Meath Forum

Where Do We Go From Here?

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Replying To Young_gael:  "Very well said. A great post.

This is one of the reasons Meath is where it is. You have to be someone to get a shot. You have to play with certain clubs, you have to be related to a past player or such and such a fella in the county cliques, you have to be someone who will fit into the right circles and say all the right things all the time. If youre playing with a club outside these parameters, unless you're unbelievably talented, you may just forget about it. And I hate to drag up this old chestnut again but particularly if youre North West of Kells or South of Oldcastle/ Athboy. The fact that Kiernan is a stalwart on that Cavan side and exemplifies the spirit of that team is an indictment of the selection skullduggery in Meath."
As i said in another post, who are all these players that aren't getting a chance? Especially from north West of Kells and osuth of Oldcastle/Athboy??? Can you name me 2 or 3 lads from there better than whats on the current panel?

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 09/12/2020 13:06:59    2320629

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Replying To brian:  "As i said in another post, who are all these players that aren't getting a chance? Especially from north West of Kells and osuth of Oldcastle/Athboy??? Can you name me 2 or 3 lads from there better than whats on the current panel?"
Frank o reilly carnaross
Michael flood brigids
James reilly gaeil colmcille
Darsgh griffin clan gael
Liam Ferguson gaeilcolmcille
Sean meade nobber

Borderroyal (Meath) - Posts: 496 - 09/12/2020 20:08:38    2320837

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Replying To Borderroyal:  "Frank o reilly carnaross
Michael flood brigids
James reilly gaeil colmcille
Darsgh griffin clan gael
Liam Ferguson gaeilcolmcille
Sean meade nobber"
Its not about naming individuals. I'm not just talking this past year gone, I'm talking over the past 4/5 years. Its no wonder smaller clubs are decimated by lads leaving and not bothering to play anymore. Regional teams are the way forward to discovering this new talent and giving lads an incentive. Throw the regional teams into the senior championship and really give everyone a shot of playing top level football. The future of Meath football depends on it.
Border Royal named a few lads definitely worth a run out and there's more lads that if given the same opportunity would surely be county standard.
Look at the Kerry example sure.

I might be mistaken but wasn't Clifford's club a junior one?

Food for thought.It doesn't matter be it north, south, east or west of the county, Every man deserves a shot of representing their county at top level if they're good enough and willing to give it all. Sick of seeing lads talking down players saying they're not good enough without them being fully trialled out.
Look how the Cavan supporters get behind their players regardless of where they're from. Fair play to them

Thebantersauras (Meath) - Posts: 8 - 09/12/2020 21:24:37    2320871

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Replying To Thebantersauras:  "Its not about naming individuals. I'm not just talking this past year gone, I'm talking over the past 4/5 years. Its no wonder smaller clubs are decimated by lads leaving and not bothering to play anymore. Regional teams are the way forward to discovering this new talent and giving lads an incentive. Throw the regional teams into the senior championship and really give everyone a shot of playing top level football. The future of Meath football depends on it.
Border Royal named a few lads definitely worth a run out and there's more lads that if given the same opportunity would surely be county standard.
Look at the Kerry example sure.

I might be mistaken but wasn't Clifford's club a junior one?

Food for thought.It doesn't matter be it north, south, east or west of the county, Every man deserves a shot of representing their county at top level if they're good enough and willing to give it all. Sick of seeing lads talking down players saying they're not good enough without them being fully trialled out.
Look how the Cavan supporters get behind their players regardless of where they're from. Fair play to them"
Meath supporters absolutely do get behind their players when they are playing for Meath. I loved watching the 2018 minors which had players from Dunderry, Rathkenny, Walterstown, Drumbaragh, Ultans, Moynalty all staring. What a lot of people from south Meath take issue at is people saying these lads at junior clubs are miles better than what's on the panel and we are a soft team because we have lads from urban areas making up a decent portion of the team. I agree that we need all parts of Meath contributing to the senior team. And a few of the guys mentioned like Flood (probably would have been on it if not being in college in Cork), Frank O'Reilly, Mattimoe do deserve a shot. But the reason a lot of players are from the urban areas isn't because the manager has tunnel vision against rural Meath it's because the rural clubs aren't producing the players that they used to. Regional teams would be a fantastic development to help these guys get up to that standard

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 10/12/2020 09:32:46    2320960

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Replying To Thebantersauras:  "Its not about naming individuals. I'm not just talking this past year gone, I'm talking over the past 4/5 years. Its no wonder smaller clubs are decimated by lads leaving and not bothering to play anymore. Regional teams are the way forward to discovering this new talent and giving lads an incentive. Throw the regional teams into the senior championship and really give everyone a shot of playing top level football. The future of Meath football depends on it.
Border Royal named a few lads definitely worth a run out and there's more lads that if given the same opportunity would surely be county standard.
Look at the Kerry example sure.

