Replying To ROS1:  "You talk about gaps but you fail to mention donegal, tryone and armagh who won all irelands after generations of failing to do so. It didn't hold then back or indeed llecister city or blackburn rovers in the premier league."

Replying To GeniusGerry:  "Was he not bound for pro Rugby even if he had stayed at home? I'd agree he would have made a phenomenal midfielder.

I started following a bit of AFL since a few of our own lads moved out there and similar to yourselves we had an unbelievable minor midfielder in 2014-15 called Mark O'Connor who moved to Geelong he and Nash even faced each other on the pitch towards the end of the season."

Replying To royaldunne:  "Both were looking at him. Afl got there before rugby. But that's the shame, I believe if he was in Dublin he would have played football, due to the resources. I don't blame the lad one bit. It's just one of those things."

Replying To Furlong1949:  "I would have Armagh 2002 Donegal 92 Derry 93 in a separate catergory.

For example in the last 30 years 4 teams have won their first ever All Ireland eg Donegal 1992 , Derry 1993, Armagh 2002 and Tyrone 2003. In the last 100 years no county has ever closed a 50 year gap between wins. The Longest gaps were Galway in 1998 eg 32 years and louth in 1957 eg 45 years.

So its easier to win a first All Ireland then close generation gaps in All Ireland wins. A county who wins their first All Ireland , yes have years of failure, but it doesnt seem that history holds them back. They have no team to be compared to and the weight of history doesnt seem to be a factor. look at how Offaly won their first title in 1971 or Donegal in 1992 or Tyrone 2003. Then you compare to how Mayo have struggled in 9 All Ireland finals since 1989. If Mayo had won in 89 or 96 or 04 or 06, there is no doubt in my mind Mayo would have won Sam in this decade. When a county doesnt win for a couple of generations it seems to be an issue. A county winning a first All Irelands seems to be less of an barrier or obstacle to sucess.

We have had 5 new All Ireland winners in last 50 years eg Offaly , Donegal , Derry , Armagh and Tyrone. No county has ever closed a 50 year gap between wins. So for example the next counties on the list for their first All Ireland in my opinion would be Monaghan and Laois. If Monaghan got to a final in next 20 or 30 years dont be surprised to see them win Sam. Its easier to win ur first All Ireland as Offaly did in 71 and Derry in 1993 proved.

Take All Irelands finals of 96 and 98. The reason Meath and Galway won was they had better forwards then Mayo or kildare respectively eg Meaths Giles Geraghty and Dowd were better then Mayos Casey Finnerty or McMemanin and Galways Joyce Donnellan and Fallon were better then kildares K Dwyer McCormack Kerrigan. But in both in 96 and 98 in last 15 mins of both matchs of 1996 and the second half of 1998, Meath and Galway you could see had the forwards to win, but they played with no fear. In the last 15 mins of both games in 96 and second half in 98, Mayo and kildare were much tenser. Meath could look back and remeber the teams of 80s winning Sam. Galway players could look back to the teams of 60s winning Sam. But Mayo players had to look back 45 years and kildare 60 years to their last win.

Once it goes two or more generations back to a last win, it seems to become an issue. Its not impossible for Galway in 1980 and Clare in 95 in hurling showed that. But it took incredible managers like Ger loughnane and great players like Connolly brother in Galway and lohans Daly O Connor McMahon in Clare to throw of the shackles of history. But it is easier to win a first title.

Regards other comments above that teams will not come from nowhere anymore. I cannot really argue with comments above. But what I will say is dont underestimate how the GAA always seems to produce great men like Ger loughnane or Jimmy McGuiness or Sean Boylan or Mickey Harte or Cyril Farrell. Great managers who can build great teams. I am certain in next 30 or 40 years surely we will see more great managers come on the scene. That will always be part of our games. And also counties will produce a great generation of players eg Armagh in 02 eg McGeeney McDonnell etc or Offaly hurling in 80s and 90s eg Whelehan Carroll Dooley Pilkingtons. This will continue. Dont underestimate the capacity of the GAA to produce men like Sean Boylan, Ger loughnane, Liam Griffin ,Cyril Farrell, Davy Fitz , Eugene McGee ,Mick Dwyer , Billy Morgan, Pete McGrath, Brian McEniff ,John O Mahony, Joe Kiernan ,Mickey Harte, Eamon Coleman and Jimmy McGuiness. Men who create new history and tear up the form book.

