Meath Forum

Meath Div 1 2020

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Replying To Tweety:  "Good score put up and great to see Jones panting well
It's a bad sign to see the Wallace's back in the panel, no offence to them but they've been tried and tested already and IMO are not county standard. The big teams do not fear their style of play.
Colgon in again, surely we have a better keeper in the county. Cruel as it is, has Andy not learned nothing from last year."
Unless I'm mistaken didn't think colgan came on today. Maybe I missed the switch with him and York.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/01/2020 19:42:31    2257365

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Great to hear Jones back, him and Menton would make a great pairing. Good to see the Wallace's back also, they should be starting with a clean slate as they have huge ability. At the moment I'm very optimistic about the league but I wouldn't get too hung up on who's missing for other teams and concentrate on our own lads.

hootervillian (Meath) - Posts: 308 - 04/01/2020 19:42:41    2257366

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Both Joey and eamonn are different players to 2 years ago, eamonn not so much a scorer any more but an excellant link man running from deep, and Joey a far superior version of James conlon imo"
Can't agree with the comparison to Conlon two totally different players. Conlon will star for Meath in future years. The guys only 20. Give him a chance.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/01/2020 19:44:15    2257367

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Great to hear Jones back, him and Menton would make a great pairing. Good to see the Wallace's back also, they should be starting with a clean slate as they have huge ability. At the moment I'm very optimistic about the league but I wouldn't get too hung up on who's missing for other teams and concentrate on our own lads.

hootervillian (Meath) - Posts: 308 - 04/01/2020 19:48:29    2257368

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Can't agree with the comparison to Conlon two totally different players. Conlon will star for Meath in future years. The guys only 20. Give him a chance."
could not make it today who impressed how did walsh do

thecraw1 (Meath) - Posts: 106 - 04/01/2020 20:35:12    2257384

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Replying To Tweety:  "Good score put up and great to see Jones panting well
It's a bad sign to see the Wallace's back in the panel, no offence to them but they've been tried and tested already and IMO are not county standard. The big teams do not fear their style of play.
Colgon in again, surely we have a better keeper in the county. Cruel as it is, has Andy not learned nothing from last year."
Bit harsh.

I'd agree with you on Eamonn, I don't think he's intercounty standard. Hasn't got much football in him in terms of technique etc he's an athletic lad though alright. A bit of a poor man's Graham Reilly for me.

Joey however is undoubtedly inter county class and could be a great addition.

Is Cian O' Brien on panel? I think he has come on a lot and could be decent panel option.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 04/01/2020 21:16:07    2257401

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Replying To thecraw1:  "could not make it today who impressed how did walsh do"
Did well. As a few of them did. Lot of chopping and changing going on , only downside was Donals injury, hopefully not too bad.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/01/2020 21:20:57    2257403

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Replying To Tweety:  "Good score put up and great to see Jones panting well
It's a bad sign to see the Wallace's back in the panel, no offence to them but they've been tried and tested already and IMO are not county standard. The big teams do not fear their style of play.
Colgon in again, surely we have a better keeper in the county. Cruel as it is, has Andy not learned nothing from last year."
I dont understand your comments on Andy and goalies. Colgan was not playing today. Yorke was goalkeeper. Yorke has started in 2 of the 3 Byrne cup matchs in goals. Harry Hogan started in goals in the other game. Colgan has not started a game in goal for Meath in Meaths last 4 games where Andy has used Marcus Brennan, Harry Hogan and Dominic Yorke as goalies. He hasnt started Colgan in Meaths last 4 games , Andy has used 3 new goalkeepers in Meaths last 4 games. And it seems that Dominic Yorke is now probaly our new first choice goalie. So u have accussed McEntee of not looking at other goalies and Colgan in again. This is not reality. 3 new goalies in our last 4 game and new first choice goalie in Dominic Yorke who has made some real good save in his 2 games. To critice McEntee about goalkeeper situation when he has tryed 3 new goalies in last 4 games and we have a new first choice goalie doesnt make any sense whatsoever.

We scored 4 - 16 v div 2 team.today and played some real good football at times. We are improving slowly and surely. I can see an upturn and improvement from Tyrone game in 2018. Last year was a big improvement and I expect we will see improvements again this year. When McEntee took the job I said it was a 5 or 6 year job at least. And he is only half way through the job. Bringing Meath back up to top of football table is a massive job that was always going to takes the guts of a decade to do . I believe we can stay in div 1. Why ?

