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What a turn around for Skyrne, Relegation final last year to a championship semi final. O Dowd has done a great job with them, he probably got the Meath gig a bit too early on. Skyrne have a great chance of winning a championship now but Tones will do what they do best, not concede big scores. The other semi final has the makings of a classic and a lot of good battles all over the pitch. Could there be a repeat of the 2021 final on the cards or will it be a local derby? UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 24/09/2024 11:08:08 2571581 Link
Replying To Northroyal55: "I completely agree on Skyrne. Very impressed with them in Navan on Sunday. They Played a lovely brand of football. My first time seeing them this year.It was hard to work out who was playing in what position there was that much interchanging. Cilles had no answer to it. I didn't recognise who's coaching them?, but they are a different team this year that's for sure." Yeah, very disappointing from us this year. Skryne have a serious chance now but never bet against the Tones seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 353 - 24/09/2024 11:12:08 2571584 Link
Replying To hyperache: "Yep you can see the impact Mick O'Dowd has had since coming back in, they have a winnable semi and would not be surprised to see them go all the way. I read somewhere Conor Scully from Na Fianna in Dublin was brought by O'Dowd as a coach, and he's fairly well known in Dublin football. So things looking good for them at the minute." Oh right, good recruitment by Micko so. Northroyal55 (Meath) - Posts: 8 - 24/09/2024 11:29:14 2571587 Link
Both Skryne with Mick O Dowd and Dunshaughlin with Richie Kealy are very impressive and show how to run a club. They are managed by very competent local men committed to their club. Mick did a good job with Meath and would have went further but for one sided officials . If Westmeath were honorable they would have offered to put that match back due to an unprecedented tragedy. Mick was disgracefully run down by a clique Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 553 - 24/09/2024 11:59:15 2571593 Link
Devastated but ultimately proud of our lads at the weekend , could of easily gone either way but at this stage it goes down to fine margins . .Would of liked to see Gillespie go out with another Keegan but alas wasnt to be . . Dunboyne will be hard bet but if theres one team that can do it it will be Dunshaughlin Thought they were v impressive against Ratoath and you can be sure that Kealy and Curran are exploring every avenue in their pursuit of Glory , I even seen Conor Devereux is back this week and due to join the panel . . a welcome addition to some already pretty heavy artillery in the forward division For the Semi i think its Tones to Lose tbh , I think Skryne have already over achieved this season and will be happy with their lot . . although its amazing what Micko has done in this short space of time , he def has so much more to offer to the county IMO whether it be U21s or Underage summerhillof69 (Meath) - Posts: 228 - 24/09/2024 15:15:56 2571630 Link
Still hurting a bit after the weekend. Better team on the day won, no doubt about it and yet it was still a game of fine margins. Second goal by Dunshaughlin is a double hop and so a foul, then moments later Ratoath have a shot saved off the line which is a 6 point swing, draw game at half time and its a completely different mindset for the second half. Dunshaughlin though have an air of confidence and presence about them this year, I think they will be vary hard stopped and the winner definitely comes from their semi final against Dunboyne. Tones and Simonstown was a terrible game of ball to watch, but Tones won't care as they got the result they wanted and are in yet another semi final, credit where it due, they know how to grind out a win. ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 24/09/2024 16:13:18 2571646 Link
Replying To ratlag: "Still hurting a bit after the weekend. Better team on the day won, no doubt about it and yet it was still a game of fine margins. Second goal by Dunshaughlin is a double hop and so a foul, then moments later Ratoath have a shot saved off the line which is a 6 point swing, draw game at half time and its a completely different mindset for the second half. Dunshaughlin though have an air of confidence and presence about them this year, I think they will be vary hard stopped and the winner definitely comes from their semi final against Dunboyne. Tones and Simonstown was a terrible game of ball to watch, but Tones won't care as they got the result they wanted and are in yet another semi final, credit where it due, they know how to grind out a win." Actually thought Ratoath didn't get the rub of the green on a couple of occasions and were unlucky at times but still Dunshaughlin are an excellent side. Think this is the end of a great Ratoath team, some of them players looked passed it UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 24/09/2024 18:13:50 2571658 Link
