Meath Forum

Offaly V Meath Rd. 4

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Replying To Young_gael:  "It's a great point youre making though, all
jokes aside. To add my two cents to it, I dont think MOD or AMcE are to blame at all for the situation Meath football is in. Both are/were volunteers who had the best interests of the jersey at heart and teams of the same dedication as Meath teams of the past. I think if you wanted to point out why Meath had slipped to its current position the main reasons are:

1) Urbanisation - the closeness to the city, the closeness to colleges, which wasnt necessarily there, particularly in people's minds, until the construction of 4 motorways in the county and the burgeoning of every town in the county. The centre of power in the county also moved due east to the regions around Dublin, which are an entirely different people than found in Navan, Trim, or Kells, the traditional hinterlands of Meath football. Indeed the schools and types of schools kids attend in the county is very different to the era before the millenium when there was a CBS in the three aforementioned towns. Now there are 2/3 major public schools with a far more varied sporting outlook, this has been to the betterment of Meath society but it has damaged the GAA in the county and the type of player once produced is an extinct race.
2) Rising popularity in soccer/rugby in the major towns primarily since the celtic tiger - goes along with urbanisation.
3) mismanagement at administrative level and the failure to adapt to a more professional level in the 00s when other counties were adapting rapidly.
4) Scandals such as the 2010 leinster final and a few others down through the years which turned away many modest supporters.

These are the primary reasons why Meath is where it is, and managers taking the scapegoat has been the form of the last 15 years. I believe Meath football is a sleeping giant and when (if) it ever rekindles its old allegiance with Meath or if a new identity can be nurtured in the players, Meath can and will be back winning All-Ireland titles, I have no doubt about that. As things stand Id prefer us to have a pop at the Tailteann cup, because I think we have a good opportunity of a run in it, whereas we havent a hope in the race for Sam Maguire."
Would the LGFA in Meath not have faced some/all of these issues? I live in Meath and can see a good few kids who are non-Nationals playing GAA sports, including our two girls, my wife is from the Philippines. Some of the non-national players have great potential. Meath were a Division One team two years ago, a high standard of football. Kildare have had similar issues and are competitive in this years league. I agree ye're a sleeping giant but, while ye're disappointed not to get two points v Offaly yer never say die atitude (we know all about that years later!) got ye the point that should keep ye up. Cork scored 2-17 v Galway because they were let. Galway had the game won easily. I think ye'll beat Cork and themselves and Down will be relegated. Keep the Faith.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7703 - 01/03/2022 12:02:59    2403210

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Replying To Young_gael:  "It's a great point youre making though, all
jokes aside. To add my two cents to it, I dont think MOD or AMcE are to blame at all for the situation Meath football is in. Both are/were volunteers who had the best interests of the jersey at heart and teams of the same dedication as Meath teams of the past. I think if you wanted to point out why Meath had slipped to its current position the main reasons are:

1) Urbanisation - the closeness to the city, the closeness to colleges, which wasnt necessarily there, particularly in people's minds, until the construction of 4 motorways in the county and the burgeoning of every town in the county. The centre of power in the county also moved due east to the regions around Dublin, which are an entirely different people than found in Navan, Trim, or Kells, the traditional hinterlands of Meath football. Indeed the schools and types of schools kids attend in the county is very different to the era before the millenium when there was a CBS in the three aforementioned towns. Now there are 2/3 major public schools with a far more varied sporting outlook, this has been to the betterment of Meath society but it has damaged the GAA in the county and the type of player once produced is an extinct race.
2) Rising popularity in soccer/rugby in the major towns primarily since the celtic tiger - goes along with urbanisation.
3) mismanagement at administrative level and the failure to adapt to a more professional level in the 00s when other counties were adapting rapidly.
4) Scandals such as the 2010 leinster final and a few others down through the years which turned away many modest supporters.