1 McEntee in his fouth season , he has more experience of inter county game now and addition of Nally one best and innovative coachs in the country , has been a masterstroke.

2 Players peaking as footballers eg Seamus lavin 25, Shane Gallagher 25, James and Shane McEntee 25 , Cilliam Sullivan 25 , Barry Dardis 25 and Eamon and Joey Wallace 25 and 24.

3 Meath great div 1 football tradition. From 1930s to 2000 only kerry or Dublin spent longer in div 1 then Meath. Meath have a great div 1 pedigree with 80 year residency and 7 div 1 league titles . If you look at the counties who have yo yoed div 1 and 2, it was counties like kildare , Cavan and Roscommon , counties who have never really been div 1 counties. While the last county to stay up in div 1 was Galway , a county with strong div 1 tradition.

The other yo yo counties, Roscommon were only div 1 twice in their history in early 1960s and late 1970s when they won their only div 1 league title. Cavan have to go back 70 years ago to 1950s when they were div 1 team and they won their only div 1 league title. While kildare have never won div 1 league title and were only once in hundred year werw a div 1 team, that was for a few years in 90s. The rest of last hundred years kildare have never been a div 1 team. Meath like Galway have a rich div 1 tradition. Both counties dont have the inferior other counties like Cavan and kildare towards the top teams. And Navan was and still is a tough place to win.

4 The introduction of young talent making an impact straighway. We havent been producing much young talent in groups making an immediate at senior in last decade. For me this is the first time in 20 years Meath are producing young talented players who are making an impact at senior straightway..We played 7 players from the under 20 2018 Meath team last year. In the super 8 we had the youngest forwards with 5 Meath forwards playing at the age of 18 , 19 and 20 in last years super 8w. In our first game v louth in this years Bryne cup we had four 19 year olds playing in the forwards. And these players are all taking to senior straighatway. They look like senior inter county footballers at the age of 18 and 19. For me the improvement in our defence and the positive energy of these youngsters is why we had a good season last year.

5 For me this is the reason beliw why we will stay in div 1 will be. this reason. The return of a group of proven experienced inter county players who were not available last year who will strenghten our panel substantially eg Donal Lenihan, Brian Conlon, Eamon Wallace , Joey Wallace , Paddy kennelly , Ronan Jones. Along with young talent like Shane Walsh , Jack O Connor and Matthew Costello means thats 9 players we didnt have last year. The return of experienced proven inter county players this year will improve the depth of the panel especially our sub bench.

In last ten mins v Donegal and Mayo last year their subs made an impact. Our subs didnt. I think this year our sub bench is much stronger. And when we reach 60 min v Tyrone Donegal and Mayo and co we will have players that can come off the bench and win us the game. Thats what happened today when sub players like Ronan Jones, Sean Toibin, Eamon Wallace and Barry Dardis and Oisin O Brien won Meath the game. Laois had narrowed the lead to 5 well into second half. And in the next ten minutes every Meath score was scored by our subs. When between them Jones, Wallace, Dardis, Toibin and O Brien scored 1 - 6 between themselves in last 10 to 15 mins and we won by 10.

My one worry is this injury crisis developing. We are down possibly 5 to 7 or 8 first team startere since last year. Harnan, Devine and lavin are gone for most the league. Shane McEntee seems to be unvailable currently while Dara Campion is on crutchs. But its lose of Newman and possibly lenihan that cud be critical. Hopefully lenihan injury is minor and he wil be avialiable in 3 weeks v Tyrone and 4 and 5 weeks v Mayo and Donegal. If not the loss of our two best inside forwards , both 28 both very experienced ,could be huge. Young Walsh has been excellent but having Newman and Lenihan beside him for me would be a div 1 inside line that could cause problems for div 1 teams along with Two Wallaces , Conlon , Dardis, O Reilly, Toibin , O Connor and O Brien as impacts from the bench.
I think we can deal with injuries but the possible loss of lenihan and Newman well that for me would be turninf it into injury crisis that could stop us staying in div 1. Hopefully Lenihan will be available.