Replying To UsernameInvalid: "Actually thought Ratoath didn't get the rub of the green on a couple of occasions and were unlucky at times but still Dunshaughlin are an excellent side. Think this is the end of a great Ratoath team, some of them players looked passed it" Yea, if you wanted ot be very picky you could pick out a few bits but that happens in every game, I can have no arguments with the eventual winners, while at the same time saying it wasn't as one sided as some have made it out to be. There are a lot of miles on the clock of some of those Ratoath players but I wouldn't say they are finished just yet. Some lengthy injuries to Wallace, McMahon, McGowan, McGill this year coupled in with Flynn, Wallace and some others being in the States for the summer meant they were not as united as say Dunshaughlin were who have been together all year and look like a proper team. I think if they win Keegan this year and avoid the Dublin winners could well find themselves in a Leinster semi final or final. ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 25/09/2024 10:03:33 2571718 Link
Replying To UsernameInvalid: "Actually thought Ratoath didn't get the rub of the green on a couple of occasions and were unlucky at times but still Dunshaughlin are an excellent side. Think this is the end of a great Ratoath team, some of them players looked passed it" It might look like Ratoath are gone. But it depends how the club react. The players were not fit and starting players arriving mid season unfit sent a why bother message. They also had better players on the second team than on the senior panel. If the club get a better management team and realize that senior football requires training every week including dual players it will be a different vibe. Picking players who want to be dual players but have to be excused in hurling weeks means you can't win and you will demoralize the others Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 553 - 25/09/2024 10:33:48 2571731 Link
Replying To ratlag: "Yea, if you wanted ot be very picky you could pick out a few bits but that happens in every game, I can have no arguments with the eventual winners, while at the same time saying it wasn't as one sided as some have made it out to be. There are a lot of miles on the clock of some of those Ratoath players but I wouldn't say they are finished just yet. Some lengthy injuries to Wallace, McMahon, McGowan, McGill this year coupled in with Flynn, Wallace and some others being in the States for the summer meant they were not as united as say Dunshaughlin were who have been together all year and look like a proper team. I think if they win Keegan this year and avoid the Dublin winners could well find themselves in a Leinster semi final or final." Leinster club draws are made. Our Senior Champs face a route of Westmeath, then Wexford and then Carlow/Longford/Louth to reach a final Belt (Meath) - Posts: 272 - 25/09/2024 10:45:05 2571733 Link
Replying To Ashrules: "It might look like Ratoath are gone. But it depends how the club react. The players were not fit and starting players arriving mid season unfit sent a why bother message. They also had better players on the second team than on the senior panel. If the club get a better management team and realize that senior football requires training every week including dual players it will be a different vibe. Picking players who want to be dual players but have to be excused in hurling weeks means you can't win and you will demoralize the others" I agree . I think anyone writing off this Ratoath team as being finished are foolish. Yes they have probably come back to the pack and will probably not be absolutely guaranteed to make a semi final like they more or less have been the last 6 or 7 years but certainly you wouldn't say they are finished. The Meath football championship is so even that any of the decent teams on any given year can win it if they are moving ok but also get a bit of luck in the draw. For example if Ratoath had gotten Simonstown in the 1/4 I would expect they'd be in the semi finals this year playing Skyrne with an excellent chance of making another final. The same with Summerhill. Looked very jaded V Dunboyne and a few of their older stalwarts might hang up the boots and they won't be guaranteed to be in the last 4 like they have been most years of late but the standard in the county isn't strong enough to be totally writing the likes of them or Ratoath off for the next few years just yet in my opinion. Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 1012 - 25/09/2024 11:07:18 2571743 Link
Replying To Ashrules: "It might look like Ratoath are gone. But it depends how the club react. The players were not fit and starting players arriving mid season unfit sent a why bother message. They also had better players on the second team than on the senior panel. If the club get a better management team and realize that senior football requires training every week including dual players it will be a different vibe. Picking players who want to be dual players but have to be excused in hurling weeks means you can't win and you will demoralize the others" "Picking players who want to be dual players but have to be excused in hurling weeks means you can't win and you will demoralize the others" Yep dropping the below from the squad for wanting to be duel is the right way forward, their teammates will be delighted: Daithi McGowan Gavin McGowan Ben McGowan Conor McGill Bryan McMahon Cian Rogers Bobby O'Brien Darragh Kelly Cian Kelly Liam Kelly & more Can we for once be honest with ourselves on this thread. Ratoath have be outstanding over the last 6 or so years. They had a brilliant group of players from the 1993/94/95 age group and then continue to add new lads to the fold. Yes, this year was a down year but probably can point to big leaders being away for majority of the year and even missing first round of champioship but lets point to their incredible succussful dual status that only every club in the county would wish for. Ratoath will be in contention again next year especially as no other club as risen from the pack. torres710 (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 25/09/2024 11:44:52 2571756 Link
