Meath Forum

Senior Championship 2022

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Replying To Ratoath Royal:  "May as well give these a go.
Wolfe Tones v Gaeil Colmcille
Game of the weekend in my opinion. Surprised that Kells are marginal favourites in the bookies. Think Wolfe Tones will just manage to sneak it. They have the defence to keep Kells quiet and the forwards to pick them off at the other end.

Trim v Na Fianna
Another intriguing game in store. Very difficult to gauge where Trim are. They can only beat what's put in front of them (and they've done that convincingly) but they were undoubtedly drawn in the easiest of the four groups. Na Fianna were in a much tougher group and made it out, albeit losing their last game to Summerhill. Could be a high scoring game but I think Na Fianna's experience will be the winning of it.

Summerhill v Skryne
I've been impressed with Summerhill so far. They just keep on coming back year after year to be there or thereabouts. Think they'll have far too much for Skryne here.

Ratoath v Moynalvey
Usually I'm pretty pessimistic about our chances in knockout games. But I would be very disappointed if we didn't win this one easily and set up what should be a much tougher test in the semi final. Watch Moynalvey play the game of their lives now.

St. Colmcille's v Curraha
Cilles will be raging at their performance in the first game of the groups. They should easily account for Curraha and regroup for next season.

Dunboyne v Navan O'Mahonys
NOM's reward for coming third is a relegation playoff against last seasons beaten finalists. Dunboyne have been shocking but surely they'll have enough to see them safe here, regardless of their issues.

Ballinabrackey v Simonstown Gaels
For the second season in a row, Bracks' reward for a third place finish in the group stage is a playoff against Simonstown. Think it'll be the same result as last time but hope I'm wrong. Ballinabrackey will be fine either way.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Seneschalstown
If Donaghmore/Ashbourne were drawn in any other group, they probably would have been in the knockout stages. But they've only themselves to blame for being where they are. Nevertheless, I'd expect them to account for Seneschalstown fairly easily here."
Fairly solid predictions.

summerof09 (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 19/09/2022 10:31:16    2441147

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Replying To Meath112233:  "You weren't far off with moynavley ratoath,
Very wrong about na fianna trim
Wrong aboit tones kells
And very wrong about summerhill skryne"
Wrong on all counts by me :(

Had Trim not had 13 wides and 3 butchered goal chances i feel like i had a solid pick there.

Gutsy win by 14 man Tones.

I probably should the hammering of Skryne coming. They fluked their way into the quarters (1 win 2 losses).

Ratoath Moynalvey was over after 10 minutes so i was defintley wrong there.

Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 19/09/2022 11:26:15    2441161

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Replying To summerof09:  "Great win for your Tones men! Back to being average for the semi final now!? Loves to put the boot into neighbours Simonstown and O'Mahonys at every opportunity."
Good win alright but it is only a quarter final, no boot in at all, have great respect for O Mahoney's and Simonstown as clubs but they are in bother going forward.

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1494 - 19/09/2022 12:03:22    2441173

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I would agree with O Mahonys and Simonstown being in trouble. O Mahonys are still reliant on Jake Regan up front and they haven't replaced the likes of McKeigue, Reilly or the Brays. Simonstown are similar, they have lost 8 or 9 lads who played in those 2 finals they won.

Summerhill put in a masterclass yesterday in the second half. I was impressed with Flanagan and the two Ryan's, McCabe and McDonnell. They will get a better test off a Tones side who fell over the line against Kells. Two O Neills were very impressive as was Oisin Martin when he went to midfield.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 19/09/2022 12:33:15    2441180

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Replying To Analyst:  "Good win alright but it is only a quarter final, no boot in at all, have great respect for O Mahoney's and Simonstown as clubs but they are in bother going forward."
14 men for majority of game and scored seven points without reply against the wind to win. Stuff of champions. Big midfielder that got sent off will be no real loss.

summerof09 (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 19/09/2022 12:43:35    2441184

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "Trim but only by 3/4
Tones is a very tight game
Ratoath comfortably
Skyrne to upset Summerhill"
Wrong on 3 counts here!!

I really fancied Trim - but Na Fianna did a great defensive job and restricted Trim to shooting from distance. Trims shooting was wild enough. They could have been 5 or 6 ahead at half time instead of just 1. Na Fianna were very good immediately after the break and despite going a man down they looked and played like the more experienced team. Trim will learn from this year and I think they will only get better!

I wasn't at the Tones Kells game but I hear it was a good enough game. The chap I spoke with this morning who was at the game, told me that Tones played a bit smarter and a bit more direct where Kells would take the ball into the corners and work it back out again but didn't really create too much!