Regards the two Wallaces , I thnk the above statememt is to harsh. Eamon and Joey Wallace and James Conlon would be particularly very good players to bring on in last 15 mins. Very pacey forwards. Eamon at 19 was a revelation for Meath. Formed an excellent duo with Newman in 2013. Remebet he scored 1 - 4 from play v Tyrone in Croker in championship when he was 19. What happened since is injuries. He has had injury problems for years and did his cruciate also which is a potential career finishing injury. He took off last year from inter county. And was excellent as his club won their first senior title. Im delightee he is back. And if he shows thw form he showed in his early Meath career he will be great addition. Remeber he is still only 25. I think there cud be second act in Eamons Meath career. Great to have him back.

Joey was best forward in Meath club football this year. The problem for Joey was he was brought at 19 to play v Dubs in leinster final. He was to young and not physicaly ready to play Dublin. In 2018 when he was last on the panel he played really well at end of 2018 league for Meath. He took last year off and was excellent for Ratoath when they won senior title. Remeber he is only 24. And at 24 Ollie Murphy and Bernard Flynn had still not really made big impact for Meath. It was when Ollie Murphy reached 26 27 that he became one of greatest ever inside forwards for Meath. I think it is great Joey could be back.

Another factor area we need to improve is game management. Slowdown the game when we need to . Last year it was go go go. It meant our defence couldnt get a breather. And by 60 min they were run off their feet. We need to show better game management. A team get a few pointe on us. Someone lies down for a bit. And have a plan move to start the game to score. If we get ahead in last few mins , make sure to kill the game like Donegak did to us twice in the league. Thats the difference between div 1 and div 2 teams , game management.

Also the first three game are huge. The three teams who stayed in div 1 from div 2 in last 10 years all started the league well. Galway won their first three game in 2018 when they in div 1 after being promoted, and Monaghan in 2015 and Roscommon in 2016 ( Roscommon stayed 1 year in div 1 ) won 2 of their first three games. We need a good start. 3 wins , 6 points is the magic number as only 1 team in last ten years were relegated on 6 points, that was Cork. We have 2 of our 3 homes games in our first 3 games. We need wins in our opening 3 games. If we cud just get one win v top team it would give us huge boost.

Tyrone are missing Doneelly and McShane but they are very organised and Omagh is a tough place to win. They are proven div 1 team winning Ulstet finals , reached All Ireland final 2 yeaes ago, and were in semi final last year. We havent beaten Tyrone since 2007. And they hate us , the semi final in 96 is ingrained in their memory and our record v ulster teams is appalling as we have lost 8 times to Ulster teams in championship in last 16 years. I am.open to correctuon but I dont think we have beaten an Ulster team in the league in Ulster since Down in 2015 , which was our first win v Ulster team in Ulster in years. So i think there is chance that we have only beaten 1 Ulstet team in Ulster in the league in last 7 or 8 or 9 years.Thats a shocking record. Beating Tyrone in Omagh would be a massive win. But yes we can do it.

We dont particularly like Tyrone eitheir and we always up our game for them and in last 3 championship meetings Tyrone were lucky to beat us as referee decisions went in their favour in last ten minutes. In 2013 in championship we went toe to toe with Tyrone for 60 mins then Tyrone got two handy frees and won by 2. In 2015 in Omagh in championship we went toe to toe with Tyrone for 60 mins. Tyrone got peno that wasnt a peno and won by 2. In 2018 and again ref decisions went in their favour and they won by 1. We owe Tyrone. We can beat them but it will be very tough. A win in our first game would put us in great position meaning we probaly need 2 wins from our other 5 games to stay in div 1. With 3 homes to come in home. A win v Tyrone would be massive in terms of staying in the league div 1 and a significant landmark win for this young Meath team.