Finally , Royaldunne is right. Nash is a serious talent. And yes at 20 he is a better footballer then John McDermont was at 20 or liam Hayes was at 20. He is probaly the most naturally talented athlete footballer Meath have produced since Geraghy. Like Geraghy , Nash is talented at many sports eg football Rugby Auzzie rules. Geraghty was not only outrageously talented gaelic footballer but also played rugby to good standard with bucaneers and got trials with Arsenal.
Nash has a similar style to Fenton. The same way Fenton runs with the ball is very similar to Nash.

Nash is the best young player Meath have produced in this decade. And what has worsened the situation is because its such a problem area for Meath, midfield. Meath havenot produced a top class midfielder since McDermont. And the three most talented midfielders we have produced in this era are all not available to us.

Conor Gillespie was Mcdermonts natural heir. When Gillespie last played was in 2012 and 2013 , the last time Meath had good championship. And in 2013 Gillespie completly wiped out All Ireland champions Dublin out at midfield in 2013 leinster final. Gillespie because of injuries career finished at 25. By 25 he had driven his club to 2 Meath senior titles. A serious loss to Meath football. Jack O Se said Gillespie gave some of best high fielding performances in 2012 and 13 he had seen seen in years.

Shane O Rourke career is also finished at 27. O Rourke if he stayed fit could have become a Meath great. At 19 he was one of the best full forwards in Ireland leading Meath to All Ireland semi final in 2007. But his best position was midfield. Also we have missed Harry Rooney because of injury and travelling in last few years. And the best young midfielder in the county Ronan Jones has spent last 2 years in USA in college. We are down at least 5 quality inter county midfielders.

But if Nash stayed and O Rourke and Gillespie careers did not end so prematurely, Meath definatly would have being in div 1 along time ago. Seen that Meath have being 1 win away from promotion in 4 of last 5 years in div 2. If we had option of Nash Gillespie and O Rourke at midfield we would have got that extra win and we would have done better overall in league and championship. Because with those players we wud have had one of the best midfields in the country. Instead we have to turn an half back Brian Menton into a midfielder. Nash along with Gillespie and O Rourke loss has been massive blows for Meath football."

Replying To Furlong1949:  "I would have Armagh 2002 Donegal 92 Derry 93 in a separate catergory.

For example in the last 30 years 4 teams have won their first ever All Ireland eg Donegal 1992 , Derry 1993, Armagh 2002 and Tyrone 2003. In the last 100 years no county has ever closed a 50 year gap between wins. The Longest gaps were Galway in 1998 eg 32 years and louth in 1957 eg 45 years.

So its easier to win a first All Ireland then close generation gaps in All Ireland wins. A county who wins their first All Ireland , yes have years of failure, but it doesnt seem that history holds them back. They have no team to be compared to and the weight of history doesnt seem to be a factor. look at how Offaly won their first title in 1971 or Donegal in 1992 or Tyrone 2003. Then you compare to how Mayo have struggled in 9 All Ireland finals since 1989. If Mayo had won in 89 or 96 or 04 or 06, there is no doubt in my mind Mayo would have won Sam in this decade. When a county doesnt win for a couple of generations it seems to be an issue. A county winning a first All Irelands seems to be less of an barrier or obstacle to sucess.