The score line would suggest, Summerhill were way to strong for Skryne but I don't think the score line really reflects the game. Skyrne had two good goal chances in the first half and if even one of these had gone in I think it would have been a different game. That said, Summerhill were very good, particularly in the second half, and the Fraynes are a handful upfront - Flanagan has been a great addition - he is not a flashy player but he does the simple things well!

Ratoath Moynalvey was a strange game - Ratoath got off to a flying start and the second goal, a piece of quick thinking by Daithi McGowan, which most people in the crowd missed, kind of killed the game. I think at that stage it was 2-4 to 0-1. Most of the crowd thought Ratoath would push on but they seemed to be kind of going through the motions from there. They were never in any danger and seemed in control but they will be concerned with Joey Wallace - he went off after about 10 minutes with what looked like a hamstring injury. That said, Bobby O'Brien came in - and while a very different player he was effective. I think there is more in this Ratoath side!

The semi final pairings are;

Summerhill v Tones -
Ratoath v Na Fianna -

I think both will be competitive and should be entertaining! Not sure yet what way I'm going to go on this!!


In the relegation play offs;

The result of the week for me has to be Curraha - I had a feeling they would stay up. They have an amazing team spirit. Despite such a small playing pool and with some of their big names overseas they seem to just do enough! I am sure Simonstown will be mightily relieved to have gotten past Bracks - I think it is starting to look like NOM as the likeliest to go down but you never know!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 515 - 19/09/2022 12:56:08    2441189

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Got to 4 games this weekend. Trim will be kicking themselves with all their misses but Na Fianna used all their experience and closed it out well. Shane Walsh and Ethan Devine showed moments of great leadership. Sean Martin is making a good case to be called up to Meath panel and Sean McDonnell changed the game with his impact off the bench. On Trim's side they'll learns. Rob Bourke impressed me. Aaron Lynch should be on the Meath panel next year but he still definitely has issues in his game. In particular his free taking as he's prone to miss a few. Summerhill look impressive but Skryne were lucky to be in the knockouts. Conor Frayne looks the best I've seen him at adult level. Eoghan Frayne was a tad rusty but is still a classy player. Ross Ryan and Campion had a good tussle and both could be on the Meath panel next year if they want it. Ronan Ryan destroyed Niall Finnerty. Ratoath for the goals early against Moynavley. Actually think they didn't play great. Moynalvey had the majority of the hall but lacked the players to get scores on the board. Ratoath are dangerous and even when they aren't playing great they put up scores in a hurry. Dunboyne for themselves out of trouble. Shane McEntee made a huge impact. Aodhan Mallen impressed me for Navan. Navan seem to be playing decently but they're just lacking talent at a prime age

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1527 - 19/09/2022 13:30:59    2441193

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Replying To thelutch:  "I can see Na Fianna winning this one with experience just, local derby game so will be very tight, Trims group was by far the easiest group but that's the luck of the draw.

Again if Wolfe Tones can be disciplined and not concede frees they should take this one down by a few points. They a better balanced team then Kells.

Watched Moynalvey playing a challenge last Friday night without COS ( happened to be in a friends house beside the pitch ), set up very defensively, Really impressed with their Goalie, two feet and very quick with his restarts, definitely needs to be looked at for county, however a senior B Dublin team beat them fairly comfortably so I can see nothing only a 8+ beating.

Summerhill will have the extra bit of class if they perform but if they don't Skyrne could pounce. Summerhill can be very inconsistent and this could be the shock of the round if they don't perform, on the other side if they bring their A game they should win by 4+.

Relegation games will be just as entertaining, I'm hoping my beloved Bracks can test Simonstown but it will be tough.

Cilles and Ashbourne should have no problems however I'm hearing Dunboyne are struggling with some big injuries and that gives NOM a chance. Can see a high scoring game here, NOM definitely over priced at 5/1 and the draw at 12's !! Might have a sneaky fiver on it."
Happy enough with my predictions but gutted for my lads, had simonstown by the throat and let them go in extra time.

Big shock of course was with Curraha winning but Cilles seem to have been hit with an internal problem. Posted about this yesterday but didn't get approved.

Not sure this will either.

Ratoath should make it through with limited fuss.

Tones and The Hill will be a great contest, who was sent off for the tones ? Was it a fair call ? Is he definitely gone for semi ? If so that will give The Hill the edge.

Relegation is gonna be a dogfight at this stage.

Hopefully our lads can stay up, they deserve too.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1073 - 19/09/2022 18:36:17    2441257

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Replying To thelutch:  "Happy enough with my predictions but gutted for my lads, had simonstown by the throat and let them go in extra time.

Big shock of course was with Curraha winning but Cilles seem to have been hit with an internal problem. Posted about this yesterday but didn't get approved.