I might be mistaken but wasn't Clifford's club a junior one?

Food for thought.It doesn't matter be it north, south, east or west of the county, Every man deserves a shot of representing their county at top level if they're good enough and willing to give it all. Sick of seeing lads talking down players saying they're not good enough without them being fully trialled out.
Look how the Cavan supporters get behind their players regardless of where they're from. Fair play to them"
It is about naming lads, it lazy analysis to say a man is ignoring vast swathes of the county and throwing out suggestions of what should be done. You have to work within the bounds of what is in place. Kerry have regional teams and fair play to them. We don't so move along until something like that is considered and ratified. Those same regional teams in Kerry still go back to their clubs and play in the intermediate and junior championships too so then you're talking about player burn out and too many games.

BorderRoyal fair play you did throw out some names and some of those lads have been in and around the panel. I believe all of them have all been in and around the panel at various stages. They've maybe a couple of sessions to impress and they need to grab the bull by the horns. If they don't impress Andy needs move forward. How do we catch a juggernaut like Dublin, or bridge the gap to the top 6 sides if we're giving multiple guys games to impress when they're not doing it in training. Should he do to them what he did to Dominic Yorke and absolutely shatter there confidence.

Andy hasn't been shy in bringing in lads if they're doing it at club level during the championship
2019 - Shane Walsh
2020 - Cathal Hickey, Eoin Harkin, Jordan Morris, Jason Scully

Andy for his faults and he has a few isn't blind to lads doing it at club level from all grades. If they're performing they're brought in and given an opportunity. They should be leaving no stone unturned to make sure Andy doesn't get rid of them.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 10/12/2020 09:58:01    2320969

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I still think that Meath and other Leinster counties should withdraw from the Championship. If picking Meath team to get promoted next year however I would pick the following:

1 G Rogers (about to be released by Dundalk, has played for Meath before outfield, do whatever it takes, to get him in for a year or two.

2 Keoghan (time to go back to pure defending, Dublin full back line are all pure defenders)
3 McGill
4 Gallagher

5 Menton
6 Campion
7 O'Sullivan

8 McBride (in Australia)
9 Flynn

10 Costello
11 S Walsh
12 Jones

13 J Wallace
14 Morris
15 Lenihan

In my opinion, thats a team that should if well organised and coached, be well able to compete for Div 2 promotion.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 10/12/2020 14:37:00    2321054

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Replying To Crinigan:  "I still think that Meath and other Leinster counties should withdraw from the Championship. If picking Meath team to get promoted next year however I would pick the following:

1 G Rogers (about to be released by Dundalk, has played for Meath before outfield, do whatever it takes, to get him in for a year or two.

2 Keoghan (time to go back to pure defending, Dublin full back line are all pure defenders)
3 McGill
4 Gallagher

5 Menton
6 Campion
7 O'Sullivan

8 McBride (in Australia)
9 Flynn

10 Costello
11 S Walsh
12 Jones

13 J Wallace
14 Morris
15 Lenihan

In my opinion, thats a team that should if well organised and coached, be well able to compete for Div 2 promotion."
Jesus you want to replace a 37 year old keeper with a 39 year old one. I dunno if i should post further. A 39 year old keeper who's not the greatest kicker of a ball and who never has been. I've played football with Gary so i know what i'm talking about.

Keoghan you want our best attacking wing back and most impacting player back in the corner. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Lets move along...

Half backs - make what has been ok to good much worse by adding a midfielder, a small guy and a lad who can't defend to it and taking out a nautral centre half back in Ryan or a stopper in Harnan.

Midfield - a guy that's based in Australia gotta be Conor Nash... nope a guy that's not even 21 and barely played senior football...

and at that i give up.

I'm sorry Cringan but you're just not balancing the team at all and setting it up for any kind of success.

One good thing i'll say is i like the idea of Jones at wing forward.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 10/12/2020 17:05:00    2321099

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Replying To brian:  "Jesus you want to replace a 37 year old keeper with a 39 year old one. I dunno if i should post further. A 39 year old keeper who's not the greatest kicker of a ball and who never has been. I've played football with Gary so i know what i'm talking about.

Keoghan you want our best attacking wing back and most impacting player back in the corner. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Lets move along...

