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I have seen a few Meath best team threads on Facebook but I'm not gone on the way they are organised. This is more just pick a dream 15, switch positions around if need be. Only pick from players you have seen play live.
My team (started going to games in 1984)
1. Sullivan, 2. O'Malley, 3. Lyons, 4. Fay (I know he didn't play there but can't leave him out), 5. Geraghty (best position was as a attacking half back IMO), 6. Harnan, 7. O'Connell, 8. McDermott, 9. McEntee (not as stylish as Hayes but more realable), Dowd (he was better in ff line but good here also), 11 Giles, 12. Bray (he was better in ff line but good here also), 13. O'Rourke, 14. Stafford, 15. Flynn.
I have had to leave out a lot of top All Ireland winning players.
I would have liked to get in more players in since our last All Ireland win (I have only Bray, best player to play for Meath since last All Ireland win IMO) but it was just too hard- (Ward and Sheridan on their day could be brilliant but lacked consistency, Kevin Reilly very good but injury prone, Keoghegan missed out as I just remember how good a half back Geraghty was before his move to the forwards in 96, Brian Farrell used to score a lot, Menton very good, Graham Reilly could be great but not always in big or close games).
Anyone else care to pick dream Meath 15 based on players you have seen playing live ?
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1402 - 04/04/2020 12:09:52
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Replying To bdbuddah: "I have seen a few Meath best team threads on Facebook but I'm not gone on the way they are organised. This is more just pick a dream 15, switch positions around if need be. Only pick from players you have seen play live.
My team (started going to games in 1984)
1. Sullivan, 2. O'Malley, 3. Lyons, 4. Fay (I know he didn't play there but can't leave him out), 5. Geraghty (best position was as a attacking half back IMO), 6. Harnan, 7. O'Connell, 8. McDermott, 9. McEntee (not as stylish as Hayes but more realable), Dowd (he was better in ff line but good here also), 11 Giles, 12. Bray (he was better in ff line but good here also), 13. O'Rourke, 14. Stafford, 15. Flynn.
I have had to leave out a lot of top All Ireland winning players.
I would have liked to get in more players in since our last All Ireland win (I have only Bray, best player to play for Meath since last All Ireland win IMO) but it was just too hard- (Ward and Sheridan on their day could be brilliant but lacked consistency, Kevin Reilly very good but injury prone, Keoghegan missed out as I just remember how good a half back Geraghty was before his move to the forwards in 96, Brian Farrell used to score a lot, Menton very good, Graham Reilly could be great but not always in big or close games).
Anyone else care to pick dream Meath 15 based on players you have seen playing live ?" Yeh agreed with one exception.......Keoghan has to be in the team Mr Consistency . Liam Harnan looses out ,a really tough defender , but Keoghan had /has more strings to his bow in my view. I might also give a draw betewwen Jack Quinn and Mick Lyons. I clearly recall Quinns exibition of full back play against Jimmy Keaveney in 75 league final. Agree also Kevin Reilly when fit a good player indeed. Yes Bray..we could do with a couple of his type now. vision,anticipation another class player.
nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 04/04/2020 15:49:06
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1. Sullivan (Gallagher unlucky)
2. O Malley
3. Lyons. (Fay very unlucky)
4. Mark O Reilly.
5. Keoghan
6. Geraghty
7.O Connell
8. Hayes
9. McDermott (Mc Entee unlucky)
10. Giles
11. O Rourke
12. Dowd
13. Brendan Reilly
14. Stafford
15. Flynn
Greensheen (Meath) - Posts: 58 - 07/04/2020 17:52:15
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1. Sullivan
2.R O Malley
3. D Fay
4. M O Reilly.
5. Geraghty
6. Keoghan
7.O Connell
8 .L Hayes
9 . J McDermott
10. T Giles
11.C O Rourke
12. S Bray
13. O Murphy
14. B Stafford
15. Flynn
Include any of : Lyons, Harnan, McManus,Kenny, McEntee, Crawford Dowd, B Reilly,K Rennicks and J Cassells and it would not weaken team.
