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Replying To royaldunne: "Terrible setback in jones been badly injured.
I heard we won from one person, read we won convincingly from another, and one other said we lost. Does anyone on here know what the result was v Armagh??" Played 2 games against Armagh on Saturday, drew one, lost one. Dont know scores, just giving all panel a run out. Proved very costly for Meath.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2149 - 10/05/2021 22:51:43
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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "2 in Australia anyway haha, Harry Rooney won't commit the panel. Even Gillespie and Shane O'Rourke without injury would still be of an age to play probably. Agree Jones would be a brilliant 10 or 12 for the county. Our curse that we had to have a great county 5 or 7 in Menton in midfield, and a potentially great 10/12 in Jones, and both have to be miscast to cover the lack of midfielders. Even now we could end up with Shane McEntee, Harnan, or Costello in midfield who aren't natural midfielders. You can have one of these box-to-box midfielders. but tough to get away with 2 of them" I think we need to sort out midfield before we can compete at highest level. Jones is a big loss I hear he broke his arm. Maybe thats not as bad a leg injury. hopefully he can get back soon. Wsh him well. We seem to be cursed in the this area. Gillespie and Shane O'Rourke, Nash McBride in Oz etc.Its been a problem area for years now. Menton and Jones are class footballers doing a good job at midfield. But Jones is half forward. we are not getting the best out of them.Menton a Half back. We need to sort this area. Once we come up against top midfielders we struggle to compete. Any potential midfielders around ?
bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1263 - 11/05/2021 08:31:03
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Replying To royaldunne: "Terrible setback in jones been badly injured.
I heard we won from one person, read we won convincingly from another, and one other said we lost. Does anyone on here know what the result was v Armagh??" It said on the Chronicle that we played two games, drew the 1st game and lost the second narrowly . Ronan is a massive loss, but hopefully will come back stronger next year.
SheridansTry (Meath) - Posts: 180 - 11/05/2021 08:59:32
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Replying To bobkarlgees: "I think we need to sort out midfield before we can compete at highest level. Jones is a big loss I hear he broke his arm. Maybe thats not as bad a leg injury. hopefully he can get back soon. Wsh him well. We seem to be cursed in the this area. Gillespie and Shane O'Rourke, Nash McBride in Oz etc.Its been a problem area for years now. Menton and Jones are class footballers doing a good job at midfield. But Jones is half forward. we are not getting the best out of them.Menton a Half back. We need to sort this area. Once we come up against top midfielders we struggle to compete. Any potential midfielders around ?" A real problem area, Danny Dixon is on the panel he might get a shot haven't seen enough of him to judge. Ethan Devine might either but again he is more of a wing forward at county level. Jack Flynn sort of the same from what I've seen and even Daithi McGowan who was on the panel last year is like this. This year's minor midfield of Conor Grey and Sean Emmanuel are big units and good fielders but obviously a good few years off yet. Nash and McBride are both out of contract with their AFL teams this summer but again that's something you couldn't rely on to be the answer. Certainly is a conundrum and if it was solved it would be balance out the team and allow for faster transition out of defense to play more of a kick passing game which I think we all want
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1462 - 11/05/2021 11:16:31
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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "A real problem area, Danny Dixon is on the panel he might get a shot haven't seen enough of him to judge. Ethan Devine might either but again he is more of a wing forward at county level. Jack Flynn sort of the same from what I've seen and even Daithi McGowan who was on the panel last year is like this. This year's minor midfield of Conor Grey and Sean Emmanuel are big units and good fielders but obviously a good few years off yet. Nash and McBride are both out of contract with their AFL teams this summer but again that's something you couldn't rely on to be the answer. Certainly is a conundrum and if it was solved it would be balance out the team and allow for faster transition out of defense to play more of a kick passing game which I think we all want" Just a question on midfielders your saying we need big units to allow us faster transituon out of defense.??
