Meath Forum

Meath Vs Kildare Promotion Playoff

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So it's Kildare in Newbridge in 2 weeks' time. It's the biggest game of our year by a mile. Newman back with some game time could be massive if he comes on in the second half. Kildare have some good talent and good performances in them, but they also have a flakey streak and can lose games they should be winning. They've 3 or 4 guys from their all Ireland winning under 20 team in 2018 are now starting games. But if Harnan could negate Feely and Lavin could keep tabs on Jimmy Hyland then it will go a long way to getting us the victory

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 31/05/2021 13:53:42    2346961

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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99:  "So it's Kildare in Newbridge in 2 weeks' time. It's the biggest game of our year by a mile. Newman back with some game time could be massive if he comes on in the second half. Kildare have some good talent and good performances in them, but they also have a flakey streak and can lose games they should be winning. They've 3 or 4 guys from their all Ireland winning under 20 team in 2018 are now starting games. But if Harnan could negate Feely and Lavin could keep tabs on Jimmy Hyland then it will go a long way to getting us the victory"
huge game not just form the point of view of what is obviously on offer for the winner....but equally it will tell who learned more form last years game. was it the real Kildare in the first half , or the real meath in the second.....the Kildare game/result last year has sustained us more than most others....so, to reaffirm that with a solid performance & a win...and Andy buys himself time & headspace.....

Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 31/05/2021 14:16:04    2346977

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Would have preferred navan. But it should have been a neutral venue.
That been said we should win. We are a better overall unit than Kildare.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 31/05/2021 14:58:50    2347005

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So according to League Sunday last night the GAA wanted home and away fixtures in the league promotion/relegation semi finals to avoid excess travel and yet now some ties are at neutral venues "by agreement", this gets more laughable by the day, some teams having home advantage and some at neutral venues, I don't see how this can be classed as fair in anyone's book. Regarding the match we are well capable of winning if we play to our strengths, Kildare normally raise their game for Meath abs no doubt they will again but I believe overall we have more quality.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3744 - 31/05/2021 16:11:32    2347060

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Replying To Richieq:  "So according to League Sunday last night the GAA wanted home and away fixtures in the league promotion/relegation semi finals to avoid excess travel and yet now some ties are at neutral venues "by agreement", this gets more laughable by the day, some teams having home advantage and some at neutral venues, I don't see how this can be classed as fair in anyone's book. Regarding the match we are well capable of winning if we play to our strengths, Kildare normally raise their game for Meath abs no doubt they will again but I believe overall we have more quality."
Agree with all points Richie. Let's just go and do the job.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 31/05/2021 19:04:08    2347137

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Is extra time being played in the event of draw?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1807 - 31/05/2021 19:41:30    2347150

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Replying To bert09:  "Is extra time being played in the event of draw?"
Presumably

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 31/05/2021 20:36:27    2347174

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Severe banana skin, id say we are on par with Kildare, no supporters is a bonus so venue should not matter.

The midfield battle will decide this IMO and I think we are underdogs in this area.

I would be more hopeful than confident

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1073 - 04/06/2021 14:41:35    2348220

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Last year in the championship it was a mad game. Its extremely difficult to take a lot out of that game. I actually thought up until half time that Kildare were going to win it. It was a fairly slow and labourious game to sit through and Meath were finding it hard to take their points. We looked stodgy and languid and sloppy and devoid of creativity or ideas. Us at our worst really.

Meath then re-emerged from the tunnel at half time and scored 3/4 total freak goals and killed the game before the hour mark. Dodgy kick-outs and being alert for a possible goal on the hop. Set move stuff. Self-destruction also from Kildare. We also looked, to my eye, fitter and better conditioned for the game at that level. I thought Kildare lost the wind in their sails once Meath started scoring goals and they fell asunder in a big way. Once they lost a player to a red card late on it summed up a very bad day at the office. Meath went up, rounded the keeper, and scored a fifth and it was curtains. Pantomime stuff. Remarkably it wasnt even a good Meath performance that won the day. 5-09 to 0-15 is not in any way an accurate measure or comparison of both sides. That game was a total fluke.

I think, irregardless of what came after, that victory was one of our most important under the current management regardless of the nature of the game, and backing it up with another win over this opposition would be positive. Kildare had a major advantage over Meath for much of the mid-late 10's and for some reason they haven't pushed on and established themselves as a top side in that period, even though id believe they have some of the individuals needed and a top class manager in JOC. They're always a bit of an enigma - capable of matching up to anyone when they get it right or capitulating to total minnows (motivation? Mindset?). They can be very serious in what they're doing or they can be shockingly amatuerish. Id say without question that Kildare are pound for pound the biggest underacheivers in the game, going by population alone. That also makes them the biggest basket cases by the same logic. but one thing's for sure when they're playing Meath all bets are off and we will need to perform to beat them (bar last year when they beat themselves in the most bizarre ways possible).
I still back our boys in this game. I think we'll get the win.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 05/06/2021 05:42:59    2348339

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Replying To Young_gael:  "Last year in the championship it was a mad game. Its extremely difficult to take a lot out of that game. I actually thought up until half time that Kildare were going to win it. It was a fairly slow and labourious game to sit through and Meath were finding it hard to take their points. We looked stodgy and languid and sloppy and devoid of creativity or ideas. Us at our worst really.