All great players and have been lucky to see them all play.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 07/04/2020 20:11:44
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1 o Sullivan
2.R O Malley
3. J Quinn
4. M Lyons
5. Harnan
6. Keoghan
7.O Connell
8 .G mcentee
9 . J McDermott
10. g Reilly
11. Giles
12. S Bray
13. Geraghty
14. Orouke
15. Flynn
Lot of notable admissions that could easily swap with any of these apart from geraghty orouke and O'Connell , they'd be 3 certs.
And a lot out of position.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 08/04/2020 10:43:09
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1. C O'Sullivan.
2. R O'Malley.
3. D Fay.
4. M Lyons.
5. G Geraghty.
6. B Cunningham.
7. M O'Connell.
8. J Quinn.
9. J McDermott,
10. K Rennicks.
11. M Kerrigan.
12. T Giles.
13. C O'Rourke
14. B Stafford.
15. O Murphy.
Subs: B Murphy, D Keoghan, P Reynolds (Senior), J Cassells, T Brennan, T Dowd.
Unlucky: M McQuillan, M O'Reilly, P Collier, M Dunican, D Beggy, B Flynn.
MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1080 - 08/04/2020 12:19:17
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Anyone omitting Brian Stafford needs a boot in the arse. That man dragged us over the line in games we'd no right to win.
I'Il have a go at this and not picking players to fit them into the team ala Lyons/Fay
Brendan Murphy - under appreciated as he played with bad teams. Given he spent his prime playing soccer he could've been up there as one of the best ever if he'd stayed on in Meath. We might never have had Conor Martin or Sully
Robbie O'Malley
Mick Lyons
Donal Keoghan- better than Terry Ferguson and spud Murphy. Able to also drive up the pitch in the modern game which neither of those boys could as man marking corner backs.
Geraghty - his best position, attacking teams with acres of room ahead of him. If he was playing today as a 21/22 year old he'd be spoken of as one of the best players in the country.
Harnan
O'Connell
McDermott
Hayes
Giles - made for the modern game, went back into defence, quarter backed teams, linked everything. Made wing half forward cool 15years before Paul Flynn did
Dowd - couldn't omit the legend.
Gillic - ideal player to drop into midfield and help out, could win his own ball, well able to score and was as hard as nails. Had a huge engine on him and was under the radar on a great team
O'Rourke
Stafford
Flynn
Subs - Sully, mark O'Reilly, Darren Fay, Terry Ferguson, paddy Reynolds, Gerry mc, mattie McCabe, Brendan Reilly, stephen bray, Ollie Murphy
Unlucky - Kevin Reilly, Kevin Foley, Colm Coyle,Seamus Kenny, Nigel Crawford, Joe Cassels, Graham Reilly, Cian Ward, Joe Sheridan, Evan Kelly
Give them a couple of years - Seamus Lavin, Shane Walsh both are becoming top class footballers, I'd consider automatic picks
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 09/04/2020 12:38:28
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Replying To royaldunne: "1 o Sullivan
2.R O Malley
3. J Quinn
4. M Lyons
5. Harnan
6. Keoghan
7.O Connell
8 .G mcentee
9 . J McDermott
10. g Reilly
11. Giles
12. S Bray
13. Geraghty
14. Orouke
15. Flynn
Lot of notable admissions that could easily swap with any of these apart from geraghty orouke and O'Connell , they'd be 3 certs.
And a lot out of position." Wow royaldunne, you have a few more years than I thought, did not think you would have seen Jack Quinn play live. By all accounts Jack Quinn, for those who saw him play could not be left out. For me about 10 players would be nailed on to be in the team. Would you not regard Trevor Giles as a certain pick, for me he was possibly the best player of Boylans '96 to '01 era team ?