Borderroyal (Meath) - Posts: 488 - 11/05/2021 15:32:18
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Replying To Borderroyal: "Just a question on midfielders your saying we need big units to allow us faster transituon out of defense.??" I understand that it's a weird thing that bigger (usually slower players would make transition quicker) but I think on kickouts mostly and then in general play if you have big units across 8-12 it means they can win their own ball which means you can transition via the kick pass more often than having to run it through the hands. From kickouts especially it allows a long outlet for to get up the pitcher faster rather than having to go short and working it out through the hands. Obviously I'd still like to see more kicking in our transition from defense to attack as it is. And while bigger men in the middle might slow down the transition play via the hands that is our strength recently with Jones, Menton, Keoghan, Cillian, Harnan, James Mc, Hickey and Costello. The ability to mix it up with direct ball would speed the transition up as a whole and allow for more 1v1's for our forwards. Unfortunately I don't think the personnel at the minute can really do that because if you look up and see Cillian or McMahon with a man up their **** the 30 yard kick pass to the halfway line is an extremely risky one, if you've a lad who can win his own ball then you can be more confident in giving the long ball out of defense
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1462 - 11/05/2021 15:49:54
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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "I understand that it's a weird thing that bigger (usually slower players would make transition quicker) but I think on kickouts mostly and then in general play if you have big units across 8-12 it means they can win their own ball which means you can transition via the kick pass more often than having to run it through the hands. From kickouts especially it allows a long outlet for to get up the pitcher faster rather than having to go short and working it out through the hands. Obviously I'd still like to see more kicking in our transition from defense to attack as it is. And while bigger men in the middle might slow down the transition play via the hands that is our strength recently with Jones, Menton, Keoghan, Cillian, Harnan, James Mc, Hickey and Costello. The ability to mix it up with direct ball would speed the transition up as a whole and allow for more 1v1's for our forwards. Unfortunately I don't think the personnel at the minute can really do that because if you look up and see Cillian or McMahon with a man up their **** the 30 yard kick pass to the halfway line is an extremely risky one, if you've a lad who can win his own ball then you can be more confident in giving the long ball out of defense" fellow posters....I have to say...ive a pain in my proverbials...whether its the old nugget of Goalkeepers and the whole palava over kick out strategies or midfielders , and lack of ball winning capabilities ,..... ball retention on the half forward line….systems..., mass defences …..transition...….shot selection…...and all the other buzzwords …….and I don't mean that personally against any poster...to me The managements teams roll is to find and/ or coach Smart Footballers...who can execute all the skills of the game under pressure ….and crucially Who want to give of themselves to meath for no other reason other than they are honoured to do so....the rest is only bollXXks
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 385 - 11/05/2021 16:49:46
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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher: "fellow posters....I have to say...ive a pain in my proverbials...whether its the old nugget of Goalkeepers and the whole palava over kick out strategies or midfielders , and lack of ball winning capabilities ,..... ball retention on the half forward line….systems..., mass defences …..transition...….shot selection…...and all the other buzzwords …….and I don't mean that personally against any poster...to me The managements teams roll is to find and/ or coach Smart Footballers...who can execute all the skills of the game under pressure ….and crucially Who want to give of themselves to meath for no other reason other than they are honoured to do so....the rest is only bollXXks" I don't even know what this post means to be honest. You seem to be saying that because Cillian O'Sullivan or Bryan McMahon aren't tall big ball winners that they somehow aren't honoured to play for Meath. And I agree that it's the management teams jobs to try find and coach players who can execute skills and who are physically able for it. Here's the issue from 09-15 we had one very good minor team, maybe two if you include 2011. And only 1 team make an under 21 Leinster final. That's players aged 24-30 now, basically prime footballers. That's the issue.throughout the underage of the players who should now carry the team we neglected them. And if you think we can solve that but just having 15 lads on the pitch who love playing for Meath will solve that issue then I suggest you get into a time machine and go back 25 years to a time when that made have worked. The game is too professional and advanced for that now. I'd say we have as committed and hard working a panel as there is. But there are some players who just aren't real inter county quality. I have massive respect for them and admire how they get the most out of themselves. I know he's left the panel now but considering he's a perfect example and probably a club mate of yours going off your username. Mickey Burke loved Meath and playing for them as much as anybody ever has. And he was fully committed and hit the most out of himself. But he lacked elite athleticism or game breaking skills, and not all the love of Meath in the world could change it. I hope we've changed this with brilliantly skilful young players like Campion, Costello, Walsh, Morris. And more coming from the 20's and minors to change this. But right now we have to focus on optimising the level we have