Meath then re-emerged from the tunnel at half time and scored 3/4 total freak goals and killed the game before the hour mark. Dodgy kick-outs and being alert for a possible goal on the hop. Set move stuff. Self-destruction also from Kildare. We also looked, to my eye, fitter and better conditioned for the game at that level. I thought Kildare lost the wind in their sails once Meath started scoring goals and they fell asunder in a big way. Once they lost a player to a red card late on it summed up a very bad day at the office. Meath went up, rounded the keeper, and scored a fifth and it was curtains. Pantomime stuff. Remarkably it wasnt even a good Meath performance that won the day. 5-09 to 0-15 is not in any way an accurate measure or comparison of both sides. That game was a total fluke.

I think, irregardless of what came after, that victory was one of our most important under the current management regardless of the nature of the game, and backing it up with another win over this opposition would be positive. Kildare had a major advantage over Meath for much of the mid-late 10's and for some reason they haven't pushed on and established themselves as a top side in that period, even though id believe they have some of the individuals needed and a top class manager in JOC. They're always a bit of an enigma - capable of matching up to anyone when they get it right or capitulating to total minnows (motivation? Mindset?). They can be very serious in what they're doing or they can be shockingly amatuerish. Id say without question that Kildare are pound for pound the biggest underacheivers in the game, going by population alone. That also makes them the biggest basket cases by the same logic. but one thing's for sure when they're playing Meath all bets are off and we will need to perform to beat them (bar last year when they beat themselves in the most bizarre ways possible).
I still back our boys in this game. I think we'll get the win."
I agree, we'll win. But I see it being the usual way meath go about their business these days, win without being overly impressive, wearing teams down with our superior conditioning. This has been the case against everyone bar the top 5 teams. In relation to Last year's win, I hear alot of people saying it was only for our freak goals. Were all bar 1 not well worked, and the other great pressurising by Jones to disposses the kildare full back line??? Meath always have about 5 goal chances a game anyway, it's just the fact that we took them all that day. Kildare were punch drunk by 55 mins anyway so we were winning that game one way or another. And by all accounts, they aren't much better in that department this year either, altho seem to have tightened up a bit at the back. I expect our full back line to be very good and right a few wrongs from last year as it was their worst ever game as a unit relative to opposition. Win that battle and we win, as kildare don't have the running game or long range point scorers to trouble us.

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 938 - 05/06/2021 13:10:39    2348397

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "I agree, we'll win. But I see it being the usual way meath go about their business these days, win without being overly impressive, wearing teams down with our superior conditioning. This has been the case against everyone bar the top 5 teams. In relation to Last year's win, I hear alot of people saying it was only for our freak goals. Were all bar 1 not well worked, and the other great pressurising by Jones to disposses the kildare full back line??? Meath always have about 5 goal chances a game anyway, it's just the fact that we took them all that day. Kildare were punch drunk by 55 mins anyway so we were winning that game one way or another. And by all accounts, they aren't much better in that department this year either, altho seem to have tightened up a bit at the back. I expect our full back line to be very good and right a few wrongs from last year as it was their worst ever game as a unit relative to opposition. Win that battle and we win, as kildare don't have the running game or long range point scorers to trouble us."
Watched two Kildare games this year and they have tightened up in defence and look a decent enough team, but a bit like ourselves they are prone to unforced errors. Clare had a very well organised defence and Kildare struggled to break them down,Clare gave them no room to play in quick ball into f/f line which they did to good effect against Meath last year..Agree, this is where game will be won/lost and expect them to try same tatic next week as our full back line is still vulnerable in this area. That third goal against Mayo should have sounded the alarm bells, full back beaten way too easily when one on one with Mayo forward. We know what to expect and if this area is sorted (sweeper or not such a big gap between h/b and f/b lines) we can win.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 05/06/2021 21:55:25    2348537

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We will win in my view. And continue our progress. Have learned how to win these type of games.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/06/2021 20:10:15    2348700

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Big game for Meath. We can become the next yo-yo League team but this is a tricky fixture. We have somehow beat Kildare last few times. Championship last year looked bleak at half time but Kildare crumbled and in the League in 2019 we snuck a win.
Cant see us winning Sunday and if so a real set back to Meath. This is our biggest game of the year and our only real hope of success as a win here will leave us feeling 2021 was a success as everyone knows Leinster success is not on the horizon

