Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 07/07/2019 17:11:18    2207122

Galwayjoe86 (Galway) - Posts: 258 - 07/07/2019 17:14:34    2207124

Well done to Meath and hard luck to Clare. Both teams gave it their all. Dont think posters should be overly critical as both teams played in div 2 this year and it was such a huge game for them, we cant expect them to be perfect. Some of the scores were brilliant, on the flipside the kickouts were poor. It was a really enjoyable game.

Meath have a lot of potential but they will get murdered on kickouts. Would they be better going long where at least it would be 50/50? Looking forward to the game next weekend in Ballybofey, hopefully a good Meath contingent will travel.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1874 - 07/07/2019 17:15:44    2207125

Anything from here onwards is bonus territory.
Objective achieved this season.

BeJasus (UK) - Posts: 383 - 07/07/2019 17:32:12    2207136

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 07/07/2019 17:46:54    2207145

Meath might struggle in super 8 like Roscomon did last year. But Roscommon have showed super 8 and div 1 football experience is priceless and one of the reasons Roscommon beat Galway and Mayo this year. Roscommon lost all games in super 8 badly and were relegated from div 1. But those 10 games Roscommon played in super 8 and the league this spring v top teams was invaluable experience for Roscommon and brought them on. It should be massive priceless experience for Meath. Meath could struggle and get bad defeats but Meath will not fear Donegal Mayo or kerry. Meath have excellent record v all three.

Donegal are always hot favourites v Meath. But Meath v Donegal are always very tight affairs which are decided in injury time. The last two times Meath played on Ballybofey Meath should have won.

In 2014 Meath drew with McGuiness Donegal in Ballybofey. Meath were best team for most game. But greatness of Murphy scored a wonder point in injury time to seal draw for Donegal.
In 2017 Meath and Donegal played a great championship game the lead changed 8 times. Meath were level with Donegal in injury time but McBreaty wonder point win it for Donegal.
In 2019 Meath were better team v Donegal in Ballybofey and 4 up in 63rd min. Donegal got a lucky goal and showed their class to win by 2 point. But Meath were excellent for second time in a row v Donegal in Ballybofey.
In the league final Meath were better team in first half winning by 5 at half time. Donegal won by 2 but again very close game between Meath v Donegal.

So Donegal will start favourites. And yes Meath have failed to beat Donegal. But Donegal have been one of the counties of the decade. And Meath have performed excellenty v Donegal in our last 4 games. They were very tight games won by 1 point or two. Meath wouldn't fear Donegal.

Meath wouldn't fear Mayo. Mayo have been one of teams of decade. But Meath are a bogey team of sort for Mayo. Mayo and Meath have played 7 times in championship Meath have lost once. The last time Mayo defeated Meath in championship was in 1951. Meath most famous win was in 96 final. The last game Mayo were hot favourites and Meath beat Mayo in quarter final 2009. Meath also beat Mayo in 1988 when Liam McHale had a great tussle with Mick lyons. One of Meaths greatest victories over Mayo was in 1967. Mayo were strong favourites after beating the three in a row Galway team by 11 points in Connacht semi final. In a great game semi final Meath beat Mayo by 6 points on scoreline 3 - 14 to 1 - 14.

Meath have a great record v Connacht teams. Meath have only lost to Connacht teams 3 times in championship in last 68 y ears since Mayo last beat Meath in 1951.
Since 1951

Meath have beaten Mayo 4 times( 1967 1988 1996 2009 ) and 1 draw ( 1996 )
Meath have never lost to Roscommon in championship with 4 wins from 4 games eg 1952 1991 2006 and 2009.
Meath beat Sligo in 2017
Meath beat Leitrim in 2005.
Meath lost to Galway in 1964 1966 and 2001. Meath defeated Galway in 1970 2007 and 2011.

So since Mayo last defeated Meath in 1951 Meaths record v Connacht teams in is 1 draw 3 loses and 9 victories for Meath. Meath have a great record v Mayo. We wouldnt fear them.

Kerry in Navan is a mouthwatering prospect. It will be great to see kerry in Navan. And Meath have also very good record v kerry. Kerry havent beaten Meath in Navan in over 35 years. The last time we played kerry in championship we lost by 4 points and the game before that we won by 15 points. Dublin Galway Mayo all traditionally have a poor record v kerry. Outside Ulster teams of Tyrone and Down Meath have the next best record v kerry in the country. In 80s and 90s Meath played kerry in numerous minor under 21 finals and semi finals. Meath won 7 games at underage v kingdom in a row in that period. Meath defeated kerry in an All Ireland final 50 years before Tyrone did. Again we respect the kingdom but we wouldnt fear them.

Meath might struggle in super 8 but it will be invaluable experience for Meath eitheir way. But dont right of Meath eitheir. Today was always going to tough game. It first time in 10 years leinster team won qualifier after losing leinster final. Scoring 2 - 16 will help confidence. In the qualifiers it all about winning the games. That victory will do Meath a world of good.