PS Also any news on James Conlon , is he also injured. He had a great season last year and is real prospect.
But overall finally I just want to say because of the return of experienced players and few other factor and feeling in my water, my gut, I believe we will stay in div 1 and will make a bigger impact this year then last year.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 04/01/2020 21:21:46    2257405

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Morris very impressive today for the u20 team against Dublin, wouldn't be surprised to see him getting decent game time with the seniors again. He's definitely up to that standard

bendigo0 (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 04/01/2020 21:38:27    2257407

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Replying To bendigo0:  "Morris very impressive today for the u20 team against Dublin, wouldn't be surprised to see him getting decent game time with the seniors again. He's definitely up to that standard"
Agree was at that game today and he was so lively when he got on the ball, brilliant finish off the post for the goal, great point from play on the loop with his left and a great palm to Keating for his goal. Think he should be left alone and see if he plays well for the 20's but if he has a great championship with them maybe he is a bench option come summer time

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 04/01/2020 23:26:51    2257418

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Good win over laois , played some real good football at times. Two young lads Jack Connor and Matthew Costello played well , Connor took his goal well , but for me Costello was really good. Menton played well at midfield Ronan Jones who came on and played very well. Ronan Jones and Joey Wallace were both named on the bench which was a shock , both were named on the bench which was a great boost.

I dont know the story regards both, but before today I was told Jones will be in the USA in the spring and will return in the summer for good. So he will probaly miss the league. But his return for the championship will be a big boost. We have lacked big men around the middle but return of Brian Conlon, Ronan Jones and Paddy Kennelly ( who also returned today) means they are three big men who can play midfield who we didnt have last year. And the last ten mins v 3 teams in super 8 , I think lack of options at midfield was crucial to our collaspe in last 10 mins v Donegal, Mayo and kerry . Hopefully have these guys back for championship is a big boost. Im not certain if Jones is returning , but if he was avaiable for the league , it would really boost our midfield option. A Brian Menton/ Ronan Jones midfield would be my first choice with Brian Conlon and Kennelly as back up .

I dont know what the situation is with Joey Wallace , but id he was available that would be another boost as he was best inside forward in the club championship. And with Mickey Newman injured , Joey Wallace availablity would be great. A full forward line of 13 Donal lenihan 14 Shane Walsh 15 Joey Wallace looks our best option, if Newman was injured. However injuries are worsening and could be a massive issue for the league. Donal lenihan limped off after 6 mins with injury. Hopefully it wasnt very serious , for if we lose Newman and lenihan for the league, I think that could really damage our league chances. While Shane Walsh was good , if we had our two best inside forwards beside in the full forward line, a lenihan, Walsh, Newman full forward line would trouble div 1 teams.

The return of players like Donal lenihan, Eamon Wallace, Joey Wallace, Ronan Jones and Paddy kennelly added to new young players like Shane Walsh, Matthew Costello and Jack O Connor and other new players like Rob Clarke ( who has had good Bryne cup at corner back ) and Osion O Brien ( who scores always when he comes on. They are ten players we didnt have last year. McEntee is slowly improving the depth of the panel and strenght of the bench. And when we get players bsck from injury hopefully for end of the league and start of champiinship like Lavin , Harnan, Devine , S McEntee and Newman means our sub bench will be substantially stronger last year. It just pity with these injuries , Hopefully lenihan and Campion injuries are short term. But Campion on crutchs is a bad sign. Probaly not a short term injury. That is my main worry but I think we will stay in division 1.

If we had every play fit my team would be but just look at the bench thats a strong bench

1 Dominic Yorke
2 Seamus Lavin
3 Conor McGill
4 Shane Gallagher
5 James McEntee
6 Padraig Harnan
7 Donal keoghan
8 Brian Menton
9 Ronan Jones
10 Cillian Sullivan
11 Byran McMahon
12 Matthew Costello
13 Donal lenihan
14 Shane Walsh
15 Michael Newman
Subs
16 Andy Colgan
17 Robin Clarke
18 Ronan Ryan
19 Ross Ryan
20 Niall kane
21 Gavin McCoy
22 Brian Conlon
23 Paddy kennelly
24 Eamon Wallace
25 Joey Wallace
26 Dara Campion
27 Jack Connor
28 James Conlon
29 Osin O Brien
30 Barry Dardis
31 Thomas O Reilly
32 Sean Toibin
33 Eoin Lynch
34 Ethan Devine
35 Niall kane
36 Ben Brennan