Not sure this will either.

Ratoath should make it through with limited fuss.

Tones and The Hill will be a great contest, who was sent off for the tones ? Was it a fair call ? Is he definitely gone for semi ? If so that will give The Hill the edge.

Relegation is gonna be a dogfight at this stage.

Hopefully our lads can stay up, they deserve too."
Think it could be advantage Ratoath for championship. They will get a test from Na Fianna and should overcome then. They have a good balanced squad and Bobby O Brien adds a different dimension.

Alan Callaghan was sent off for the Tones. Not too sure what happened but Cormac Reilly was infront of it and Tones didn't have any complaints. Not sure if Diamond will be able for Flanagan.

Cilles are in bother if the rumours are true and it really could mean any of the remaining 4 could drop. It also shows how weak group A was with Cilles and Seneschalstown still in relegation and Skryne taking a hammering.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 19/09/2022 21:52:14    2441263

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Replying To Analyst:  "Good win alright but it is only a quarter final, no boot in at all, have great respect for O Mahoney's and Simonstown as clubs but they are in bother going forward."
Great respect for those clubs! You have slated simonstown since 2016 even after winning back to back championships so many here won't buy that one! Simonstown have lost far too many players (many still in their 20's) to be competing nowadays but should be fine going forward provided they can keep making the improvements on their underage system which they have done so recently. Same goes for o mahonys, they were intermediate for a few years before producing teams which dominated in the late 00's early 10's

Northsidegaels (Meath) - Posts: 241 - 20/09/2022 09:23:45    2441268

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "Think it could be advantage Ratoath for championship. They will get a test from Na Fianna and should overcome then. They have a good balanced squad and Bobby O Brien adds a different dimension.

Alan Callaghan was sent off for the Tones. Not too sure what happened but Cormac Reilly was infront of it and Tones didn't have any complaints. Not sure if Diamond will be able for Flanagan.

Cilles are in bother if the rumours are true and it really could mean any of the remaining 4 could drop. It also shows how weak group A was with Cilles and Seneschalstown still in relegation and Skryne taking a hammering."
What's going wrong with St Colmcille's? Six years of flattering to deceive in senior. Made it to two quarter finals, thats as far as they have got.

summerof09 (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 20/09/2022 12:03:49    2441284

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Replying To summerof09:  "What's going wrong with St Colmcille's? Six years of flattering to deceive in senior. Made it to two quarter finals, thats as far as they have got."
I am hearing their is almost 40k people living in the three parishes that are part pf the club.

The club is not big enough for the demand at all levels.

Word on the street is a new club is been proposed ( East Meath Gaels ).

This is obviously not concrete facts however something has been going on.

Perhaps somebody from Cilles can confirm or Deny.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1073 - 20/09/2022 12:26:38    2441287

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Replying To summerof09:  "What's going wrong with St Colmcille's? Six years of flattering to deceive in senior. Made it to two quarter finals, thats as far as they have got."
St. Colmcilles are intermediate level.

PatrickTopping (Meath) - Posts: 119 - 20/09/2022 12:46:34    2441290

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They have such a huge pick from Mornington, Donnacarney, Bettystown, Laytown, parts of Juilanstown and Drogheda.

A lot of clubs in Drogheda have issues with Colmcilles when it comes to underage. There could be 10/12 kids at each underage group living in Drogheda but playing for Colmcilles. This has a knock on effect for the clubs in Drogheda.

It also annoys parents from Mornington, Donnacarney, Bettystown and Laytown whose kids aren't getting game time as there's lads from Drogheda ahead of them. This has sparked up the question does East Meath need another club.

None of these though are reasons as to why Cilles have failed at underage and now in the predicament they are in.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 20/09/2022 13:09:09    2441296

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "They have such a huge pick from Mornington, Donnacarney, Bettystown, Laytown, parts of Juilanstown and Drogheda.

A lot of clubs in Drogheda have issues with Colmcilles when it comes to underage. There could be 10/12 kids at each underage group living in Drogheda but playing for Colmcilles. This has a knock on effect for the clubs in Drogheda.

It also annoys parents from Mornington, Donnacarney, Bettystown and Laytown whose kids aren't getting game time as there's lads from Drogheda ahead of them. This has sparked up the question does East Meath need another club.

None of these though are reasons as to why Cilles have failed at underage and now in the predicament they are in."
Not sure what criteria you are the measuring the underage at Cilles to conclude that they have failed. If related to recent posts that mentioned parental anger at their kids being overlooked for Drogheda families, then I'd say you have a point on inclusion. Is this failure or the result of a successful nursery system that now requires a club split or new club? Surely increased overall participation is a good thing.