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1462 - 11/05/2021 18:55:13
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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99: "I don't even know what this post means to be honest. You seem to be saying that because Cillian O'Sullivan or Bryan McMahon aren't tall big ball winners that they somehow aren't honoured to play for Meath. And I agree that it's the management teams jobs to try find and coach players who can execute skills and who are physically able for it. Here's the issue from 09-15 we had one very good minor team, maybe two if you include 2011. And only 1 team make an under 21 Leinster final. That's players aged 24-30 now, basically prime footballers. That's the issue.throughout the underage of the players who should now carry the team we neglected them. And if you think we can solve that but just having 15 lads on the pitch who love playing for Meath will solve that issue then I suggest you get into a time machine and go back 25 years to a time when that made have worked. The game is too professional and advanced for that now. I'd say we have as committed and hard working a panel as there is. But there are some players who just aren't real inter county quality. I have massive respect for them and admire how they get the most out of themselves. I know he's left the panel now but considering he's a perfect example and probably a club mate of yours going off your username. Mickey Burke loved Meath and playing for them as much as anybody ever has. And he was fully committed and hit the most out of himself. But he lacked elite athleticism or game breaking skills, and not all the love of Meath in the world could change it. I hope we've changed this with brilliantly skilful young players like Campion, Costello, Walsh, Morris. And more coming from the 20's and minors to change this. But right now we have to focus on optimising the level we have" MB is a really good example LR....and I totally respect your views expressed here. I differ though....and I believe the likes of Stoney has the KEY ingredients form which one builds a successful team around. I will admit im registered for the aul vaccine...so im not of an age to tog out anymore , but that doesn't mean im against advancements in our sport, or any sport for that matter...change & improvements are a crucial part of life and id like to think I still embrace that.
What I do believe though is that One has to look at the central core of a Guy...and if that is right....most of the other elements can either be coached -in...or adapted to suit the circumstances….Really Smart Guys with a strong central Core of humility & respect....and then we do our jobs as Coaches there after
take for instance the Goalkeeping debate
The reality is...when Dublin realised , that due to developments in the game , that THE KEY ingredient for a Goalkeeper in the new game was an ability to handle and execute the highly pressurised restart …..they worked on that , and with Cluxton , as a key component element of that...brought it to the level we see today...crucially though..they identified the ability to stay calm under pressure as the most important element...and then the skill next . I honestly don't think we are talking apples & oranges LR ...I think its just about emphasis
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 385 - 12/05/2021 10:05:37
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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher: "MB is a really good example LR....and I totally respect your views expressed here. I differ though....and I believe the likes of Stoney has the KEY ingredients form which one builds a successful team around. I will admit im registered for the aul vaccine...so im not of an age to tog out anymore , but that doesn't mean im against advancements in our sport, or any sport for that matter...change & improvements are a crucial part of life and id like to think I still embrace that.
What I do believe though is that One has to look at the central core of a Guy...and if that is right....most of the other elements can either be coached -in...or adapted to suit the circumstances….Really Smart Guys with a strong central Core of humility & respect....and then we do our jobs as Coaches there after
take for instance the Goalkeeping debate
The reality is...when Dublin realised , that due to developments in the game , that THE KEY ingredient for a Goalkeeper in the new game was an ability to handle and execute the highly pressurised restart …..they worked on that , and with Cluxton , as a key component element of that...brought it to the level we see today...crucially though..they identified the ability to stay calm under pressure as the most important element...and then the skill next . I honestly don't think we are talking apples & oranges LR ...I think its just about emphasis" Okay this post is makes more sense than the last one. I do believe that character and the will of players makes a huge difference. But as your reach the top level it is enough anymore to just have a committed bunch of players. And I think that the team from 2019 onwards has been a more committed and passionate team than the 2013-18 teams. They are certainly in better shape and I really think they get the most out of themselves. The issue is that our underage the past decade was so bad that we now don't have a couple of players with real class and size to compliment those guys who lay it all on the line
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1462 - 12/05/2021 10:33:41
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Leitrim Royal and Longwood slasher, great talking points the last few messages lads, and I do think both of you hit very real issues worth debating.