Don't right of Meath yet I cannot wait to play in Croker v Mayo and for Kingdom to come to Navan. This is where Meath belongs. It just feels right. We will give Donegal a lash in Ballybofey like we always do. Dont right Meath off yet, no one expected Meath to win promotion or get super 8 at the start of the year. People keep underestimating Meath. Many want and need so badly for Meath to fail their hatred towards clouds their judgement.

But the Meath haters cannot take this away from us , Meath football we love our football we are football mad county , we have great tradition, great players in the past and some excellent players and strong manager and good young players coming through presently. For people who want and so badly Meath to fail this is not whant u want to hear. But never ever underestimate a Meath mans passion loves for gaelic football. It defines us as a people. It in our blood, it our dna. Surrounded by rivals on every corner. kildare coming up from the south . The Midlands counties of Westmeath Offaly to the east. Louth and Ulster with Cavan and Monaghan bearing down from the north. And Dublin the Metropolis encroaching from the east. We are county surrounded by more football rivals then any other in the country. This gives us our identity us against everyone else. It gives us our fightihg spirit our never say die spirit. Slane Castle and Newgrange and hill of Tara are fortreses that need to be protected. Thr great land of Meath is always been fought for and this gives Meath a natural fighting spirit. Us against the rest.

Don't right us off yet. We are Meath and that matters to ten and thousands in our great county. We are quite people, but byjaysus when we are risen we are ferocious and fierce competitors, the fiecest toughest competitors u will ever meet. The blood that runs through Meath footballers veins is the thickest most stubborn most unyeilding u will come across. Hate us all u want. But we aint going anywhere. Meath football it just matters more.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 07/07/2019 17:55:47    2207156

Meath achieved what they went out to do this year

Promotion to Div 1
Advance to Leinster Final
Advance to super 8s

Job Done

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 07/07/2019 17:59:15    2207169

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 07/07/2019 18:03:11    2207177

David (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 07/07/2019 18:27:55    2207211

Well done to Meath great win. Unlucky for Clare could of went either way at the end.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 07/07/2019 18:41:52    2207231

Well done to both teams today I enjoyed the game and it was still there to play for at the end.

Meath will take confidence from today. I look forward to our game in Navan I hope to make the trip but not sure yet.

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 07/07/2019 18:43:47    2207233

Brilliant. 3 objectives in January have all been met. I remember posting the 3 of them on here and was told that none of them would be achieved, we were told that if we didn't get relegated it would be a miracle, that Westmeath or Laois were better than us and the big one? We nowhere near super 8s.
To all you lot. Swivel.
We in bonus territory.
But what's more we are on way back much to many's annoyance.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/07/2019 19:08:24    2207261

Well done Meath , great to see yes into the super 8s , .

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 07/07/2019 19:12:49    2207266

Well done Meath, but a very poor crowd in Portlaoise today

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1673 - 07/07/2019 19:22:53    2207283

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 665 - 07/07/2019 19:40:00    2207302

Delighted with the win today, thought we made it very difficult on ourselves second half with alot of mistakes, carrying the ball into dead ends and getting swamped out of it a few times, made the end more nervy than it needed to be.

Great to bounce back though and put up a decent score after the semi final, thought Conlon was excellent, lively all day and 3 points was a good return. Keogan was again superb.

Most expect us to lose all 3 super 8 games, that may well happen or we may pull off a surprise but whatever the outcome, playing Donegal, Mayo and Kerry in competitive matches will serve us very well ahead of playing our trade in Division 1 next year, it's experience that should stand to us. It's been a great year, anything else is a bonus and progress has undeniably been made. Have to be happy with that.

Whyalwaysmeath (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 07/07/2019 20:17:01    2207337

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 07/07/2019 20:17:53    2207338

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/07/2019 20:28:05    2207352

I really hope we can put some good performances in in the Super 8s. Huge step up but still not as bad as playing Dublin in Leinster. We need to go all out in these next three games. It's all about performances for us at this stage.

I'm particularly delighted for Dónal Keogan. He is the one top class player we have. Almost every game over the last few years he's our best player but cos the team has been so poor most people in the country haven't even heard of him. He really deserves a chance to showcase his talents.

In terms of improvements. We still need to sort out our attack. Conlon and Newman need better service. We can't keep relying on scores by running through the middle. That won't work against the Donegal defensive system. They'll do the same as Dublin and funnel us out to the wings. Cillian O'Sullivan has had a poor championship so far, he really needs to step and start taking on his man. The kickouts obviously need a lot of work and I still think we need to give our fullback line better support by dropping a sweeper back when the opposition attack. The fullback line has done very well considering how little protection they get.

HighKings (Meath) - Posts: 271 - 07/07/2019 20:29:23    2207353

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 07/07/2019 20:31:08    2207357