Judging Cilles on their underage games performance, you couldn't say they have failed. They are consistent competitors for Div 1 titles at all age groups as far as I can see.

If they are guilty of a failure I'd say it's in not bringing the emerging talent through to senior. Given the quality of juvenile player they produce, they seem to be punching well below their weight.

aghref (Meath) - Posts: 150 - 20/09/2022 13:32:04    2441301

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Replying To aghref:  "Not sure what criteria you are the measuring the underage at Cilles to conclude that they have failed. If related to recent posts that mentioned parental anger at their kids being overlooked for Drogheda families, then I'd say you have a point on inclusion. Is this failure or the result of a successful nursery system that now requires a club split or new club? Surely increased overall participation is a good thing.

Judging Cilles on their underage games performance, you couldn't say they have failed. They are consistent competitors for Div 1 titles at all age groups as far as I can see.

If they are guilty of a failure I'd say it's in not bringing the emerging talent through to senior. Given the quality of juvenile player they produce, they seem to be punching well below their weight."
Bringing emerging talent through to senior - I think every club has failed at this. The drop off is incredible in every club. My own club and many more have had U16 and Minor Division winning teams, but that does not guarantee success at adult level. How many minor finals have Ashbourne been in? That hasn't translated to senior? It's just something that happens.

Tinchy1 (Meath) - Posts: 66 - 20/09/2022 13:48:43    2441306

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Ah here - what a lot of nonsense spouted here. Really you should not comment on any club without all the facts.

With that in mind, if maybe others worked like my club do (the Cilles - and proud) and if every club fought so hard for its community (bereft of any social infrastructure and failed by politicans!) as they do then the GAA as a whole would be stronger. To quote our minor winning manager when interviewed by media (go listen yourselves) - our club is young when it comes to winning anything. Its only recently that we've had any consistent success at underage and we are finding our way.

As for turning underage success into adult well there is a thesis in that for every club in this country. The other club that comes as close to Cilles in recent times at underage is Don Ash and they haven't won Senior Championships yet have they? So why jump on us. Same for many urban clubs in Ireland - many are intermediate. As for catering for players - yeah lads dont let the truth get in the way of a good dig and pop at the club. They haven't lost too many and look to their Premier teams to see how they are going.

But as I say lads - don't let the truth get in the way ,,,

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 353 - 20/09/2022 13:51:57    2441307

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Meant to say failed at senior not underage

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 20/09/2022 13:57:41    2441309

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Replying To PatrickTopping:  "St. Colmcilles are intermediate level."
They have the talent coming through to be a force in Meath football. Last four Division 1 minor finals and consistently competing for underage titles over the last decade or so. Ok translating underage success into adult titles doesnt happen overnight. It took Summerhill a long time to get back to the top in 2011. But Cilles have struggled to make any real impact on the senior championship since return in 2017.

summerof09 (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 20/09/2022 14:00:34    2441312

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Replying To seasiderblues:  "Ah here - what a lot of nonsense spouted here. Really you should not comment on any club without all the facts.

With that in mind, if maybe others worked like my club do (the Cilles - and proud) and if every club fought so hard for its community (bereft of any social infrastructure and failed by politicans!) as they do then the GAA as a whole would be stronger. To quote our minor winning manager when interviewed by media (go listen yourselves) - our club is young when it comes to winning anything. Its only recently that we've had any consistent success at underage and we are finding our way.

As for turning underage success into adult well there is a thesis in that for every club in this country. The other club that comes as close to Cilles in recent times at underage is Don Ash and they haven't won Senior Championships yet have they? So why jump on us. Same for many urban clubs in Ireland - many are intermediate. As for catering for players - yeah lads dont let the truth get in the way of a good dig and pop at the club. They haven't lost too many and look to their Premier teams to see how they are going.

But as I say lads - don't let the truth get in the way ,,,"
Not having a pop at Cilles here. My own club has played Cilles the last number of years at various grades and they are excellent in victory and defeat. I've spoken to a number of parents whose kids play/played underage with Cilles and it's the same thing I constantly hear about kids coming out from Drogheda to play for Colmcilles.

There was similar talk a couple of years ago with Ratoath and even Ashbourne back in the early 10's. Big difference between the clubs is the overall size of the catchment area.

My own opinion on way Cilles haven't made the breakthrough they lack backs, they have no reliable man marker who you know will give you that 7 or 8 out of 10 everytime like McGill, Glynn or Ryan. They also don't have a steady spine, any time I see them play they nearly always have a different fullback or center back. With the likes of Ratoath, Summerhill, Tones, Kells even Dunboyne and Na Fianna (to a lesser extent) have those 2 positions nailed down.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 20/09/2022 14:14:33    2441314

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