I agree in principle that the core values of a sportsperson are extremely valuable, id say they're as important as the talent ceiling and the conditioning of the player, its a "lightning in a bottle" type of mix which is unique to the team in question and is rarely seen in the game at large. Having the right type of people who just go out and get the job done, often as outsiders or underdogs is an extreme rarity but it does happen. Special teams happen. Just look at some of the great teams down through recent history not just in the GAA but in other sports. The team of students from the USA who beat the USSR all pro-team in the 1980 olympics. Look at the team of unknowns from Greece who won the Euros in 2004. Look at the Japan rugby team at present who've beaten two of the three best teams in the world at two concurrent rugby world cups. Look at Meath in the late 80s and early 90s (in particular), look at Tyrone in the mid-00s, Offaly in '82, look at the balls of the Cavan team last year in Ulster and Tipperary in Munster... these are the fellas you want when youre heading out over the parapet to battle. This used to be the embodiment of Meath GAA. We were the physical manifestation of these traits in Gaelic football for several generations. Don't get me wrong as we all know we had very long spells of barren trophy cabinets in the 70's for example and periodically through the last century, but from the '40s onward when a county from any corner of Ireland was playing Meath, particularly in Meath itself, they knew it was going to be a sh*tstorm. Even if we weren't at the top, we were special, we were unique, and we knew it. Pretty much like a pendulum swing from 2001 onward that identity has been very slowly eroded and degraded to its current trudging ebb over the last 10/15 years. I think thats what youre identifying slasher... but tell me if im wrong. My own granda, a man well into his 80s still goes to matches with me and still has the same interest as he did as a kid in the 40s and 50s when he used to catch the train into Dublin for matches. He still supports Meath at all levels and always will until his day comes but he will always iterate in one way or another, it just isnt the same anymore. Meath just isnt what it was. As a guy born in the 90s I cant relate to this firsthand but I absolutely see what he is saying and I can absolutely see how these types of characters (referred to earlier) just dont seem to be showing up on Meath teams anymore. The baby-eaters. The guy who will win at all costs or die trying. We all know the type. Meath players were never the nice guys they are now. They're still out there in other county teams at present but we havent produced a crop with these characteristics in a long time.
I do think this is worth discussing.
Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 589 - 12/05/2021 14:03:06
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Just saw the final squad list with Donal Keoghan now included for 2021. Assume this was before Ronan Jones went down with a broken arm. I think as Leitrim Royal mentioned no Shane Gallagher is a surprise. Is he still injured or taking time out.
Other thing that baffles me is there are 7 players from Dunboyne. Ratoath then with 5 and no other club with more than 2. Is there something i'm not seeing in that representation from Dunboyne??? I'm not trying to stir a debate on nepotism as I don't see anyone bar Lavin and Jones being a starter calibre players and somehow Shane Mcentee will be in the starting 15 but are the other 4 players that much better than other players within the county? To have almost 20% of a panel from one club and that club not to be the dominant team in the county is strange to me. I look at the dubs and they've a lot of Ballymun Kickhams players on their panel ( and individually they've all more than proved their worth) and Ballymun are always there or thereabouts in Dublin championships. I just don't see Dunboyne as being of that ilk in Meath football right now. They're quite flaky as a team and when its put to them they tend to crumble.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 12/05/2021 14:26:00
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Replying To brian: "Just saw the final squad list with Donal Keoghan now included for 2021. Assume this was before Ronan Jones went down with a broken arm. I think as Leitrim Royal mentioned no Shane Gallagher is a surprise. Is he still injured or taking time out.
Other thing that baffles me is there are 7 players from Dunboyne. Ratoath then with 5 and no other club with more than 2. Is there something i'm not seeing in that representation from Dunboyne??? I'm not trying to stir a debate on nepotism as I don't see anyone bar Lavin and Jones being a starter calibre players and somehow Shane Mcentee will be in the starting 15 but are the other 4 players that much better than other players within the county? To have almost 20% of a panel from one club and that club not to be the dominant team in the county is strange to me. I look at the dubs and they've a lot of Ballymun Kickhams players on their panel ( and individually they've all more than proved their worth) and Ballymun are always there or thereabouts in Dublin championships. I just don't see Dunboyne as being of that ilk in Meath football right now. They're quite flaky as a team and when its put to them they tend to crumble." I do agree that 7 from any club is too many and I think 3 or 4 would be a fairer reflection. And even if there are players capable of being squad players, if there's a player of the same level at different clubs it's better to have them playing. I do think the flakey label is a bit of a stereotype. They did win the championship in 18 and beat Kells in a nailbiter, beat Simonstown after being down at halftime, and won a tense final against Summerhill. While they've not done well at all the last two years I think of teams like Summerhill and Kells, Summerhill lost 4 finals in a row, Kells lost 4 or 5 semi-finals. And last year had the Keegan Cup in the bag and blew it. If Dunboyne had done either of these things then I'm sure they'd be viewed differently but yet you'd never hear Kells or Summerhill called chokers or flakey. I do agree though that 7 on the panel is far too much for any club to have unless they are dominating the club scene like Portlaoise used to in Laois
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1462 - 12/05/2021 15:47:36
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Replying To Young_gael: "Leitrim Royal and Longwood slasher, great talking points the last few messages lads, and I do think both of you hit very real issues worth debating.