We have had 5 new All Ireland winners in last 50 years eg Offaly , Donegal , Derry , Armagh and Tyrone. No county has ever closed a 50 year gap between wins. So for example the next counties on the list for their first All Ireland in my opinion would be Monaghan and Laois. If Monaghan got to a final in next 20 or 30 years dont be surprised to see them win Sam. Its easier to win ur first All Ireland as Offaly did in 71 and Derry in 1993 proved.

Take All Irelands finals of 96 and 98. The reason Meath and Galway won was they had better forwards then Mayo or kildare respectively eg Meaths Giles Geraghty and Dowd were better then Mayos Casey Finnerty or McMemanin and Galways Joyce Donnellan and Fallon were better then kildares K Dwyer McCormack Kerrigan. But in both in 96 and 98 in last 15 mins of both matchs of 1996 and the second half of 1998, Meath and Galway you could see had the forwards to win, but they played with no fear. In the last 15 mins of both games in 96 and second half in 98, Mayo and kildare were much tenser. Meath could look back and remeber the teams of 80s winning Sam. Galway players could look back to the teams of 60s winning Sam. But Mayo players had to look back 45 years and kildare 60 years to their last win.

Once it goes two or more generations back to a last win, it seems to become an issue. Its not impossible for Galway in 1980 and Clare in 95 in hurling showed that. But it took incredible managers like Ger loughnane and great players like Connolly brother in Galway and lohans Daly O Connor McMahon in Clare to throw of the shackles of history. But it is easier to win a first title.

Regards other comments above that teams will not come from nowhere anymore. I cannot really argue with comments above. But what I will say is dont underestimate how the GAA always seems to produce great men like Ger loughnane or Jimmy McGuiness or Sean Boylan or Mickey Harte or Cyril Farrell. Great managers who can build great teams. I am certain in next 30 or 40 years surely we will see more great managers come on the scene. That will always be part of our games. And also counties will produce a great generation of players eg Armagh in 02 eg McGeeney McDonnell etc or Offaly hurling in 80s and 90s eg Whelehan Carroll Dooley Pilkingtons. This will continue. Dont underestimate the capacity of the GAA to produce men like Sean Boylan, Ger loughnane, Liam Griffin ,Cyril Farrell, Davy Fitz , Eugene McGee ,Mick Dwyer , Billy Morgan, Pete McGrath, Brian McEniff ,John O Mahony, Joe Kiernan ,Mickey Harte, Eamon Coleman and Jimmy McGuiness. Men who create new history and tear up the form book.

Finally , Royaldunne is right. Nash is a serious talent. And yes at 20 he is a better footballer then John McDermont was at 20 or liam Hayes was at 20. He is probaly the most naturally talented athlete footballer Meath have produced since Geraghy. Like Geraghy , Nash is talented at many sports eg football Rugby Auzzie rules. Geraghty was not only outrageously talented gaelic footballer but also played rugby to good standard with bucaneers and got trials with Arsenal.
Nash has a similar style to Fenton. The same way Fenton runs with the ball is very similar to Nash.

Nash is the best young player Meath have produced in this decade. And what has worsened the situation is because its such a problem area for Meath, midfield. Meath havenot produced a top class midfielder since McDermont. And the three most talented midfielders we have produced in this era are all not available to us.

Conor Gillespie was Mcdermonts natural heir. When Gillespie last played was in 2012 and 2013 , the last time Meath had good championship. And in 2013 Gillespie completly wiped out All Ireland champions Dublin out at midfield in 2013 leinster final. Gillespie because of injuries career finished at 25. By 25 he had driven his club to 2 Meath senior titles. A serious loss to Meath football. Jack O Se said Gillespie gave some of best high fielding performances in 2012 and 13 he had seen seen in years.

Shane O Rourke career is also finished at 27. O Rourke if he stayed fit could have become a Meath great. At 19 he was one of the best full forwards in Ireland leading Meath to All Ireland semi final in 2007. But his best position was midfield. Also we have missed Harry Rooney because of injury and travelling in last few years. And the best young midfielder in the county Ronan Jones has spent last 2 years in USA in college. We are down at least 5 quality inter county midfielders.