Brownepat (Meath) - Posts: 532 - 09/06/2021 09:50:38    2349151

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This is a huge game for this management team and players and will be key to how they progress over the next couple of years. Andy has to absolutely nail this game 100%, no half ****ing it, everything needs on point and considered. Kick out's need to be intelligent, played to a man with time to move it on, players need to give Colgan options to play the ball to them and not get swallowed up by Kildare player. Free taking needs to be sorted out, no throwing the ball to someone hoping and praying for something to work. Surely you start Newman for this and have him and Morris taking free's from alternate sides. Leave Colgan in goal and trust the two boys with them. Team selection will be vital and for this game i would be starting Donal Keoghan as a man marker on Hyland. Don't allow them a sniff of an opportunity in this game, put the foot on their collective throats and don't let off.

Not sure what team they will go with but I'd consider something like this

Colgan, Lavin, McGill, Ryan, Hickey, McEntee, Keoghan, Menton, Harnan, Costello, McMahon, O'Sullivan, Conlon, Newman, Morris

And playing in a system like this

--------------Colgan-----------------
Lavin-------McGill-----Keoghan
----------------Ryan------------------
Hickey---McEntee-----Costello
-----Harnan-----Menton---------
Banty------McMahon------Sully
----Newman-------Morris--------

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 09/06/2021 10:45:32    2349159

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Replying To brian:  "This is a huge game for this management team and players and will be key to how they progress over the next couple of years. Andy has to absolutely nail this game 100%, no half ****ing it, everything needs on point and considered. Kick out's need to be intelligent, played to a man with time to move it on, players need to give Colgan options to play the ball to them and not get swallowed up by Kildare player. Free taking needs to be sorted out, no throwing the ball to someone hoping and praying for something to work. Surely you start Newman for this and have him and Morris taking free's from alternate sides. Leave Colgan in goal and trust the two boys with them. Team selection will be vital and for this game i would be starting Donal Keoghan as a man marker on Hyland. Don't allow them a sniff of an opportunity in this game, put the foot on their collective throats and don't let off.

Not sure what team they will go with but I'd consider something like this

Colgan, Lavin, McGill, Ryan, Hickey, McEntee, Keoghan, Menton, Harnan, Costello, McMahon, O'Sullivan, Conlon, Newman, Morris

And playing in a system like this

--------------Colgan-----------------
Lavin-------McGill-----Keoghan
----------------Ryan------------------
Hickey---McEntee-----Costello
-----Harnan-----Menton---------
Banty------McMahon------Sully
----Newman-------Morris--------"
I think that's nearly the team.
I agree it's our most important game. And then we will all have to admit that not letting any of the main players getting injured against mayo was the right call for management to make. Otherwise it will be the end of Andy I fear.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/06/2021 14:23:29    2349210

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I think that's nearly the team.
I agree it's our most important game. And then we will all have to admit that not letting any of the main players getting injured against mayo was the right call for management to make. Otherwise it will be the end of Andy I fear."
guys.....we are missing the point about the Line-out for Mayo
lads are going "hell for leather" every Tuesday & Thursday at training...they are as likely to get injured on a Tuesday as they were in a competitive game. I really hope Andy's level of thought process is higher than thinking that he would hold back some players ....as they are Too important " to get injured?.
Well then what would it mean then by bringing on McEntee Harnan & Keoghan at half time say? ……
The issue about the Line out against Mayo is simply this.....Andy sent out a far too inexperienced 15 initially.....
and then when it started to unravel...he tried to shore it up
Final point....To me irrespective of the result Sunday ….its all about how He/We approach game, how we perform, whether we can see progression form say the Westmeath & Down Games ….and iff all of that is positive ...and we still lose...so be it
When the jazuz will we stop just looking at the bloody scoreboard

Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 403 - 09/06/2021 14:39:29    2349215

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Replying To royaldunne:  "I think that's nearly the team.
I agree it's our most important game. And then we will all have to admit that not letting any of the main players getting injured against mayo was the right call for management to make. Otherwise it will be the end of Andy I fear."
Good Selection nothing wrong with it but I think Andy McEntee will go with

1. Colgan
2 Lavin
3 McGill
4 Ryan
5. Hickey
6 S MEntee
7 Keoghan
8 Harnan
9 Menton
10 Devin e
11 Mcmahon
12 Costello
13 Morris
14 Newman
15 Sullivan

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 09/06/2021 14:45:36    2349217

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Replying To brian:  "This is a huge game for this management team and players and will be key to how they progress over the next couple of years. Andy has to absolutely nail this game 100%, no half ****ing it, everything needs on point and considered. Kick out's need to be intelligent, played to a man with time to move it on, players need to give Colgan options to play the ball to them and not get swallowed up by Kildare player. Free taking needs to be sorted out, no throwing the ball to someone hoping and praying for something to work. Surely you start Newman for this and have him and Morris taking free's from alternate sides. Leave Colgan in goal and trust the two boys with them. Team selection will be vital and for this game i would be starting Donal Keoghan as a man marker on Hyland. Don't allow them a sniff of an opportunity in this game, put the foot on their collective throats and don't let off.