Half backs - make what has been ok to good much worse by adding a midfielder, a small guy and a lad who can't defend to it and taking out a nautral centre half back in Ryan or a stopper in Harnan.

Midfield - a guy that's based in Australia gotta be Conor Nash... nope a guy that's not even 21 and barely played senior football...

and at that i give up.

I'm sorry Cringan but you're just not balancing the team at all and setting it up for any kind of success.

One good thing i'll say is i like the idea of Jones at wing forward."
I was thinking that myself when i saw McBride in midfield. Would be a fair commute from Australia every weekend. I wonder would the CB pay him 50 cent a mile

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1012 - 10/12/2020 17:31:16    2321110

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Replying To brian:  "Jesus you want to replace a 37 year old keeper with a 39 year old one. I dunno if i should post further. A 39 year old keeper who's not the greatest kicker of a ball and who never has been. I've played football with Gary so i know what i'm talking about.

Keoghan you want our best attacking wing back and most impacting player back in the corner. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Lets move along...

Half backs - make what has been ok to good much worse by adding a midfielder, a small guy and a lad who can't defend to it and taking out a nautral centre half back in Ryan or a stopper in Harnan.

Midfield - a guy that's based in Australia gotta be Conor Nash... nope a guy that's not even 21 and barely played senior football...

and at that i give up.

I'm sorry Cringan but you're just not balancing the team at all and setting it up for any kind of success.

One good thing i'll say is i like the idea of Jones at wing forward."
Good man Brian! Saved me a few minutes there!!

ASaminthehand (Meath) - Posts: 422 - 10/12/2020 18:07:53    2321122

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Replying To brian:  "Jesus you want to replace a 37 year old keeper with a 39 year old one. I dunno if i should post further. A 39 year old keeper who's not the greatest kicker of a ball and who never has been. I've played football with Gary so i know what i'm talking about.

Keoghan you want our best attacking wing back and most impacting player back in the corner. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Lets move along...

Half backs - make what has been ok to good much worse by adding a midfielder, a small guy and a lad who can't defend to it and taking out a nautral centre half back in Ryan or a stopper in Harnan.

Midfield - a guy that's based in Australia gotta be Conor Nash... nope a guy that's not even 21 and barely played senior football...

and at that i give up.

I'm sorry Cringan but you're just not balancing the team at all and setting it up for any kind of success.

One good thing i'll say is i like the idea of Jones at wing forward."
So instead of the lad playing in goals against Arsenal tonight in the Aviva, who would you put in goals that is from Meath? Who else is at that level regardless of age. Yorke? Burlingham? Over a pro goalkeeper playing at highest level in a true world sport?!

Keoghan wasn't doing much attacking against Dublin was he? He's better marking defender than he is a wing back, I think that is obvious. Maybe you want to watch Toner playing corner back again against Dublin do you? Did you enjoy the humiliation. We had no full back line, it was pathetic. Put your defender in his best position is an obvious place to start.

Sorry how has our half backs like been ok??? Annihilated against Dublin. Our half back line of Shane McEntee and Ronan Ryan!! Are you serious like? That's an ok half back line??? Again, maybe you enjoyed Meath getting embarrassed in croke park if you think that's an ok half back line. O'SULLIVAN is an excellent tackler and would be brilliant breaking from deep and not having his back to goal most of the game with a marker hanging off him. Does Lee Keegan play wing forward? Campion is probably best player on the ball in Meath in terms of vision and creativity. But you're happy with Shane McEntee being our creator though presumably since our half back line is ok. And stopper!!! That made me lol. It's 2020 not 1980, there are mass defenses not burly farmers playing as stoppers.

Midfield. McBride is going nowhere in Oz by all accounts and will be home shortly. Why wouldn't he play midfield, name me a better fielder in Meath?

Is it any wonder we've no coaches in Meath to replace the very average Andy McEntee, all the brains must be in Dublin.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 10/12/2020 18:38:06    2321130

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Replying To brian:  "Jesus you want to replace a 37 year old keeper with a 39 year old one. I dunno if i should post further. A 39 year old keeper who's not the greatest kicker of a ball and who never has been. I've played football with Gary so i know what i'm talking about.

Keoghan you want our best attacking wing back and most impacting player back in the corner. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Lets move along...

Half backs - make what has been ok to good much worse by adding a midfielder, a small guy and a lad who can't defend to it and taking out a nautral centre half back in Ryan or a stopper in Harnan.

Midfield - a guy that's based in Australia gotta be Conor Nash... nope a guy that's not even 21 and barely played senior football...

and at that i give up.

