Meath Forum

Meath Masters Football Team

(Oldest Posts First)

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting on the forum. I always read everyone's opinions on all things Meath football & hurling with great interest.

I see that the Gaelic Masters (over 40's) competitions will be getting up and running again soon. As far as I can make out, there are 21 counties involved. Meath are not one of the participating counties.

I think it's a real shame that Meath are not represented in the Masters competition. There are plenty of players out there who would represent our county with absolute pride and heart in a national competition.

On the broader topic of "older" players within the GAA: I think Meath GAA should do more to facilitate players who want to play the sport they love past their "prime" years. e.g. recreational leagues/cups, fielding a Masters team etc. I include hurling, camogie, ladies football in this comment too. We are continuing to live longer as a society, and there are plenty of us who don't want to just down tools and stop playing just because we have reached a certain age.

What are your own opinions on this topic?

oceanofnoise (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 22/03/2023 10:41:51    2465683

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There is Dads and lads teams attached to a lot of clubs now. Depending on where you live you should have no problem getting involved.

atta (Meath) - Posts: 704 - 22/03/2023 18:55:26    2465909

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Replying To oceanofnoise:  "Hi everyone. This is my first time posting on the forum. I always read everyone's opinions on all things Meath football & hurling with great interest.

I see that the Gaelic Masters (over 40's) competitions will be getting up and running again soon. As far as I can make out, there are 21 counties involved. Meath are not one of the participating counties.

I think it's a real shame that Meath are not represented in the Masters competition. There are plenty of players out there who would represent our county with absolute pride and heart in a national competition.

On the broader topic of "older" players within the GAA: I think Meath GAA should do more to facilitate players who want to play the sport they love past their "prime" years. e.g. recreational leagues/cups, fielding a Masters team etc. I include hurling, camogie, ladies football in this comment too. We are continuing to live longer as a society, and there are plenty of us who don't want to just down tools and stop playing just because we have reached a certain age.

What are your own opinions on this topic?"
Hello and welcome to the madness.yes agree it's a pity Meath dont have a team in the masters as I think we have some real quality players over 40.I was at a charity blitz last year in Dunboyne for over 40s and it was very enjoyable and well run.I know in our club there is Gaelic for lads and Dads and Mothers and others etc and they I think have tournaments and challenge games against other teams in Meath and surrounding counties.Not sure if they run by Meath gaa or among themselves as I'm not involved.As for been strictly over 40 not sure it may be open to all.It depends I suppose on what you're looking for?There is football if you're still competitive in the lower divison of the premier competitions think it goes to division 8/9 (For men , not sure about the ladies)although there is a big mix of age lads from 18 right up as it's some clubs 2nd 4rd or 4th teams.So you could end up marking or being marked by an 18 year old as I ve found out which is challenging for an ageing body!Not a bad idea to run an over 40s competition but not sure the fixture committee would like their load added too and would the shortage of Refs in the county be anothe big issue.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 294 - 23/03/2023 08:52:14    2465941

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Replying To Proudroyal:  "Hello and welcome to the madness.yes agree it's a pity Meath dont have a team in the masters as I think we have some real quality players over 40.I was at a charity blitz last year in Dunboyne for over 40s and it was very enjoyable and well run.I know in our club there is Gaelic for lads and Dads and Mothers and others etc and they I think have tournaments and challenge games against other teams in Meath and surrounding counties.Not sure if they run by Meath gaa or among themselves as I'm not involved.As for been strictly over 40 not sure it may be open to all.It depends I suppose on what you're looking for?There is football if you're still competitive in the lower divison of the premier competitions think it goes to division 8/9 (For men , not sure about the ladies)although there is a big mix of age lads from 18 right up as it's some clubs 2nd 4rd or 4th teams.So you could end up marking or being marked by an 18 year old as I ve found out which is challenging for an ageing body!Not a bad idea to run an over 40s competition but not sure the fixture committee would like their load added too and would the shortage of Refs in the county be anothe big issue."
Hi Proudroyal, and thank you for the welcome "to the madness"!
My own club doesn't offer any Gaelic for Dads at the moment, but I definitely think there's an appetite for it out there. Other counties run recreational leagues (basically the equivalent of "Sunday league" soccer), and they are generally well-supported.

Your point in relation to the fixture committee is absolutely well-made. I feel that they do as good a job as they can, under often challenging circumstances. Adding additional fixtures into the calendar is probably not what they would want. But at the same time, I'm sure they would be accommodating enough to run off a recreational league programme during the Summer if there is appetite from prospective players to participate.

