HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

Meath Forum

Meath V Offaly

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

Replying To MillerX: "Very well, but who takes over? To quote a previous poster the "We are Meath" brigade would be very choosy as to who would get the gig. Some recent appointments outside of Meath have been relatively successful, Mickey Harte and Davy Bourke have impressed in Louth and Roscommon but if you mentioned either on this forum you would have been castigated to no end. Also Colm O'Rourke entered this championship without two of our best three players over the last 10 years. The million dollar question is why were they NOT in Tullamore today? Over to our Top Table. The buck stops with you…….so collectively grow a pair……and act or explain." I for one would be extremely happy for an outside manager. I wanted Eamonn fitz this time but for whatever reason that didn't happen despite him been interviewed. Internally I suppose obric deserves to be looked at. I would actually like to see Gillespie been talked to . Young enthusiastic, and doing a good job with summerhill. Our fb line has been terrible all year. It brings up the question as to why McGill ls not there. That's down to management and not the top table. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 23/04/2023 20:50:14 2472947 Link
Replying To WhyTheLongFace: "The Team is just simply badly coached nothing more , it could be seen at the league games nothing was happening system or shape wise , people can't come on here with the usual bog-standard low IQ excuse the players are not there ! Offaly lost there manger a month ago and beat us out the gate today because they had a better shape to them and the players knew what the hell they were doing. What would Malachy O'Rlourke have done today with them lads on the pitch ? Well for a start we would have won and beaten a division 3 side" Yes totally agree,I'm sick of hearing the players aren't there excuse.Look at Louth ,Roscommon,Monaghan etc counties with a smaller club, player pool than us are doing.With a proper system we could at least be competitive in divison 2 and maybe in time divison 1.The first half no fight, no tactics but most of all no belief.Yes the second half we showed a little bit but we couldn't have got much worse and things could only get a bit better.I dont know what they are at in training how many mis placed passes, dropped balls and silly option taking.Yes it was a slippy ball today but it's over the whole league same thing technically so poor.I was in Kildare for the league game and came out thinking that was bad but maybe they are hard at in training preparing for championship and we will see a reaction a bounce but no treated to a horror show today.The players have to take some blame as well but belief and tactics has to come from the top and it hasn't happened at all this year.Ive defended COR on here and said he needs time but we have regressed big time. While results are important (no doubt )for me it's more about the performance s and they have been shocking really.I wouldn't mind if we lost games but performances were there and improving or we could see some sort of a system but I dont see any.Id love it to work for COR and maybe with the young lads coming through things will get better but at the minute big questions habg over management.I probably should've waited before writing this but just mad frustrated after been at the match today and witnessing the match.One final thing congrats to Offaly today and best of luck the next day. Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 296 - 23/04/2023 21:02:03 2472956 Link
Replying To Royal.1: "So name the better players??? Without Shane Walsh lenihan is our best full forward. He finished top scorer in the league and barely even played that much football and he's v good for a goal. You rlly just looking to moan and call out a few players. If there are better forwards playing out there then tell us who they are you were a bit shy on those details" Wouldn't mind seeing this list of 6 better forwards which are in the county too.... Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 23/04/2023 21:05:04 2472959 Link
Replying To MillerX: "Very well, but who takes over? To quote a previous poster the "We are Meath" brigade would be very choosy as to who would get the gig. Some recent appointments outside of Meath have been relatively successful, Mickey Harte and Davy Bourke have impressed in Louth and Roscommon but if you mentioned either on this forum you would have been castigated to no end. Also Colm O'Rourke entered this championship without two of our best three players over the last 10 years. The million dollar question is why were they NOT in Tullamore today? Over to our Top Table. The buck stops with you…….so collectively grow a pair……and act or explain." I couldn't care less where they come from. I'd take one of the Dublin lads who experienced the Dublin scene under Jim Gavin but with a Meath connection ~ Paul Clarke maybe who lives in Meath for many years. The We are Meath type lads will respond now with their false pride nonsense. We have to tap into the Dubs flocking into the county - it's our only chance of success. The days of 15 hardy bucks from rural Meath clubs is gone forever. Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 23/04/2023 21:11:39 2472963 Link
