National Forum

Tailteann Cup 2023

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2 interesting games, you have Down and Meath who clearly are playing at a level below where they should be, so the Tailteann Cup has afforded both an opportunity to gain a bit of momentum and get some game time under new management.

Down probably need to win it the most, as you think their route to the Sam Maguire is tougher than Meath's next year. Meath already operate in division 2 and the path to the Leinster final is much easier than the Ulster Final. But Meath will want to win it too, so there's loads of motivation for both teams.

Antrim and Laois are very much there on merit, and both will rightly feel like they are good enough to cause the upsets. Antrim are the only other unbeaten team left in the competition and are certainly looking strong under Andy McEntee. Plus the McEntee factor is there to get one over on Meath. You saw what it will mean for both teams to get to play in Croke Park in games they have a great chance in.

Think we should have 2 cracking games, and the Tailteann Cup has proved to be a good competitive competition in its second season. I'm tipping Down and Meath to come through, but wouldn't be surprised if there was an upset or two.

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 208 - 22/06/2023 15:26:57    2488461

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Meath are unlucky to be in the Tailteann Cup. Clare earned their All-Ireland place beating Cork but Sligo had an easy path to the Connacht final.
Down missed out on the Division 3 final. They were outside the Top 18 in the league. The Tailteann is Down's level at the moment under the criteria of the current 16:16 split.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7873 - 22/06/2023 17:01:02    2488490

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Replying To kingofclubs:  "The Tailteann Cup is an exciting addition for counties like Antrim, and an opportunity to play in Croke Park for the first time for many of their players. For the likes of Down and Meath, it has served a purpose to build confidence after a poor run in the league and provincial championship. If Down or Meath win it out, I doubt there will be massive celebrations in Newry or Navan like we saw in Mullingar last year."
That's just arrogance. The TC has allowed Laois and Antrim to do the exact same as Meath and Down, build after disappointing league campaigns - I am sure everyone will be supporting both of them so we see how winning it should be celebrated.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1805 - 22/06/2023 18:46:51    2488509

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Id say meath will bring a big crowd on sunday , bigger than expexted, antrim and down will as well.

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 693 - 22/06/2023 21:59:25    2488526

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Meath are a great footballing county but not the team they were. Our lads should go out on Sunday and remember this. Meath are overwhelming favourites but no world beaters. We have some very decent footballers and the management team have them very fit. The guys are really responding to Andy and he has installed belief in them. Let's go folks, don't leave it in the changing room.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 23/06/2023 09:53:15    2488572

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Replying To zinny:  "That's just arrogance. The TC has allowed Laois and Antrim to do the exact same as Meath and Down, build after disappointing league campaigns - I am sure everyone will be supporting both of them so we see how winning it should be celebrated."
I dont think it is arrogance, look if Down or Meath win the TC i can tell you that there will be no big crowds i Navan or Newry the fact of the matter is both teams between them have 12 All Irelands the actual cup really dosent matter the prize is getting into group stages of the Sam Maguire where both counties feel thats where its at, but were also realistic were we are at right now

germac (Down) - Posts: 535 - 24/06/2023 22:02:03    2488948

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We were very, very unlucky today. A wee lack of composure and belief cost us. We were just as good as Meath and had countless chances to win that game. Laois are very poor, the seagulls in Croker are giving Down a tougher game.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 25/06/2023 17:25:04    2489184

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "We were very, very unlucky today. A wee lack of composure and belief cost us. We were just as good as Meath and had countless chances to win that game. Laois are very poor, the seagulls in Croker are giving Down a tougher game."
I was really urging Antrim to do but they were snapping at shots and not being economical at times. Great run though to the semi-finals. Championship football at Croke Park in June is no bad thing.

Jazzyjeff (Derry) - Posts: 159 - 25/06/2023 18:54:04    2489226

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "We were very, very unlucky today. A wee lack of composure and belief cost us. We were just as good as Meath and had countless chances to win that game. Laois are very poor, the seagulls in Croker are giving Down a tougher game."
Not just as good, better than Meath, bit of luck and you could have had a good rattle at Down.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2017 - 25/06/2023 19:27:01    2489245

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We played ok.

Started the game off taking the right shots on.

I think our style of football is very demanding for Croke Park in a day like today.

We weren't supporting the man on the ball anywhere near as well from about 20 minutes on.

We were very slow in an attack for a lot of that game.

Meath's subs were a bit bizarre and seemed to take some of the intensity out of the game and nearly let us back in it, but I think that was more due to Meath complacency than our great play. Our second goal we did well to react but it came at a time when the game had no real energy.

Made for a good finish and if we'd more composure we could have nicked it but Meath were definitely the deserving winners.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4241 - 25/06/2023 19:27:47    2489247

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Not just as good, better than Meath, bit of luck and you could have had a good rattle at Down."
Better In first half but not second half. Antrim were 8 pts behind at one stage . Could have got a draw at end but lacked composure.

Costelloe and Morris very good for Meath

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2763 - 25/06/2023 19:41:07    2489256

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Replying To Whammo86:  "We played ok.

Started the game off taking the right shots on.

I think our style of football is very demanding for Croke Park in a day like today.

We weren't supporting the man on the ball anywhere near as well from about 20 minutes on.

We were very slow in an attack for a lot of that game.