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1402 - 09/04/2020 15:20:23
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Replying To bdbuddah: "Wow royaldunne, you have a few more years than I thought, did not think you would have seen Jack Quinn play live. By all accounts Jack Quinn, for those who saw him play could not be left out. For me about 10 players would be nailed on to be in the team. Would you not regard Trevor Giles as a certain pick, for me he was possibly the best player of Boylans '96 to '01 era team ?" Saw Jack Quinn play both midfield and more often as full back, a fantastic competitor and great fielder of the ball, Mick Lyons had same qualities but slightly the better footballer. However Darren Fay in my opinion had all these qualities together with a great awareness, reading the game and used possession very well. In truth all class acts.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 09/04/2020 17:35:32
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Replying To seadog54: "Saw Jack Quinn play both midfield and more often as full back, a fantastic competitor and great fielder of the ball, Mick Lyons had same qualities but slightly the better footballer. However Darren Fay in my opinion had all these qualities together with a great awareness, reading the game and used possession very well. In truth all class acts." I would have Fay or McGill over Lyons
bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1807 - 09/04/2020 20:30:17
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Replying To bdbuddah: "Wow royaldunne, you have a few more years than I thought, did not think you would have seen Jack Quinn play live. By all accounts Jack Quinn, for those who saw him play could not be left out. For me about 10 players would be nailed on to be in the team. Would you not regard Trevor Giles as a certain pick, for me he was possibly the best player of Boylans '96 to '01 era team ?" Had a cut out of him from a paper on my wall.
First idol I saw, later in his career mind you, but I genuinely was in awe of him
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/04/2020 20:49:08
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Replying To bdbuddah: "Wow royaldunne, you have a few more years than I thought, did not think you would have seen Jack Quinn play live. By all accounts Jack Quinn, for those who saw him play could not be left out. For me about 10 players would be nailed on to be in the team. Would you not regard Trevor Giles as a certain pick, for me he was possibly the best player of Boylans '96 to '01 era team ?" In hindsight yes I would, I can't see a beat tram not including Giles.
royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/04/2020 20:52:31
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Replying To seadog54: "Saw Jack Quinn play both midfield and more often as full back, a fantastic competitor and great fielder of the ball, Mick Lyons had same qualities but slightly the better footballer. However Darren Fay in my opinion had all these qualities together with a great awareness, reading the game and used possession very well. In truth all class acts." I never saw Jack Quinn play.
Fay and Lyons were, for me quite different players. Lyons was a better fielder of the ball by a good bit. He dominated the square better than any other full back I can remember. Fay was just a brilliant defender. So often a ball good ball would come in to the full forward and just as he was about to catch it Fay would get a hand in to push the ball away. Often he was on players who were quicker than him but they could not take advantage of it as Fays positioning and anticipation was just too good. He was big and strong also. Despite how good Fay was I would have to pick Lyons ahead of Fay at 3. His dominance around the square and the way he played made him a huge leader who got team mates/ supporters up for the games. He always was at his best in the big games.
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1402 - 09/04/2020 22:52:57
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Replying To royaldunne: "Had a cut out of him from a paper on my wall.
First idol I saw, later in his career mind you, but I genuinely was in awe of him" That reminds me of my father's old family house. He had an old news paper cutting that he put up after the 67 final and was still left up years later. The headline was 'High jumping Jack beats em all'.
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1402 - 09/04/2020 23:05:43
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Replying To bert09: "I would have Fay or McGill over Lyons" Mc Gill over Lyons. Specsavers couldn't do anything for you. Ludicrous. Better club and county full back. Better footballer. Better fielder. Opposition feared him. Lyons all the way.