Replying To Jinxie: "Some of the drama is a bit extreme here tonight... I understand lads are hurting and want us doing well, but it's also important to be rational and logical about things. This was ALWAYS going to get worse before it got better... Next years championship may not be a whole pile better... but I'm confident it will come around. If a manager was able to come in and completely swing our fortunes in 6 months, then it's raise more questions than answers in my eyes. This will he a long road, but knee jerk reactions like ripping things up and getting another manager in won't do anything positive. What happened if a a new manager did come in later this year? He still has the same stock in the county for next years league.... so will the same players suddenly improve 30%??? This rebuild will take time. We've known for years we've to take our medicine at some point, like other counties have... Cork and Derry in the past few years have been here... we all knew we were on that path too, so now that the day has come and we get a taste of it, we just have to swallow it. And there may be a humbling or two in the tailteann cup too... we've just got to man up, take it, and logically and pragmatically build our way out of it stronger." An lad rebuild my hoop, wake up - beaten out gate by Offaly. Drew with a rubbish limerick team. Can't score, totally directionless. It's not rocket science. The Offaly manager only started a month ago ffs! It's not Dublin or Kerry who beat us or even Roscommon or Derry, it's Offaly and we were pathetic by all accounts in a championship match. There is almost nothing positive about the "rebuild" so far and the easiest bit is the start where you see quick gains. He's "lost" a few important players and replaced them with lads who don't seem to be anywhere near the standard required - are we gonna wait 2 years for them to develop from Div 4 players into Div 3 players? And sure then we'll have another rebuild will we? Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1352 - 23/04/2023 21:19:12 2472965 Link
We need more lads from kells for a start. Then we should get a big full foward and pump high balls in to him which would yield more goals. Tighten things up at the back Get more development teams going , have mondays like a blitz in dunganny with total football This would be a good base to build from hurlit (Meath) - Posts: 425 - 23/04/2023 21:22:25 2472968 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "I for one would be extremely happy for an outside manager. I wanted Eamonn fitz this time but for whatever reason that didn't happen despite him been interviewed. Internally I suppose obric deserves to be looked at. I would actually like to see Gillespie been talked to . Young enthusiastic, and doing a good job with summerhill. Our fb line has been terrible all year. It brings up the question as to why McGill ls not there. That's down to management and not the top table." Ultimately the top table are in charge. MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1080 - 23/04/2023 21:48:23 2472982 Link
From a Offaly person. "Keep in mind this was very Inexperienced Offaly team. Captain and vice captain from last year, Johnny Moloney and Niall Darby not on panel alongside key forward for the last 10 years Niall McNamee and first choice midfielder Jordan Hayes away with the army. Still destroyed Meath ". royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 23/04/2023 22:44:56 2473002 Link
Replying To Maestro: "It's kind of funny reading some of the comments on here after the game. It's like people didn't see this result coming and expected Meath to win cause "We Are Meath". We dont have to look too far back to getting dumped out of Leinster by Longford and the team that started that day were a lot better than today's crop. This Meath has been on the decline for the past few years since reaching the super 8's and a lot of out better players have retired or have seen better days. You could see the decline last year and Mcentee knew there was only one way this team was going. I Was hopeful of getting a positive result today but when I heard Jones was not starting I feared the worst. There is not enough bite or aggression in this team and we let Offaly do what they want in the first half. There was an improvement in the second half and Jones made a big difference when coming on but it was too little too late. People talking about O'Rourke being let go, it's not going to happen. If we didn't sack McEntee after losing to Longford with a better team, I dont see them letting O'Rourke go." Expect some had their posts written and ready to go, very dissapointing result but no great surprise. We have been slipping down the pecking order year on year and the only real difference is the hammering in a Leinster final. Jones was sorely missed and brought the missing fight and aggression when introduced. We need to give the TC a decent shot and a chance to drip feed a few u20 into team. No way will CB get rid of COR, go back on their word and they loose all credibility and no half decent coach would touch the job. seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 23/04/2023 22:45:53 2473003 Link
Disappointed but hardly surprised coming out of Tullamore today. The writing was on the wall all year and it seems nothing was learned from the league at all. In truth we having a forward of inter county class at all, we haven't a player that can kick a 45 even, that's how bad it is. In fairness to Offaly they had better and more clinical forwards and that ultimately got them over the line but they were so there for the taking 2nd half if we had anyone that could score. AthboyCelt (Meath) - Posts: 148 - 23/04/2023 22:47:35 2473005 Link
Replying To Crinigan: "An lad rebuild my hoop, wake up - beaten out gate by Offaly. Drew with a rubbish limerick team. Can't score, totally directionless. It's not rocket science. The Offaly manager only started a month ago ffs! It's not Dublin or Kerry who beat us or even Roscommon or Derry, it's Offaly and we were pathetic by all accounts in a championship match. There is almost nothing positive about the "rebuild" so far and the easiest bit is the start where you see quick gains. He's "lost" a few important players and replaced them with lads who don't seem to be anywhere near the standard required - are we gonna wait 2 years for them to develop from Div 4 players into Div 3 players? And sure then we'll have another rebuild will we?" Make up your mind, one post its all the fault of the GAA, Leinster Council and getting hammered by the Dubs, then you tell us standards fell off a cliff, but dont want a rebuild, bookend them by asking us "does he see something in players we don't? " I especially like the we, as you go on to say, not only did you not attend game, you could not be bothered to even listen on radio. seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2196 - 23/04/2023 23:07:55 2473007 Link