Not sure what team they will go with but I'd consider something like this

Colgan, Lavin, McGill, Ryan, Hickey, McEntee, Keoghan, Menton, Harnan, Costello, McMahon, O'Sullivan, Conlon, Newman, Morris

And playing in a system like this

--------------Colgan-----------------
Lavin-------McGill-----Keoghan
----------------Ryan------------------
Hickey---McEntee-----Costello
-----Harnan-----Menton---------
Banty------McMahon------Sully
----Newman-------Morris--------"
If you are playing a system like that you can't have Morris, Newman and James Conlon all starting as they are all inside forwards and none of them have the ability or adaptability to play anywhere else at this level bar the full-forward line. I would have Jack O'Connor here. Devine is another option, but apart from being an option from kick-outs i think O'Connor offers more. Another option is trying Thomas O'Reilly out here who might offer a good mix between attack, defence and being a kick-out option.

Lavin is more than capable of marking Hyland and we need Keoghan playing wing-back as he creates so much going forward and is a great runner.

Kildares biggest threat will be Feely if he is playing as a number 14. His battle with McGill will be massive in determining the outcome of this game.

Hopefully another big performance and a similar result our game vs Kildare last year, but i think it will go down to the wire with Meath pulling through at the end. Meath by 2!

DMman (Meath) - Posts: 17 - 09/06/2021 14:47:28    2349218

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Replying To DMman:  "If you are playing a system like that you can't have Morris, Newman and James Conlon all starting as they are all inside forwards and none of them have the ability or adaptability to play anywhere else at this level bar the full-forward line. I would have Jack O'Connor here. Devine is another option, but apart from being an option from kick-outs i think O'Connor offers more. Another option is trying Thomas O'Reilly out here who might offer a good mix between attack, defence and being a kick-out option.

Lavin is more than capable of marking Hyland and we need Keoghan playing wing-back as he creates so much going forward and is a great runner.

Kildares biggest threat will be Feely if he is playing as a number 14. His battle with McGill will be massive in determining the outcome of this game.

Hopefully another big performance and a similar result our game vs Kildare last year, but i think it will go down to the wire with Meath pulling through at the end. Meath by 2!"
Newman could play any position from 8 onwards. He plays at centre half forward mainly for Kilmainham as he's able to kick pass and influence a game. In 2019 Leinster final he played at CHF kicking ball into the 1 man full forward line of banty.. (i still shudder at the thought of that) so he could easily drop out.

Banty and the Wallace brothers are very interchangable in that any of them can play corner forward, but their ability to get on the ball and go at players from wing half forward draws fouls and free's which help the team out so he can drop out to HF line too.

Morris is a goal getter and should be played close to goal but he needs someone with him too.

Maybe O'Connor could be an option but i think this campaign has shown that Devine, Campion and O'Reilly are bench options at best. On the Panel 3+ years and for me they've not shown enough that i would give them starting roles.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1973 - 09/06/2021 15:15:22    2349225

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Replying To brian:  "Newman could play any position from 8 onwards. He plays at centre half forward mainly for Kilmainham as he's able to kick pass and influence a game. In 2019 Leinster final he played at CHF kicking ball into the 1 man full forward line of banty.. (i still shudder at the thought of that) so he could easily drop out.

Banty and the Wallace brothers are very interchangable in that any of them can play corner forward, but their ability to get on the ball and go at players from wing half forward draws fouls and free's which help the team out so he can drop out to HF line too.

Morris is a goal getter and should be played close to goal but he needs someone with him too.

Maybe O'Connor could be an option but i think this campaign has shown that Devine, Campion and O'Reilly are bench options at best. On the Panel 3+ years and for me they've not shown enough that i would give them starting roles."
Mickey is best in the full-forward line and will be more effective in there. He is injury prone and we need to protect him as much as possible so don't really see him playing anywhere but there. He also lacks the fitness or pace to play in Andy's version of our half forward line who are expected to play a running game.

I have to disagree I don't think James Conlon could play there and is not a strong runner but great at creating a little bit of space and shooting from a tight angle in the full forward line. Kick outs or defensively he wouldn't add anything out there.

Yep I agree that none of them have shown enough but while Devine and Campion have been trialled in the half forward line O'Reilly hasn't. Just could be an option. O'Connor deserves a chance though bases off his performances.

DMman (Meath) - Posts: 17 - 09/06/2021 16:48:35    2349247

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