These are the primary reasons why Meath is where it is, and managers taking the scapegoat has been the form of the last 15 years. I believe Meath football is a sleeping giant and when (if) it ever rekindles its old allegiance with Meath or if a new identity can be nurtured in the players, Meath can and will be back winning All-Ireland titles, I have no doubt about that. As things stand Id prefer us to have a pop at the Tailteann cup, because I think we have a good opportunity of a run in it, whereas we havent a hope in the race for Sam Maguire."
Sorry but I have to pick you up on people in East meath are different to the rest of the county?How are they different?East meath has given many fine footballer's to Meath over the years and still do.To say they are different is ridiculous in my opinion.The same old crap saying North Meath men are this and South Meath are that.We are all Meath men/women who want what's best for our county and this blaming another part of the county is to me ridiculous.Meath football is were it's at because they didnt look forward and develop teams during and near the end of Boylans rein.He built three or four teams and he didnt care whether they were north,south or east Meath or if they were Junior,intermediate or Senior.He was one of kind but when he went, our underage structure had been neglected for years.Now thankfully we are starting to nurture young players the proper way and starting to see benefits of that.It may take a bit of time but it will come.Plenty of coaches in East Meath doing the very best they can, so that comment is quite insulting to them.I dont care were any man/women is from if they are wearing the green and gold of Meath they have my full backing.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 296 - 01/03/2022 16:24:10    2403288

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Replying To seadog54:  "There is a strong link between the disjointed mess, all other issues you correctly identified and relegation, one is lightly to be a consequence of the other. The style of football we play will not change until new management take over. For me its all about damage limitation for rest of season and best outcome is to remain in Div 2. Looking at fixtures we have the most difficult run in of all the teams in survival battle. I have no doubt players are there to play a better brand of football and must be a least given a chance and see where it takes us. For now its about survival and hopefully next season our overall skills will be given a chance to improve, not expecting a swift return to the top table, however, looking forward to Meath playing football and an end to the rubbish currently on display."
There are clearly very obvious limitations in our game plan that any decent club management setup would be able to identify and rectify. Our attacking structure clearly has no shape with every one of our outfield players looking to take a ball off the should and run through a crowd. If this isn't on, they just go backwards and backwards. What is wrong with having at least two men in full forwards line making runs from ending out and popping in a few direct balls. It has to be better than what we are doing. The forwards are so nervous and have zero confidence. They are just not comfortable with what we are doing. Even at our best in 2019, our game plan was based on scores from deep runs by Keoghan or Menton. Against decent opposition, this is a non runner and we just ran out of steam. I know the game has changed but the pitch, the number of players, the ball and the rules by and large remain the same as always. I suggest take a look at some of our successful performances in the 80s and 90s and look at our strengths and how these exploited opposition. Don't give me the snobbery comments that the game has changed and all of that is now outdated. What we are doing simply doesn't work and won't work for Meath football going forward. Find a game plan that works for Meath football and one that successfully did work for years, tweak it to suit the modern game and implement it.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 01/03/2022 17:01:35    2403300

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Replying To brian:  "ooooofffff, wonder who this poster might be..... and would be some kick alright..."
Ah well that can be the value of the forum... it can add comic value. Blind loyalty maybe. Doesnt have to be based on logic,facts or reasoned argument . Who cares now ! The only worthwhile real concern i suggest from here is The top table. Have they learned any lessons in the last couple of years ? Will they attempt to be much more pro fessional in how they do things? Will they monitor everything to ensure that training is conducted as a means of dealing with needs identified on the playing field rather than any other considerations?. Will they ensure that training sessions are reviewed ,and where player feedback is encouraged.? Will every effort be made to encourage players to identify their own shortcomings and take responsibility for self improvement? The bottom line is to have a team that is fully prepared for play. Where good coaching is seen on the field of play,and not just spoken and written about .Coaching a bit like religion....lets SEE it in action dont just SPEAK about it. SEEING is believing!
Everything has to be about the players and their welfare .They have to buy in or nothing happens that will help to bring standards up ! All in all will the top table TAKE CHARGE from here ? Standards has to be the buz words from here for Meath. Mickey Mouse and god direct it approach is redundant There is a job to be done and from all the evidence to date it means a steep learning curve especially around man management skills..Draw a line under the past except to use as a means of learning from mistakes made.Nevertheless thanks to everyone for their efforts up to now . New page from here requiring a culture change i suggest!

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1266 - 01/03/2022 17:46:50    2403307

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