There is serious options on the bench and on match day there will serious competition to get on the bench. I definatley feel our panel when we get players back ftom injury is substantially stronger then last year. like we could have a new goalie this year eg Dominic Yorke, new midfield partner for menton eg Brian Conlon or Ronan Jones , new full forward and new freetaker eg Shane Walsh and new corner forward eg Donal lenihan and new players as potential match day panelist or starters eg Joey Wallace , Eamon Wallace , Robin Clarke, Paddy kennelly , Osin O Brien, Matthew Costello, Jack Connor. And Jordan Morris and Daithi McGowan could also be called up after under 20s finish in the spring. Those 12 players are players that were not available last year. ( I know Walsh played a game v kerry but that was his only game and he missed the whole league and leinster championship only jioned panel in July, he a new player this year). These new players and when we get playere back from injury means our panel should be much stronger this year , thats what I think. Thats why I think we will have good season this year. We will stay in div 1 and make a bigger impact in this years championship then last year.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 05/01/2020 00:47:01    2257431

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Putting 4-16 past any Laois team is a good scoreline. Laois are a good team. I would say the victory over Dublin for the U-20 side is a great result, that makes 3/4 victories in competitive underage matches vs. Dublin in the last 3 seasons. Big progress, well done to all involved; good weekend of results for the Royal county. Roll on the NFL.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 05/01/2020 08:15:11    2257441

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Can't agree with the comparison to Conlon two totally different players. Conlon will star for Meath in future years. The guys only 20. Give him a chance."
Joey and conlon?? They are both pacy corner forwards sure, the exact same type player.... only Joey is far stronger, if you were at the latter stages of the meath senior championship you seen this surely?? And how old day think Joey is?? I'd say 23 max. I like conlon too, but Joey far more suited to senior football at the minute

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 938 - 05/01/2020 08:54:05    2257447

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Is Joey Wallace on the panel? I thought someone here said he is going travelling

meathalltheway (Meath) - Posts: 789 - 05/01/2020 14:17:35    2257510

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Joey and conlon?? They are both pacy corner forwards sure, the exact same type player.... only Joey is far stronger, if you were at the latter stages of the meath senior championship you seen this surely?? And how old day think Joey is?? I'd say 23 max. I like conlon too, but Joey far more suited to senior football at the minute"
Conlon imo has a better eye for scores.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/01/2020 17:18:26    2257553

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Replying To meathalltheway:  "Is Joey Wallace on the panel? I thought someone here said he is going travelling"
Someone did and yes he is on panel.
Don't know if he heading off or not.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/01/2020 17:19:28    2257554

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Conlon imo has a better eye for scores."
Both good young players I feel, both deserve a crack on the panel for the league, if things work out great, if they don't so be it.

Joey didn't have a great time with Meath a few years ago but he was very young and Meath were struggling badly, particularily in the 2nd half of games where the forwards were being starved of possession. The whole team seemed paralyzed for large chunks of matches, it was bizarre and worryingly frequent.

Think we have more options up front with Lenihan back this year to, which is not a bad thing.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 05/01/2020 17:56:40    2257565

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Conlon imo has a better eye for scores."
Colmcilles glasses on with that statement

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1494 - 05/01/2020 17:59:14    2257570

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Replying To Htaem:  "Both good young players I feel, both deserve a crack on the panel for the league, if things work out great, if they don't so be it.

Joey didn't have a great time with Meath a few years ago but he was very young and Meath were struggling badly, particularily in the 2nd half of games where the forwards were being starved of possession. The whole team seemed paralyzed for large chunks of matches, it was bizarre and worryingly frequent.

Think we have more options up front with Lenihan back this year to, which is not a bad thing."
Yeah definitely.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/01/2020 22:26:51    2257632

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Replying To Crinigan:  "Bit harsh.

I'd agree with you on Eamonn, I don't think he's intercounty standard. Hasn't got much football in him in terms of technique etc he's an athletic lad though alright. A bit of a poor man's Graham Reilly for me.

Joey however is undoubtedly inter county class and could be a great addition.

Is Cian O' Brien on panel? I think he has come on a lot and could be decent panel option."
I agree, I would have Cian O'Brien on the panel, athletic and after being a little naive at intermediate level in midfield, he has matured a lot since going senior.
My bad on Colgon, I didn't get to the game but the report had him listed as starting goalie which did surprise me.
Looking forward to the league with the new additions.

Tweety (Meath) - Posts: 31 - 06/01/2020 16:41:56    2257804

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