I agree in principle that the core values of a sportsperson are extremely valuable, id say they're as important as the talent ceiling and the conditioning of the player, its a "lightning in a bottle" type of mix which is unique to the team in question and is rarely seen in the game at large. Having the right type of people who just go out and get the job done, often as outsiders or underdogs is an extreme rarity but it does happen. Special teams happen. Just look at some of the great teams down through recent history not just in the GAA but in other sports. The team of students from the USA who beat the USSR all pro-team in the 1980 olympics. Look at the team of unknowns from Greece who won the Euros in 2004. Look at the Japan rugby team at present who've beaten two of the three best teams in the world at two concurrent rugby world cups. Look at Meath in the late 80s and early 90s (in particular), look at Tyrone in the mid-00s, Offaly in '82, look at the balls of the Cavan team last year in Ulster and Tipperary in Munster... these are the fellas you want when youre heading out over the parapet to battle. This used to be the embodiment of Meath GAA. We were the physical manifestation of these traits in Gaelic football for several generations. Don't get me wrong as we all know we had very long spells of barren trophy cabinets in the 70's for example and periodically through the last century, but from the '40s onward when a county from any corner of Ireland was playing Meath, particularly in Meath itself, they knew it was going to be a sh*tstorm. Even if we weren't at the top, we were special, we were unique, and we knew it. Pretty much like a pendulum swing from 2001 onward that identity has been very slowly eroded and degraded to its current trudging ebb over the last 10/15 years. I think thats what youre identifying slasher... but tell me if im wrong. My own granda, a man well into his 80s still goes to matches with me and still has the same interest as he did as a kid in the 40s and 50s when he used to catch the train into Dublin for matches. He still supports Meath at all levels and always will until his day comes but he will always iterate in one way or another, it just isnt the same anymore. Meath just isnt what it was. As a guy born in the 90s I cant relate to this firsthand but I absolutely see what he is saying and I can absolutely see how these types of characters (referred to earlier) just dont seem to be showing up on Meath teams anymore. The baby-eaters. The guy who will win at all costs or die trying. We all know the type. Meath players were never the nice guys they are now. They're still out there in other county teams at present but we havent produced a crop with these characteristics in a long time.
I do think this is worth discussing." I think your point about us losing our Meathness is true and we have lost our identity a little bit. I do think that in order for those intangibles to shine through the tangibles have to be there too. The ability of players, the skills, the physicality, the tackling ability. I think a perfect example is O'Mahony's. Right now they don't have great players and didn't have good underage teams for a long while, that's why they are struggling in senior. In the late 00's/early 10's when they did have the talent they made hay and won 4 Keegans. But that tradition and belief only stood to them when they had the talent there also. I think of Laois, they won 3 all Ireland minors in about an 8-year span and turned it into only 1 Leinster in a time when Leinster was very open and weak. If Meath had that level of underage talent I think then the tradition and the belief that come with it then we could turn it into more. Kildare have the same issue. But the Meath values and tradition only really becomes effective when the rest of the pieces are in place. I've seen it with the minor teams in 2018 and 2020. Big physical teams with ferocious tackling. So I hope it will come back.
LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1462 - 12/05/2021 16:00:52
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Yes 7 players from one club seems a lot but a few of them will be panels members I would imagine. Lavin , Jones would start and possibly Shane McEntee Also . Then You have Donal Lenihan , Gavin McCoy who are both experienced players along with Liam Byrne and David McEntee being tried out . I presume the manager knows these guys well. I don't know who you could pick instead of them ?
Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 12/05/2021 16:46:48
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Replying To Young_gael: "Leitrim Royal and Longwood slasher, great talking points the last few messages lads, and I do think both of you hit very real issues worth debating.