Meath's subs were a bit bizarre and seemed to take some of the intensity out of the game and nearly let us back in it, but I think that was more due to Meath complacency than our great play. Our second goal we did well to react but it came at a time when the game had no real energy.

Made for a good finish and if we'd more composure we could have nicked it but Meath were definitely the deserving winners."
Can't disagree with anything you wrote there. We won but we still have major issues and one big elephant in the room, who needs to lose some of the ego and the "I will change football for the better" mentality. Costello, Morris and lynch were very good up front. Many wanted to drop Morris during league , but the naive style of man to man wasn't suiting him. And this more defensive game is better to his talents. Best wishes for next year you have some good players there all the need is a little more belief that mcentee will give. And you could be heading for promotion. But definitely I'd be aiming to win this competition next year if I was in Antrim.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/06/2023 19:46:41    2489259

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Antrim played well and gave Meath a good game. Once Cavan were out, Down and Meath were the favourites to reach the final. Sligo's soft route to a Connacht final and Meath being in the Tailteann as a result is still very debatable as to what is wanted for a fair level. A wrinkle to be ironed out in time perhaps. Three weeks now for Down and Meath to get ready for the final. All-Ireland qualification is a big prize.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7873 - 25/06/2023 19:47:55    2489260

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Replying To Whammo86:  "We played ok.

Started the game off taking the right shots on.

I think our style of football is very demanding for Croke Park in a day like today.

We weren't supporting the man on the ball anywhere near as well from about 20 minutes on.

We were very slow in an attack for a lot of that game.

Meath's subs were a bit bizarre and seemed to take some of the intensity out of the game and nearly let us back in it, but I think that was more due to Meath complacency than our great play. Our second goal we did well to react but it came at a time when the game had no real energy.

Made for a good finish and if we'd more composure we could have nicked it but Meath were definitely the deserving winners."
Hard luck to Leix today, and especially to the two Carlowmen who started. Outscored Down by 2-4 to 1-3 in the last fifteen minutes, when the game was in the melting pot. It's just a shame that they made such a slow start. But in that last quarter(-ish), Down weren't able for them. Positive signs there. They can build on them.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 601 - 25/06/2023 20:09:42    2489276

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Replying To Whammo86:  "We played ok.

Started the game off taking the right shots on.

I think our style of football is very demanding for Croke Park in a day like today.

We weren't supporting the man on the ball anywhere near as well from about 20 minutes on.

We were very slow in an attack for a lot of that game.

Meath's subs were a bit bizarre and seemed to take some of the intensity out of the game and nearly let us back in it, but I think that was more due to Meath complacency than our great play. Our second goal we did well to react but it came at a time when the game had no real energy.

Made for a good finish and if we'd more composure we could have nicked it but Meath were definitely the deserving winners."
We were made to work hard for the win, as you said that hard running style that has success in first half for Antrim is very hard to sustain. Your fullforward is quite a handfull, good hands and had our fullback under pressure. The Meath changes, which have worked well in previous games, had a negative impact today and seemed to swing the game back in Antrim's favour. Our subs never got up to pace of the game, maybe a bit of over confidence, coming on with a good lead. Hopefully another lesson learned, however, its what TC is all about, getting experience and building a decent panel for next year.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2151 - 25/06/2023 20:27:25    2489285

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "We were very, very unlucky today. A wee lack of composure and belief cost us. We were just as good as Meath and had countless chances to win that game. Laois are very poor, the seagulls in Croker are giving Down a tougher game."
What's the view of Andy McEntee's work in Antrim? Will he be kept on for another year?

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1319 - 25/06/2023 20:43:06    2489290

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I see that Antrim have more Ulster titles than Derry, Antrim have 10 and Derry 9. However I don't think it is a fair comparison as most of Antrim's titles came in the 1900's and 1910's when Derry weren't even entering the competition consistently. In 1900 Antrim actually were given the title because they were the only team that entered.

PattyONeill (Derry) - Posts: 223 - 25/06/2023 21:21:33    2489305

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Replying To CARPS:  "Hard luck to Leix today, and especially to the two Carlowmen who started. Outscored Down by 2-4 to 1-3 in the last fifteen minutes, when the game was in the melting pot. It's just a shame that they made such a slow start. But in that last quarter(-ish), Down weren't able for them. Positive signs there. They can build on them."
Leix have never won anything without a string of Carlowmen on board (fact) so expecting to win with just two Carlowmen today left them with way too much to do.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 25/06/2023 21:56:34    2489313

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Replying To PattyONeill:  "I see that Antrim have more Ulster titles than Derry, Antrim have 10 and Derry 9. However I don't think it is a fair comparison as most of Antrim's titles came in the 1900's and 1910's when Derry weren't even entering the competition consistently. In 1900 Antrim actually were given the title because they were the only team that entered."
How many more would Antrim have if they could play Tyrone men the way Derry do.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2017 - 25/06/2023 22:07:04    2489317

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "We were very, very unlucky today. A wee lack of composure and belief cost us. We were just as good as Meath and had countless chances to win that game. Laois are very poor, the seagulls in Croker are giving Down a tougher game."
Very very unlucky is a massive stretch seriously what game were you watching, meath got very very complacent and nearly blew it at the end, by far the better team won today, meath for tealtean, hon the royals.

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 666 - 25/06/2023 22:10:34    2489318

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