I guess the point I make is tied into the broader one of participation in sport beyond a certain age. We are living longer, and a lot of people are working in sedentary jobs, myself included. As a society, I think we should be encouraging people to continue participation in their chosen sport as long as possible. The physical and mental benefits of team sports are especially beneficial.

Back to the specific topic at hand, and the Meath Masters Football team, or lack thereof.

To look at it from a more current angle: We have been fortunate to witness the absolutely exceptional Meath ladies footballers winning All-Irelands over the last couple of years. The majority of that team fortunately have many years to travel yet before they consider hanging up their boots. I have no doubt many more successes await too.

Winning is a drug, and I would argue that team sport participation is equally addictive. I actually believe it the responsibility of the county board to provide playing structures (club & county) for these successful players to continue participating into their latter years if they wish to keep doing so. And obviously these playing structures would also be for players who haven't had the opportunity to be as successful as some of our recent All-Ireland winners.

At the moment, it seems that once a player reaches a certain age, they are deemed surplus to requirements from a playing perspective. I think that's the wrong approach, with some of my reasons outlined above. And I want to caveat this by saying that this is not the bitter rant of an older player who has been dropped! I count myself lucky to still be injury-free and playing for my club.

oceanofnoise (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 24/03/2023 09:53:07    2466140

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It's not too late. Competition starts in late May. Why not set up an email account and post it here on this Forum to ascertain genuine interest and if you get a cohort, which you undoubtedly will, that will set the ball rolling. I have little doubt the County would get behind it. We always do. And the financial opportunity won't be lost on the County Board. It just takes one person to start the ball rolling...

GenderNeutral (Meath) - Posts: 114 - 24/03/2023 13:50:01    2466266

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Replying To oceanofnoise:  "Hi Proudroyal, and thank you for the welcome "to the madness"!
My own club doesn't offer any Gaelic for Dads at the moment, but I definitely think there's an appetite for it out there. Other counties run recreational leagues (basically the equivalent of "Sunday league" soccer), and they are generally well-supported.

Your point in relation to the fixture committee is absolutely well-made. I feel that they do as good a job as they can, under often challenging circumstances. Adding additional fixtures into the calendar is probably not what they would want. But at the same time, I'm sure they would be accommodating enough to run off a recreational league programme during the Summer if there is appetite from prospective players to participate.

I guess the point I make is tied into the broader one of participation in sport beyond a certain age. We are living longer, and a lot of people are working in sedentary jobs, myself included. As a society, I think we should be encouraging people to continue participation in their chosen sport as long as possible. The physical and mental benefits of team sports are especially beneficial.

Back to the specific topic at hand, and the Meath Masters Football team, or lack thereof.

To look at it from a more current angle: We have been fortunate to witness the absolutely exceptional Meath ladies footballers winning All-Irelands over the last couple of years. The majority of that team fortunately have many years to travel yet before they consider hanging up their boots. I have no doubt many more successes await too.

Winning is a drug, and I would argue that team sport participation is equally addictive. I actually believe it the responsibility of the county board to provide playing structures (club & county) for these successful players to continue participating into their latter years if they wish to keep doing so. And obviously these playing structures would also be for players who haven't had the opportunity to be as successful as some of our recent All-Ireland winners.

At the moment, it seems that once a player reaches a certain age, they are deemed surplus to requirements from a playing perspective. I think that's the wrong approach, with some of my reasons outlined above. And I want to caveat this by saying that this is not the bitter rant of an older player who has been dropped! I count myself lucky to still be injury-free and playing for my club."
You're dead right about the benefits of playing sport and especially team sports (social aspect alone is great)until later in life. I suppose it comes down to the individual.Have they injuries picked up that may stop them playing?If you have kids alot of people who played Gaa go into coaching and that in itself is very time consuming as I well know.I think if you are finished playing competitive for your club (ie championship and league)and still want to play a bit of ball that's were Dads and lads (mother and others)come into it.You say your club hasn't got a Dads,mothers team, do you think they might look at starting one or is there interst?I suppose you could maybe run a blitz every now and then (like the charity one I was at in Dunboyne)very good and could space them out a few months apart and maybe train in between them.Im not sure about running a weekly league in the summer as that is when championships start and run in both football and hurling would the CCC want to?As I've said in the other post it's a shame we dont have a masters team but maybe ex players are injured, dont have the time or maybe dont want to be back on the national stage I dont know or it could be no one starts the ball rolling so nothing's done.I know some clubs do a walking club and meet at the pitch and stay active and some have a mens shed or card nights every week.Again it depends on your club and what there is demand for.You should maybe have a word with your club and see what they say?

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 294 - 24/03/2023 20:11:11    2466358

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