I'm not saying Ratoath won't win another championship or be there abouts but McGill, McMahon, Brian Daly, Brian O Connor, O Brien x2 Wallace x2, Gavin McGowan, Jack McGowan, Keith McCabe, Conor Rooney are all 30 or over next year and they were all key players at different stages when Ratoath won championships. The likes of Gareth Rooney, Brian Power, Shane Duffy are no longer playing. Ratoath will be able to replace some of the above players like Liam Kelly for McGill, Flynn for Cian O Brien but the likes of McMahon, and the Wallaces are they replacable or even Shane Duffy in nets. Brian Daly and Brian O Connor could play anywhere across the back 6 if needed, do they have 2 lads that can do that coming through. Did Ratoath win 3 minor championships in a row between 2010 - 2012? UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 25/09/2024 13:50:52 2571792 Link
Replying To torres710: ""Picking players who want to be dual players but have to be excused in hurling weeks means you can't win and you will demoralize the others" Yep dropping the below from the squad for wanting to be duel is the right way forward, their teammates will be delighted: Daithi McGowan Gavin McGowan Ben McGowan Conor McGill Bryan McMahon Cian Rogers Bobby O'Brien Darragh Kelly Cian Kelly Liam Kelly & more Can we for once be honest with ourselves on this thread. Ratoath have be outstanding over the last 6 or so years. They had a brilliant group of players from the 1993/94/95 age group and then continue to add new lads to the fold. Yes, this year was a down year but probably can point to big leaders being away for majority of the year and even missing first round of champioship but lets point to their incredible succussful dual status that only every club in the county would wish for. Ratoath will be in contention again next year especially as no other club as risen from the pack." You mention 10 lads by name. 2 of them couldn't get on the second team.gavin missed the whole championship with injury . They were all spun out by the Quarter final. Rogers and McMahon and Daithi had natural fitness so we're all right in group matches. The rest had no senior football fitness level built up. Football team could build a better level of team play and fitness if they all concentrated on hurling and bring in the second team footballers. Acknowledging they are mainly great lads but carry on without any sense. Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 553 - 25/09/2024 15:01:23 2571817 Link
Replying To Ashrules: "You mention 10 lads by name. 2 of them couldn't get on the second team.gavin missed the whole championship with injury . They were all spun out by the Quarter final. Rogers and McMahon and Daithi had natural fitness so we're all right in group matches. The rest had no senior football fitness level built up. Football team could build a better level of team play and fitness if they all concentrated on hurling and bring in the second team footballers. Acknowledging they are mainly great lads but carry on without any sense." Not quite sure who you are on about there not being able to make their 2nd team as every one of those players start on both teams this year. Gavin has been struggling with injuries this year and yes a few lads being away and having other injuries have hampered their year. Obviously if they weren't a Dual club and lads focused on one sport only they would be far more successful in the chosen code but in hurling and football over the last 5 years I think Ratoath have had a team in possibly 8 of those finals??? As they get older I think some lads roles need to change on each team if they are to continue being dual players as they will naturally be burnt out quicker but to say they need to pick one over the other I would strongly disagree with ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 25/09/2024 15:28:18 2571822 Link
Replying To summerhillof69: "Devastated but ultimately proud of our lads at the weekend , could of easily gone either way but at this stage it goes down to fine margins . .Would of liked to see Gillespie go out with another Keegan but alas wasnt to be . . Dunboyne will be hard bet but if theres one team that can do it it will be Dunshaughlin Thought they were v impressive against Ratoath and you can be sure that Kealy and Curran are exploring every avenue in their pursuit of Glory , I even seen Conor Devereux is back this week and due to join the panel . . a welcome addition to some already pretty heavy artillery in the forward division For the Semi i think its Tones to Lose tbh , I think Skryne have already over achieved this season and will be happy with their lot . . although its amazing what Micko has done in this short space of time , he def has so much more to offer to the county IMO whether it be U21s or Underage" What was wrong with Conor Devereux? Was he playing second team? Injured?? I remember him being a key member of the team that lost to Summerhill after a replay . . His experience would be a great addition to the squad CasinoRoyale (Meath) - Posts: 6 - 25/09/2024 16:17:46 2571830 Link