I agree in principle that the core values of a sportsperson are extremely valuable, id say they're as important as the talent ceiling and the conditioning of the player, its a "lightning in a bottle" type of mix which is unique to the team in question and is rarely seen in the game at large. Having the right type of people who just go out and get the job done, often as outsiders or underdogs is an extreme rarity but it does happen. Special teams happen. Just look at some of the great teams down through recent history not just in the GAA but in other sports. The team of students from the USA who beat the USSR all pro-team in the 1980 olympics. Look at the team of unknowns from Greece who won the Euros in 2004. Look at the Japan rugby team at present who've beaten two of the three best teams in the world at two concurrent rugby world cups. Look at Meath in the late 80s and early 90s (in particular), look at Tyrone in the mid-00s, Offaly in '82, look at the balls of the Cavan team last year in Ulster and Tipperary in Munster... these are the fellas you want when youre heading out over the parapet to battle. This used to be the embodiment of Meath GAA. We were the physical manifestation of these traits in Gaelic football for several generations. Don't get me wrong as we all know we had very long spells of barren trophy cabinets in the 70's for example and periodically through the last century, but from the '40s onward when a county from any corner of Ireland was playing Meath, particularly in Meath itself, they knew it was going to be a sh*tstorm. Even if we weren't at the top, we were special, we were unique, and we knew it. Pretty much like a pendulum swing from 2001 onward that identity has been very slowly eroded and degraded to its current trudging ebb over the last 10/15 years. I think thats what youre identifying slasher... but tell me if im wrong. My own granda, a man well into his 80s still goes to matches with me and still has the same interest as he did as a kid in the 40s and 50s when he used to catch the train into Dublin for matches. He still supports Meath at all levels and always will until his day comes but he will always iterate in one way or another, it just isnt the same anymore. Meath just isnt what it was. As a guy born in the 90s I cant relate to this firsthand but I absolutely see what he is saying and I can absolutely see how these types of characters (referred to earlier) just dont seem to be showing up on Meath teams anymore. The baby-eaters. The guy who will win at all costs or die trying. We all know the type. Meath players were never the nice guys they are now. They're still out there in other county teams at present but we havent produced a crop with these characteristics in a long time.
I do think this is worth discussing." thanks YG …..you have expressed it better than i could ever have. And at times one would have been half afraid to try & express it, as it can comes across as "back in my day " crapology...when men where men & sheep were...….
My worry & concern is that we have made huge strides on all the , lets say , physical & mental preparations over the last number of years , to a point that I think we are closer than we have been for many a year to the other top level Counties...but we are not talking or engaging in the intangible …..our identity...., our history, our tradition
This sense of "who we are"...what is our cause , and "WHY"...we play or why we support......we have to be reminded of it constantly
It would not surprise me , and im not been flippant about this......that a certain percentage of the current meath panel...couldn't tell you who , say Joe Cassels was /is.....Do we honestly think that ANY member of the Current Dublin panel doesn't know who Tony hanohoe was or is....it may seem like a non sensical argument. or logic....But I don't think it is ..I think Dublin have perfected the Art of Culture & tradition , and wrapped around it , the best in class of athletic & skills development to create a seemingly unstoppable machine......and the only way to meet something that seems to be unstoppanble...is with a Cause
Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 385 - 12/05/2021 17:00:45
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Replying To Bear10: "Yes 7 players from one club seems a lot but a few of them will be panels members I would imagine. Lavin , Jones would start and possibly Shane McEntee Also . Then You have Donal Lenihan , Gavin McCoy who are both experienced players along with Liam Byrne and David McEntee being tried out . I presume the manager knows these guys well. I don't know who you could pick instead of them ?" That's fair and as i say I'm not having a go at Andy about it. If he's familiar which he obviously is with Shane and David being his own sons and the wider dunboyne players as he'd regularly see their matches but I'd think surely there's others that deserve a chance just as much if not more so.
In my opinion theres Brian McGrath, Niall Kane and Shane Gallgher from Simonstown, Aaron Lynch from Trim, Oisin Reilly and Seamus Mattimoe from Kells, Daithi and Gavin McGowan from Ratoath, Eoin Lynch from Longwood who would not be out of place in that panel and I'm sure there's others that people would consider.
Now i qualify the above in that we've no idea who Andy has approached and they've said no for whatever reasons so I'm not going to hammer the man if those players are unable or unwilling to commit and the lads from Dunboyne are willing to do so.
