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Getting Donegal also the most probable scenario as they can only get meath or Monaghan, 50% chance it's gonna be them, and assuming they give all prelim teams that go through the 7 days recovery it'll be the Sunday double header.
southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 1019 - 19/06/2025 07:32:15 2619133 Link 0 |
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Monaghan in same boat regarding Donegal. Let's just wait and see as very little guaranteed even the results this weekend are not set in stone. Expect one major shock across the set of fixtures.
winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 19/06/2025 10:47:54 2619166 Link 0 |
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Meath beat Kerry. Yes it wasn't knockout but it was championship and Kerry would have taken it seriously. Meath contained David Clifford. For any Meath supporters who were in Tullamore, what do you think Meath got right and Donegal got wrong yesterday. endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2567 - 28/07/2025 19:47:36 2628820 Link 0 |
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Kerry missing a lot of players, both teams having already qualified and hence nothing really being on the line, Meath having a free shot and being underestimated by Kerry all came into the mix. The intensity of that match bore no resemblance to the AIF at all and isn't comparable. Meath's true level was shown in the semi-final against Donegal and while Meath had a much better year than was expected, they are a long way off having a realistic chance of winning an All Ireland.
LobinstownMan (Meath) - Posts: 131 - 29/07/2025 00:08:30 2628866 Link 0 |
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Meath played a Kerry team without Paudie Clifford, Sean O Se and Brian O Beaglaíoch. Meath only had to man mark DC. If we got the Kerry team from the last 6 weeks it would be a completely different result. UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 431 - 29/07/2025 02:17:17 2628871 Link 1 |
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If Meath/Kerry was in Croke Park it would've been a whole different result as well with the space afforded to Clifford. Kerry are a different animal when it's all on the line in a big match in Croke Park. The last time they've been humbled in a big match in Croke Park was probably us in 2001 or Tyrone 2003 so over 20 years since they've not shown up for a game that matters. Tyrone All-Irelands in 05/08 were close games. Obviously they've lost games in that period but never a case of being battered and always games they believed they'd win. They've incredible players but mentality to win is there as well. It's difficult to instill that until you have break the barrier and have success. Counties like Dublin, Armagh, Tyrone and Meath and Galway to a lesser extent have a little bit of that mentality as well as they believe if things click they can win as they've done it before. NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 62 - 29/07/2025 13:38:58 2628998 Link 0 |
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As other posters have said. Totally different level. Paudie Clifford and Sean o se not on the pitch, Kerry were caught on the hop, etc etc. . But! We were also missing out best players. And did keep David Clifford to a relatively low score from play which was no mean feat from Sean Rafferty. Also, Meath man marked and got totally on top of the midfield battle, which seems to be the only way to tackle Kerry, they destroyed the zonal defence on Sunday.
TobinsBeard (Meath) - Posts: 134 - 29/07/2025 18:25:32 2629092 Link 0 |
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Well you have to think there was a certain amount of complacency involved, Meath haven't exactly been operating at a high level over the last few years, and yes they beat Dublin prior to this game - Kerry would have still expected to get through the game at 70%. And Kerry were also missing some very key players, Sean O'Shea, Paudi Clifford and Brian O'Beaglaoich to name 3. But Meath were also missing Matthew Costello, James Conlon, Ronan Jones and Jack Flynn who are probably 4 guaranteed starters, with Costello and Conlon being 2 of Meath's best performers all year. So you can't just put it down to injuries. But I think the difference was Meath went at Kerry, they didn't sit back like Donegal did. They had the confidence to go man to man, backed Sean Rafferty who kept Clifford very quiet by his standards, and trusted they had the shooters to hurt Kerry. Cork did the same in Munster, and it almost paid off. Donegal man marked Clifford and he hit 9 We forced them long on kickouts and Joe O'Connor was absolutely wiped out at midfield, and if you can't win your ball, there's not really a whole lot you can do.But yes I do agree, I couldn't imagine a world where Meath could do that to Kerry so easily again, and if the game were to be played next week, Kerry would be huge favourties. Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 55 - 29/07/2025 19:41:56 2629105 Link 0 |
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Stick needles in me for saying this but i think we would have given Kerry a better game in croke park. Kerry used our defeat to donegal to build a plan for success. Donegal in the end were predictable. For me it's gratifying to know that our style of play is more akin to kerry vs donegal. It was a good a good year for us but despite the success we have one more monkey to get off our backs and thats beating a decent ulster side starting with derry/tyrone next year.
bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1838 - 29/07/2025 20:30:01 2629117 Link 0 |
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Meath need to learn to perform consistently at a higher level in croke park particularly in attacking areas and shot accuracy. Its going to make or break this team. Trevor Giles spoke about the importance of being exposed to Croke Park on All-Ireland final days by playing in consecutive minor finals in 92 & 93. Meath have got good exposure this year but performances were not great in Croke Park and all the best ones were outside of it. Croke Park plays a bit faster but there always is a breeze and visually with the hill and canal end, shots can be harder to judge. This will not be an excuse from now on so this Meath team need to settle down and start performing at HQ. Another thing Meath probably need is scoring threats from deep. Our half backline were very good this year but none are prolific shooters. Jack Flynn back around middle may also reinforce our 2 point threat again. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 29/07/2025 21:28:46 2629136 Link 0 |
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As good a thread as any to discuss the future for Meath. To be honest, for the two weeks after Donegal loss I was thinking that RB needed to be following the McGuinness masterplan, then after Sunday I once again think the trusting the skills route is a smart avenue. So everything I write should be qualified by admitting I'm a reactionary eejit. But I still think Kerry give us a good template. MeathAbroad (Meath) - Posts: 169 - 29/07/2025 22:47:23 2629157 Link 1 |