Greensheen (Meath) - Posts: 58 - 10/04/2020 09:48:22
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I had the pleasure of seeing Jack Quinn play both midfield and full back. Jack was really an accidental full back as he played midfield until 1966. Prior to that Jack was midfield with his brother Martin full back. Martin was given a 48 week holiday following the 1965 Co Final and Jack took over at No 3, he was a defender as a young lad on an All Ireland winning Junior team in 1962. He turned out to be a really wonderful fullback and gave many wonderful displays there. His performances against Westmeath and Mick Carley in '67 and against Kerry in 1970 were textbook fullback play. But what emphasised what we missed as a midfielder was exemplified in 1971 against Kildare. Pat Mangan dominated midfield during the first three quarters of the game that day until the Mighty Quinn moved to midfield and the previously dominant Mangan was reduced to dragging Jack to the ground every time he expertly grabbed EVERY ball around the center and tried to surge forward....if only there was a black card then. Incidentally Jack's position at fullback was taken over by the late Henry Callaghan from Dunderry that day.
MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1080 - 10/04/2020 11:11:49
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Replying To MillerX: "I had the pleasure of seeing Jack Quinn play both midfield and full back. Jack was really an accidental full back as he played midfield until 1966. Prior to that Jack was midfield with his brother Martin full back. Martin was given a 48 week holiday following the 1965 Co Final and Jack took over at No 3, he was a defender as a young lad on an All Ireland winning Junior team in 1962. He turned out to be a really wonderful fullback and gave many wonderful displays there. His performances against Westmeath and Mick Carley in '67 and against Kerry in 1970 were textbook fullback play. But what emphasised what we missed as a midfielder was exemplified in 1971 against Kildare. Pat Mangan dominated midfield during the first three quarters of the game that day until the Mighty Quinn moved to midfield and the previously dominant Mangan was reduced to dragging Jack to the ground every time he expertly grabbed EVERY ball around the center and tried to surge forward....if only there was a black card then. Incidentally Jack's position at fullback was taken over by the late Henry Callaghan from Dunderry that day." Anyone here read the book '4 kings'?, It's basically a book about great Meath Full Backs. It is interviews with Paddy O'Brien, Jack Quinn, Mick Lyons and Darren Fay. It's a good read. It talks about Martin, Jack (and a third brother) playing for Meath. Martin was a tough man.
bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1402 - 10/04/2020 11:56:52
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Replying To Greensheen: "Mc Gill over Lyons. Specsavers couldn't do anything for you. Ludicrous. Better club and county full back. Better footballer. Better fielder. Opposition feared him. Lyons all the way." McGill has a long way to go before he reaches the level of Fay,Lyons, Quinn or Kevin Reilly.
seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 10/04/2020 14:26:02
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In fairness to Mc Guill he is good. promising. Cannot be compared to other "great" full backs (great= the ability to consistenly demonstrate outstanding ability against top class opposition, especially when chips are down...mainly in championship) . I saw them all play all in different eras ..... making comparisons more subjective
My memories....... Paddy "hands O Brien...
Strong and outstanding high fielder which was a key feature of full back, especially in that era......different game then! Quinn ...born midfielder who successfully adapted to becoming outstanding full back. Gave some exibitions of full back role at the time. Earned the nickname the MIGHTY Quinn . Lyons...fearless teak tough full back..Commanding figure . Hated is some quarters because he was fearless....Leader...one you want in the trenches with you Focuss was too often on his toughness, rather than giving him full credit for his football brain which he demontrated so often....Fay another gem.mobile,great anticipation, and great reader of the game. strong commanding figure
Kevin Reilly top cass full back....injury prone denied him the opportunity to reach his full potential for a long period.thus unfair to compare. Mc Gill does not have enough miles on the clock against top class opposition YETJ
All the above wore /wear the jersey with pride. They all demontrated that typical Meath qualities of no nonsense,determined never say die attitude. together with th football skills required at top level They can all look back with pride . Thanks lads for the memories !
nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 10/04/2020 15:55:54
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M McQuillan
R O Malley : D Fay : M O Connell
G Geraghty: L Harnan: C Coyle
G McEntee & J McDermot
T Giles :C O Rourke : T Dowd
O Murphy: B Stafford: B Flynn
royalpad (Meath) - Posts: 46 - 10/04/2020 17:08:33
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