At the end of the day they're 15 Meath men pulling on green jersies, who've given their all and sacrificed more than any of us will ever know and I'll support them and management no matter what.
On a point Longwood made, i do agree that these lads could do with a bit of know how about the Joe Cassells, Gerry McEntee's, Mick Lyons etc. Most of this panel would barely remember the last time Meath lifted a Sam so maybe a bit of history about them and what it was like for them to struggle through the early 80's and ultimately come through in the late 80's would help these lads. Lets not forget Andy was on some of those teams so he should know them to be able to ask them to come in. Give thse lads an idea of how to put some @Meathness@ back into that jersey for want of putting it another way.
Looking at a Lions trip coming up and how they always bring in some players from prior tours to talk to the team about previous battles and how the locals won't respect them etc. You can visibly see the impact it has on some players so why not try something like that. That's not to say it hasn't been already done and again we don't know about it.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 12/05/2021 17:38:03
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The times before when we had certain clubs being represented by 7/8 players.was a time when meath were never really at the races.now far from me to knock any lad on that panel.but having a mxnager from said club leaves doubts there im just been honest here.time will tell.
On the individual talents of certain players there is no doubt. But having wing mirrors if is what is being said.as we cant kick balls 50/50 at inter county level should they be in pivotal positions
Centre forward etc.see cavan being mentioned there pivotal men are main ball winners big robust type clients.no pull back type.
A lot of this type player prob comes from his environment growing up his club for example.summerhill renowned for tough no messing footballers.skryne same type with skills to match.we used to always have few jnr lads thrown in the mix and more often than not they would not let you down.prob had to prove themselves even more.like the underdog hungry boxer mad for road.mickey burke was he the best no.but in around a team and that environment he pushed himself and made young lads feel wanted that is a trait you cant coach or buy.lets.wait and see im hoping more than expecting.
Borderroyal (Meath) - Posts: 488 - 12/05/2021 18:05:29
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Meath will never see a return to the type of player we had in the 80/90s, that ship has sailed long ago, game has moved on and Meath like all others have by and large adapted to new rules and culture within the game. By the standards of 80/90s red cards are now issued for what would have been viewed as minor offences, so forget about the hard man there to do a job, his day is over. The win at all cost or die trying mentality has been removed from most team sports to the benefit of players. Play like that today and we will be lucky to have ten men left on field by half-time. Have watched Meath for over fifty years and think current players commit every bit as much to the Meath jersey as did their predecessors, if fact probably more so, in what they give up to be part of the panel. I dont think we have lost our identity any more than any other county, its just that times have changed and players may no longer be as interested in history or tradition as players who went before them. This can be seen when players take a year or two out to go travelling, playing for Meath for them is still an honour, however it is also a pastime and in no way detracts from their Meathness. The first bit of the jigsaw is that they want/good enough to play for Meath, thereafter it is up to management to shape them into a balanced team. I have little doubt that current panel are fully aware of their identity, the expectations on their shoulders and will give their best in coming season.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2149 - 12/05/2021 19:16:21
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Replying To brian: "Just saw the final squad list with Donal Keoghan now included for 2021. Assume this was before Ronan Jones went down with a broken arm. I think as Leitrim Royal mentioned no Shane Gallagher is a surprise. Is he still injured or taking time out.
Other thing that baffles me is there are 7 players from Dunboyne. Ratoath then with 5 and no other club with more than 2. Is there something i'm not seeing in that representation from Dunboyne??? I'm not trying to stir a debate on nepotism as I don't see anyone bar Lavin and Jones being a starter calibre players and somehow Shane Mcentee will be in the starting 15 but are the other 4 players that much better than other players within the county? To have almost 20% of a panel from one club and that club not to be the dominant team in the county is strange to me. I look at the dubs and they've a lot of Ballymun Kickhams players on their panel ( and individually they've all more than proved their worth) and Ballymun are always there or thereabouts in Dublin championships. I just don't see Dunboyne as being of that ilk in Meath football right now. They're quite flaky as a team and when its put to them they tend to crumble." No doubt having so many players from Dunboyne is going to raise a few questions and must be a bit of a downer for some who failed to make final 40.He is the manager and would be expected to have no bias when selecting final panel, however, has made a rod for his own back with selection.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2149 - 12/05/2021 20:02:51
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