But if Nash stayed and O Rourke and Gillespie careers did not end so prematurely, Meath definatly would have being in div 1 along time ago. Seen that Meath have being 1 win away from promotion in 4 of last 5 years in div 2. If we had option of Nash Gillespie and O Rourke at midfield we would have got that extra win and we would have done better overall in league and championship. Because with those players we wud have had one of the best midfields in the country. Instead we have to turn an half back Brian Menton into a midfielder. Nash along with Gillespie and O Rourke loss has been massive blows for Meath football."

Replying To southmeathgael:  "An awful lot of speculatuon about nash who never kicked a ball at senior intercounty level, been put up on a par with Fenton is crazy. And to say Gillespie was the new McDermott, Jesus wept, he had 1 decent year in 2012.....John mc probably in top 5 or 6 midfielders of all time. Def top 10"

Replying To Gleebo:  "The Aussie Rules thing is overblown IMO, a few dozen have gone out there and the majority will be back within a few years.

On the other hand, more Irish people were emigrating than returning to the country as of last year's CSO figures. And this is in the middle of a relatively strong period for the national economy (I say "national" in terms of aggregates, obviously there are large inequalities within the country).

Moreover, rural Ireland is stagnating and it is increasingly necessary for many young people to migrate to the urban centres of the country to secure jobs.

These are far bigger problems for the GAA than the odd elite youngster trying his hand at AFL."

Replying To PyatPree:  "In Hurling Kerry and Offaly (sad to see how far down they have gone). In Football Limerick, Wexford and sorry Offaly again"

Replying To TheHermit:  "Don't be counting your chickens boyo - whatever about Liam, I firmly believe I will live to see a Kerry side lift the Munster Cup in Thurles"

Replying To PyatPree:  "I wouldn't be betting on it"

Replying To southmeathgael:  "Classic ifs and buts of a desperate meath man,
It's as simple as this, we havnt been good enough for division 1 for 10 or 12 years, and won't be for another few years yet. Plenty of talent coming through but not quick enough."

Replying To southmeathgael:  "An awful lot of speculatuon about nash who never kicked a ball at senior intercounty level, been put up on a par with Fenton is crazy. And to say Gillespie was the new McDermott, Jesus wept, he had 1 decent year in 2012.....John mc probably in top 5 or 6 midfielders of all time. Def top 10"

Replying To Furlong1949:  "He is a massive lose. Its the one area we couldn't afford to lose a quality player. We already lost a quality midfield partnership that wud have played together for Meath for years , for a a decade, to injury eg Conor Gillespie and Shane O Rourke. And then the most talented player we have produced in this era leaves for Auzzie Rules also. It has effected us badly.

For example we had to turn Brian Menton a half back ( thats his best position) , into a first choice midfielder. And Menton has had 7 different midfield partners in the last 2 years playing for Meath. The 7 players who partnered Menton at midfield for Meath in last 2 years were Cian O 'Brien, Adam Flanagan, Harry Rooney, James Toher, Ronan Jones, Brian Conlon and Paddy Kennelly. Meath have had 8 different midfielders in 2 years. A new partnership at the centre of midfield every 3 games or so. No team can find any consitency in their play if they are chopping and changing their midfield partnership every 3 games. McEntee has had to chop and change his midfield partnership every couple games as we have struggled at center field to find a strong effective partnership. And going into year 3 we are still undecided and uncertain who is best equipped to partner Menton in the centre of the field.

If Nash had stayed and committed to Meath we wud have had a consistent midfield partnership of Menton and Nash for every game in last 2 year. And that 1 win extra we needed in div 2 last year and this year to be promoted, we probaly wud have gotten. We might have beaten Tyrone this year and Donegal last year in the championship also, as we were ahead or level going into injury to both respective teams in last 2 years. Nash could have made the difference. Anyway thats the modern gaa world. Talented players are been hoovered up by Auzzie Rules at an alarming rate."