Replying To Jinxie: "Some of the drama is a bit extreme here tonight... I understand lads are hurting and want us doing well, but it's also important to be rational and logical about things. This was ALWAYS going to get worse before it got better... Next years championship may not be a whole pile better... but I'm confident it will come around. If a manager was able to come in and completely swing our fortunes in 6 months, then it's raise more questions than answers in my eyes. This will he a long road, but knee jerk reactions like ripping things up and getting another manager in won't do anything positive. What happened if a a new manager did come in later this year? He still has the same stock in the county for next years league.... so will the same players suddenly improve 30%??? This rebuild will take time. We've known for years we've to take our medicine at some point, like other counties have... Cork and Derry in the past few years have been here... we all knew we were on that path too, so now that the day has come and we get a taste of it, we just have to swallow it. And there may be a humbling or two in the tailteann cup too... we've just got to man up, take it, and logically and pragmatically build our way out of it stronger." Sorry but we've been rebuilding for a few decades now. 24 years since the last all Ireland. We've only got to 2 semi finals since. Andy Mc was able to improve a few things but progress had clearly stalled but it seems like all previous progress has been thrown out the window. Good managers and coaches can indeed improve quickly, starting with the basics first and at the very least make a team solid defensively. You shouldn't need 2 years to get some of these things ironed out in particular defensive strategies. It's not like we're coaching kids here, they know how to play football, there's no need to think we're back at year zero. LoyalRoyal (None) - Posts: 464 - 23/04/2023 23:53:51 2473015 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "I for one would be extremely happy for an outside manager. I wanted Eamonn fitz this time but for whatever reason that didn't happen despite him been interviewed. Internally I suppose obric deserves to be looked at. I would actually like to see Gillespie been talked to . Young enthusiastic, and doing a good job with summerhill. Our fb line has been terrible all year. It brings up the question as to why McGill ls not there. That's down to management and not the top table." You have to give Colm O'Rourke at least 2 years at the job, and preferably 3 if ye want a shot to turn things around. No manager can work a magic wand in just one year. How many years did Andy McEntee get: 5-6? Give Colm more time. It's the only way forward for Meath! foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2108 - 24/04/2023 04:32:01 2473024 Link
I think we could go around and round in circles over this result and other poor results forever; the reality is that this game came and went and no one nationwide is really surprised with the end result. On a bit of an aside, Im actually looking forward to the different landscape for the remainder of the season. I mean surely this is better than the two/three game run in Leinster which ends with the inevitable loss to Dublin, then into the qualifiers and crossing your fingers hoping you get a favourable draw, and then out altogether by June. This is better than that. There are a lot of young players on the Meath panel and a series of games in this competition will be beneficial to their development and their confidence, which they badly need, and at least its a realistic tournament where there are 3/4 teams who can win (including Meath), and a lot of other teams who will genuinely compete. Thats the bottom line. Just a different perspective. Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 596 - 24/04/2023 06:34:01 2473029 Link
Replying To ke40: "By all accounts Meath were beaten by the better team today, I'm surprised with supporters wanting O Rourke gone so quickly like what have Meath done in the last 20 years ? I'm sure O Rourke did a lot of work with underage players in St.Pats over a 30 year career. Maybe it's time to face the fact that the quality of players you once had are just not there at this moment in time! Every team has to go through a transition period, living on past glories won't bring future success, putting the ground work in from the bottom up is what's needed, encourage and look after the successful Minor All Ireland champions from a few years ago. Embrace the TC and try and win it," Fairly sensible post (although it's hard to see that immediately after a game). First off it's a very bad result and display. The first half in particular was very bad. But despite what people are saying it is actually not a new low, we've had similar results in last 20 years. In 2018 Longford knocked us out of Leinster to reach the only semi final they have got to in the last 35 years (https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/longford-reach-first-semi-final-in-30-years-with-meath-win-1.3510536). Had the Tailteann cup structure being in existence in the last 20 years we probably would have previously sometimes have had to play in it (as would Kildare in that time, ye have sometimes being out of the top 2 divisions in football in this time like when Banty brought us down to division 3 for 2013). It's difficult being out of the championship proper in April and will be hard for supporters (me included) to get up for the start of the Tailteann cup when at the same time the main championship is simultaneously taking place but I hope the Meath team will embrace it and get a bit of a run in it. The truth is I think with it being his first inter county job O'Rourke is learning on the job a bit, a decent run in the Tailteann cup could be a learning experience for management and players. There is a bit of a worry our players won't take it seriously due to this disappointment. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1402 - 24/04/2023 07:17:05 2473032 Link