Replying To ratlag: "Not quite sure who you are on about there not being able to make their 2nd team as every one of those players start on both teams this year. Gavin has been struggling with injuries this year and yes a few lads being away and having other injuries have hampered their year. Obviously if they weren't a Dual club and lads focused on one sport only they would be far more successful in the chosen code but in hurling and football over the last 5 years I think Ratoath have had a team in possibly 8 of those finals??? As they get older I think some lads roles need to change on each team if they are to continue being dual players as they will naturally be burnt out quicker but to say they need to pick one over the other I would strongly disagree with" Ok ratoath are not the force they used to be, lad's missing for various reasons, miles on the clock ect. However they reached the senior quarter final, 2nd and 3rd teams in premier championship finals , I think anyway, and hurlers in semi this weekend, so still a lot to play for, wont be a pushover next year either royler (Meath) - Posts: 278 - 25/09/2024 16:44:17 2571834 Link
Who would like to see the Tones in the final? Although Wolfe Tones are a great club, have some fantastic players/people involved in the club and have being in the semifinals the last four years, I hope this year for the sake of having a proper, entertaining and enjoyable football County final that Skryne beat the Tones in the Semi final. I have seen the Tones twice in this year's championship and almost every game they played in the championship has been dour and for that reason any two of the other three teams will make for a better final. The Tones did not even score a goal in three of their four games (Dunshaughlin scored 11) and have scored less than an average of 12 points per game, two games in the single digits and never had more than ten scores in all four of their championship games. The other three semi finalists have scored an average of between 16 and 20 points per game and Dunboyne had 20 scores in one game. Because the Tones are so good defensively, the opposition also scores a lot less. I may be harsh on the Tones and what they have achieved but if I am paying €20 into the final, I would like to get value for my money and see an entertaining game of football. madmeath (Meath) - Posts: 84 - 25/09/2024 17:01:45 2571837 Link
Replying To ratlag: "Not quite sure who you are on about there not being able to make their 2nd team as every one of those players start on both teams this year. Gavin has been struggling with injuries this year and yes a few lads being away and having other injuries have hampered their year. Obviously if they weren't a Dual club and lads focused on one sport only they would be far more successful in the chosen code but in hurling and football over the last 5 years I think Ratoath have had a team in possibly 8 of those finals??? As they get older I think some lads roles need to change on each team if they are to continue being dual players as they will naturally be burnt out quicker but to say they need to pick one over the other I would strongly disagree with" Your list might be starters on the hurling team but certainly not on the football. Getting a bit of a game in the league does not make a starter. Ratoath have won 3 senior football titles and no hurling as yet. The dual players buckled at the end and none made a winning impact in the football finals. Maybe in hurling as it's a lower standard. The football team would do better with the good young lads ignored by the selectors. Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 553 - 26/09/2024 09:41:57 2571899 Link
Replying To Ashrules: "Your list might be starters on the hurling team but certainly not on the football. Getting a bit of a game in the league does not make a starter. Ratoath have won 3 senior football titles and no hurling as yet. The dual players buckled at the end and none made a winning impact in the football finals. Maybe in hurling as it's a lower standard. The football team would do better with the good young lads ignored by the selectors." Daithi McGowan - Starts Senior Gavin McGowan - Injured most of the year but starts senior when fit Ben McGowan - Away in the States this year, only back now for championship, but starts Senior when around Conor McGill - Injured for start of championship but Starts Senior Bryan McMahon - Starts Senior Cian Rogers - Starts Senior Bobby O'Brien - Injured most of the year but used on Senior panel and would be an auto start for Second team Darragh Kelly - Started some Senior games, played in all of them Cian Kelly - Starts Second Team Liam Kelly - Starts Senior Nobody on this list not starting or used regularly for senior, especially when all fit ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 26/09/2024 11:01:42 2571907 Link