I'm sorry Cringan but you're just not balancing the team at all and setting it up for any kind of success.

One good thing i'll say is i like the idea of Jones at wing forward."
I agree, but who is the small guy in half back?

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 938 - 10/12/2020 18:41:27    2321133

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Replying To brian:  "It is about naming lads, it lazy analysis to say a man is ignoring vast swathes of the county and throwing out suggestions of what should be done. You have to work within the bounds of what is in place. Kerry have regional teams and fair play to them. We don't so move along until something like that is considered and ratified. Those same regional teams in Kerry still go back to their clubs and play in the intermediate and junior championships too so then you're talking about player burn out and too many games.

BorderRoyal fair play you did throw out some names and some of those lads have been in and around the panel. I believe all of them have all been in and around the panel at various stages. They've maybe a couple of sessions to impress and they need to grab the bull by the horns. If they don't impress Andy needs move forward. How do we catch a juggernaut like Dublin, or bridge the gap to the top 6 sides if we're giving multiple guys games to impress when they're not doing it in training. Should he do to them what he did to Dominic Yorke and absolutely shatter there confidence.

Andy hasn't been shy in bringing in lads if they're doing it at club level during the championship
2019 - Shane Walsh
2020 - Cathal Hickey, Eoin Harkin, Jordan Morris, Jason Scully

Andy for his faults and he has a few isn't blind to lads doing it at club level from all grades. If they're performing they're brought in and given an opportunity. They should be leaving no stone unturned to make sure Andy doesn't get rid of them."
Fair enuf but kells lads have been playing well.??
Ballinabrackey lads playing well??
Not as simple as that i know.but just give lads a few sessions then turf them out.my mind not a real chance to impress.looking on at us this year its plain to me our physical size is not paramount to modern football.lot of these teams bar dubs dont have to be brilliant players.but need a bit of guts and tramp to them.cant see that in our midfield for example.you never see menton thunder in to a lad.great player but could be utilised maybe as centre back sweeper role.harry rooney be big addition to us just for kickouts give us a target for lads to break off.again cant get on with andy apparently.

Borderroyal (Meath) - Posts: 496 - 10/12/2020 19:06:07    2321141

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Replying To Crinigan:  "I still think that Meath and other Leinster counties should withdraw from the Championship. If picking Meath team to get promoted next year however I would pick the following:

1 G Rogers (about to be released by Dundalk, has played for Meath before outfield, do whatever it takes, to get him in for a year or two.

2 Keoghan (time to go back to pure defending, Dublin full back line are all pure defenders)
3 McGill
4 Gallagher

5 Menton
6 Campion
7 O'Sullivan

8 McBride (in Australia)
9 Flynn

10 Costello
11 S Walsh
12 Jones

13 J Wallace
14 Morris
15 Lenihan

In my opinion, thats a team that should if well organised and coached, be well able to compete for Div 2 promotion."
Rodgers not the answer in goals, hopefully Harnan and J McEntee will be back to add a bit of steel to halfback line. Has Campion ever played in defence? COS needed further forward,Costello may be an option for midfield, one of the few Meath players I have seen feilding a ball in last few games.Would keep Jones in midfield, this was his first year and needs to be given time to adapt to intercounty football. Would agree with moving Keoghan back into full back line, badly needed there and might give a bit of reassurance to McGill who looks totally devoid of confidence lately, Donal still has a lot to offer but his days bombing forward may be coming to an end. Plus Hickey is a ready made replacement at half back, great engine and has youth on his side. However its your last line ( well organised and coached) that may cause problems for any combination that takes the field.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 10/12/2020 20:09:39    2321163

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Replying To seadog54:  "Rodgers not the answer in goals, hopefully Harnan and J McEntee will be back to add a bit of steel to halfback line. Has Campion ever played in defence? COS needed further forward,Costello may be an option for midfield, one of the few Meath players I have seen feilding a ball in last few games.Would keep Jones in midfield, this was his first year and needs to be given time to adapt to intercounty football. Would agree with moving Keoghan back into full back line, badly needed there and might give a bit of reassurance to McGill who looks totally devoid of confidence lately, Donal still has a lot to offer but his days bombing forward may be coming to an end. Plus Hickey is a ready made replacement at half back, great engine and has youth on his side. However its your last line ( well organised and coached) that may cause problems for any combination that takes the field."
Pluck
Lavin
McGill
Keoghan
J. McEntee
Harnan
Hickey
Jones
Costello
O'Sullivan
Walsh
Scully
Wallace
Morris
Lenihan/Lynch (Have to have specialist freetaker able to score 80% plus within 45m)