Replying To Crinigan: "An lad rebuild my hoop, wake up - beaten out gate by Offaly. Drew with a rubbish limerick team. Can't score, totally directionless. It's not rocket science. The Offaly manager only started a month ago ffs! It's not Dublin or Kerry who beat us or even Roscommon or Derry, it's Offaly and we were pathetic by all accounts in a championship match. There is almost nothing positive about the "rebuild" so far and the easiest bit is the start where you see quick gains. He's "lost" a few important players and replaced them with lads who don't seem to be anywhere near the standard required - are we gonna wait 2 years for them to develop from Div 4 players into Div 3 players? And sure then we'll have another rebuild will we?" Disastrous result and bad performance. But bit ridiculous to say beat out the gate, we were well on top in second half and had O'Sullivan scored with his goal chance (or passed the ball on) we probably would have won. People need to wake up a bit, we've been bad for much of the last 20 years. We've had results like this in past championships (Longford in 2018). This we are Meath stuff is based on what happend in the Boylan era nearly 2 decades ago. Getting rid of a manager after half a season makes no sense. Give the players some space now, it's going to be a big challenge now to get motivated for the rest of the season. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1402 - 24/04/2023 07:46:57 2473034 Link
We scored 4 goals against Clare and 3 against Cork, without them we were relegated. Time to get real we are beyond abject at the moment. Teams in Tailteann are Cavan, Fermanagh Laois (maybe Down and Offaly,) Antrim Tipp Wicklow. They will have targeted the Tailteann cup and are not despondent about being there. I see us winning a game or two but when it matters and bodies need to go on the line, we will be yet again be found wanting. The decision to leave Scully and JOC on the bench is baffling. It should be explained, even why when Jones was announced not fit to start, why it wasn't one of those two brought in. A sad day for Meath football. You would feel sorry for kids who know no different but hear those of us who remember on about the good days. On the north Meath debate, who knows. The facts are we have nobody on the team from Navan Kells Bettystown, Ashbourne, Na Fianna & Aaron Lynch aside from Trim. 6 massive senior clubs, What has gone wrong? I can imagine Andy McEntee is chomping at the bit, hoping to draw Meath. Who can blame him. I can't be sure an Andy team would have lost yesterday. Who knows. urizen (Meath) - Posts: 116 - 24/04/2023 07:49:49 2473037 Link
Replying To Royal.1: "So name the better players??? Without Shane Walsh lenihan is our best full forward. He finished top scorer in the league and barely even played that much football and he's v good for a goal. You rlly just looking to moan and call out a few players. If there are better forwards playing out there then tell us who they are you were a bit shy on those details" Well for a Start Aaron Lynch is better than both of them in my opinion. As is James Conlon. My own clubman Danny Quinn is probably ahead of them both also but getting too old now. We have no target man inside, not even a Mark achieved in the whole game. Was only when Jones came on he actually put in 2 hard hits and scored a few points, COS looked to be carrying an injury. Why we were playing with a sweeper who was non existent in the first half was beyond me. Maybe your right, Maybe their is no one better in the county than the lads we started in the forwards yesterday. The worst thing about yesterday was we had no clue what we were at until Jones came on, he had a bit of a go on his own. No game plan, no fight, no pride from the majority of the lads. Andy MC at least had a game plan and probably got the best out of what he had. I looked down at one stage and COR, BC & SB were standing in a huddle, I think the 3 of them could have went on yesterday and did better than what we had in the full forward line and that is embarrassing to say. If you think Lenihan is the 2nd best forward in the county I give up. thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1073 - 24/04/2023 08:07:47 2473039 Link
Replying To FairRoyal71: "I guess you won't be in Rhode or Edenderry for a pint tonight Lutch" In fairness to those lads they not getting too excited by what they seen yesterday. A retired footballer from Rhode told me yesterday that he could not believe how poor Meath were and believe me, we are lucky this guy retired last year or we probably would have been bet out the gate if he was playing around the D. thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1073 - 24/04/2023 08:12:48 2473040 Link
This game felt like it was a round 8 of the league and all the same issues were there. I've almost a sense of relief not getting the win because I couldn't face losing to Louth again or if we made it to the final then getting a 20-30pt hammering from Dublin and another few scalps in the round robin which would set us back even further. This management team clearly isn't up to the job, we need some people in there with inter county experience who will drive this team on and put some structures in place, there hasn't been any encouragement or motivation coming from the sideline during games and our performances are a reflection of that. We'll probably be top seeds in the Tailteann Cup due to our league position which should give us some Div 3 & 4 teams in our group and a chance to get some results and confidence back but this current setup isn't the long term solution. LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 45 - 24/04/2023 08:38:44 2473046 Link