipp and kilkenny so are Armgh anf Tyrone and so are Mayo and Galway. But Dublin have always had 10 times population and wealth and power yet this average county called Meath went to toe to toe with Dublin for 90 years and had unprecedented sucess. Kerry also have huge suvesw v Dubs it must be said.

But no county has beaten Dublin more then Meath, no county has had period of dominance over Dublin then Meath. Dublin have always had an aura around them in leinater and nationwide for generatioms. Dublin have dominated leinster since 1890s. Most counties in leinster have never beaten Dublin in leinster senior final.

1 Carlow Wicklow Longford Westmeath and laois have never beaten Dublin in leinster senior final
2 Offaly have done it 3 times and last time to beat Dublin in leinster final was 35 years
3 Wexford havent beaten Dublin in keinster final in near 100 years and louth have done it twice last time in 1950s.
4 kildare have beaten Dublin in 1 leinster final in 90 years
5 Meath idefeated Dublin in 7 leinster fin in 15 years in 80s and 90s also including league final win over Dubs.
In 15 years in 80s 90s Meath were undefeated v Dublin in 13 games. with 9 victories 4 draws for Meath in a 15 year period . One word incredible.

Most counties havent beaten Dublin in leinster for 70 60 or 50 years eg Louth Carlow Wicklow. Others two or three times in 50 or 60 years eg kildare and laois. Lets look at rest of the country. Kerry also have a proud tradition of beating Dublin. In Munster Cork have beaten Dublin maybe oncw or twice in 50 years. The only teams to veat Dubs in Wwst are Galway who havent beaten Dubs in 90 years and Mayo who have 2 victories over Dubs. In 90s and 00s Dublin failed many times to beat Ulster teams but prior to 1990 and since 2010 Ulater teams have rarely beaten Dublin. The two counties that consistently beaten Dublin is kerry especially Meath.

Why? Meath always had better footballers especially forwards . Dublin were tough as nails hard defenders strong midfield very hard to beat

The best way to explain up 2010
Dublin had 4 players who won Footballer of the year in their history eg Lar Foley Jimmy Keaveney Tommy Drum Paul Curran
Meath had 6 players who Footballer of the year wg Bertie Cunningham Brian Stafford Robbie O Malley Martin O Connell Colm O Rourke Trevor Giles..


Well Meath had better footballes particularly better natural forwards. Every generation of Meath teams from 1930 throughout every decade up to 2010 Meath had better forwards. This decade Dublin of course had better forwards. This meant every generation of Meath footballers defeated Dubklin in 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s. So will 2020s continue that incredible run where every generation of Meath footballers since foundation of state have beaten Dublin. And when Meath had great teams these Meath teams dominated Dublin in 1940s 1950s 1960s 1980s 1990s.

And when you see Meath minor team hammering Dublin by 11 points at minor this year it continues that great tradition. And Meath will beat Dublin someday. I dont know if Meath win wib leinater or Sam Maguire in next ten years. But I know we will beat Dublin. Its in our dna, it in our blood an obsession that runs through our hearts souls minds beings Maybe it wouldnt happen on Sat. But it will happen someday much sooner then people think.

People in Dublin or throughout the country dont get it, dokt really understand how Meath are a county whose GAA obssesion is all about Dublin, its strives us to be great. Becaude you have to be great to go beat Dublin. They are and have alwaye been most difficult opponent in gaelic football. But the biggest rock in Dublins shoe is Meath. No county has beaten Dublin, no county has rattled Dublin, no county has humilated ot hammered dominated rocked Dublin to its very core then Meath. Some of said if Meath win it take miracle. But everytime Meath did beat Dublin it ws sporting miracle of sorts. This average rural county who didnt know its place stood up to the powerful county in Ireland and performed heroics that are legendary.

We performed miracles in 1947 1964 1975 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1996 1999 2001 2010 and maybe in 2025 or 2023 or maybe just maybe 2020 another generation of Meath men knocked the Dubs from their perch. It might not happen on Sat but it is the future it whats ahead its our counties destiny its our calling. Morris Walshs Costellos have the ability at teenagers all have a long career and all have ability to be next generation of Meath footballere to knock Dublin from perch. The past ten years were Dublins the future is ours the future is An Mhi.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 17/11/2020 01:35:09    2310472

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 17/11/2020 07:50:03    2310484

Ahh the annual Meath delusion in the run up to a Dublin game is back. Enjoy it lads and hope to see ye back on earth next week.

dakid (Australia) - Posts: 348 - 17/11/2020 09:16:23    2310498

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 745 - 17/11/2020 09:29:12    2310503

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5282 - 17/11/2020 09:48:49    2310511

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 17/11/2020 10:10:53    2310519