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 10/12/2020 20:39:40    2321173

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Pluck
Lavin
McGill
Keoghan
J. McEntee
Harnan
Hickey
Jones
Costello
O'Sullivan
Walsh
Scully
Wallace
Morris
Lenihan/Lynch (Have to have specialist freetaker able to score 80% plus within 45m)"
Decent stab that.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 10/12/2020 21:02:19    2321184

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Replying To Crinigan:  "Decent stab that."
Would like to add a bit more size in forwards with ability to catch marks or as an option for a kickout but think that team is our best to go with. Costello would be a great footballing option at midfield. As honest as Menton is, I think he lacks footballing ability and a football brain. Like Walsh at 11. McMahon is just not strong enough. Still may be an option in the corner. Scully has shown well as has Hickey. They deserve a chance now. If Pluck is in with squad, he needs a run in team plus another two keepers needed. We need to be more direct moving the ball in direction of opposition goals much faster and ditch sweeper system. As mentioned need a specialist freetaker. We have two in squad so one needs to start.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 10/12/2020 22:21:18    2321225

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Pluck
Lavin
McGill
Keoghan
J. McEntee
Harnan
Hickey
Jones
Costello
O'Sullivan
Walsh
Scully
Wallace
Morris
Lenihan/Lynch (Have to have specialist freetaker able to score 80% plus within 45m)"
Looks like a balanced side, I know nothing about keeper, but definately need a change there, bit hard to drop Menton, not at his best in championship this year,

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 12/12/2020 14:56:27    2321576

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Replying To seadog54:  "Looks like a balanced side, I know nothing about keeper, but definately need a change there, bit hard to drop Menton, not at his best in championship this year,"
It does seem harsh to drop Menton but I'm looking at the team as a whole and we desperately need a footballing play maker style footballer at midfield which I think Costello could be and Jones has been very promising as a traditional style midfielder. Harnan and McEntee were big losses this year too. No need to discuss keeper issue an further. Looking for big improvement from full-backline.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 15/12/2020 15:26:35    2322653

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Where do we go from here ? It has to be crystal clear to all that the answer has to be STOP and take stock. I suggest in all probability we are operating with the best playing panel available at present. I also suggest long standing issues mainly around coaching in several key areas are not showing evidence of progress.....EXAMPLES 1 The goalkeeping and kickout strategy SHAMBLES. 2. Fielding throughout the team..3 FREETAKING. Why no consistency here ? 4 Forward play why so little anticipation shown amongst our forwards in particular ? (out in front of the defender to exploit the open space just like Dublin do and Stephen Bray did for Meath) 5.. Tackling (several players just seem half hearted in winning back posession etc.)
Plus several other areas where like the above areas proper coaching yields better results. Same applies developing mental toughness through confidence building etc. How many goalkeepers tried up to now? stick with say 2 or 3 and give them a chance to develop again through proper coaching same with free taker i
We are way behind in coaching and team management generally. Andy Mc Entee as manager carries the can here. GET HELP We need it! If these areas are not seen as a priority at a training session . Then what are training sessions for ?..Training sessions are about quality firstly, and not just quantity. Our players deserve that.

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 15/12/2020 17:25:52    2322680

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Replying To nobull456:  "Where do we go from here ? It has to be crystal clear to all that the answer has to be STOP and take stock. I suggest in all probability we are operating with the best playing panel available at present. I also suggest long standing issues mainly around coaching in several key areas are not showing evidence of progress.....EXAMPLES 1 The goalkeeping and kickout strategy SHAMBLES. 2. Fielding throughout the team..3 FREETAKING. Why no consistency here ? 4 Forward play why so little anticipation shown amongst our forwards in particular ? (out in front of the defender to exploit the open space just like Dublin do and Stephen Bray did for Meath) 5.. Tackling (several players just seem half hearted in winning back posession etc.)
Plus several other areas where like the above areas proper coaching yields better results. Same applies developing mental toughness through confidence building etc. How many goalkeepers tried up to now? stick with say 2 or 3 and give them a chance to develop again through proper coaching same with free taker i
We are way behind in coaching and team management generally. Andy Mc Entee as manager carries the can here. GET HELP We need it! If these areas are not seen as a priority at a training session . Then what are training sessions for ?..Training sessions are about quality firstly, and not just quantity. Our players deserve that."
Agreed. I think tactically and skill wise, this Meath team is really underselling itself. Traditionally Meath players had some of the best kickers and fielders in the country. The tendency now is for alot of our players to play with their heads down.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 15/12/2020 21:25:55    2322756

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