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Intermediate Championship

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Anyone writing in nonsense here about Ballivor being a hurling team is from the area with a chip on their shoulder and looking to create some sort of siege mentality. Nobody outside of Ballivor looks at them like that. Anybody who's ever faced them will know they've always produced quality footballers and you never got anything easy against them, even when they had some barren years. They've been senior before and but for being so competitive on the hurling side of things may well never have come back down. Good luck to them from here on in, they will be underdogs again based on Meath Hill's form to date but that will suit them down to the ground. The_Ripper (Meath) - Posts: 183 - 23/09/2024 10:17:54 2571401 Link
For 3 of the 4 semi-finalists, it would be a massive achievement to win an Intermediate Championship - Meath Hill and Castletown are very small clubs in rural North Meath, both with some really good young players who have been involved in Meath underage set ups over the last couple of years. They're reaping the rewards now. For Ballivor, it would be a similar achievement - a small parish mixing it with the big boys.. People need to stop with the hurling club mentality, and it seems to be coming from inside Ballivor. Nobody outside of Ballivor cares. Ballivor produce good players, and whether they also play hurling or have players who play hurling for other clubs is absolutely irrelevant All 3 of these clubs played Junior football in the not so recent past (Castletown 2022, Ballivor 2020 and Meath Hill 2017), so again - a massive achievement for all 3 to get so far. For O'Mahony's it's a good chance for them to return to where they probably should be, but it won't be an easy task. Just like Moynalvey, they are far from perfect, and Castletown are absolutely capable of upsetting them. Their reputation does stand to them though, they're still a massive name in Meath football. Meath Hill will be favs in the other game, Ballivor bullied Oldcastle and were really pragmatic in their approach. They will be very hard to play against, and I said before - Meath Hill's achilles heel is their discipline. If they can't keep it together, they're not going to win. But I expect the North Meath side to be too strong and advance to the final. But two really fascinating semi-finals, and we get a good story no matter who wins. hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 254 - 23/09/2024 11:51:36 2571425 Link
Replying To winatallcost: "Agree. The senior especially the top 10 teams or so are miles ahead of intermediate. The winners this year will likely struggle as soon as they go up. Junior and intermediate much more closely aligned. There are probably 3 or 4 teams in intermediate not much better than junior b level but only one team will be relegated. Oldcastle seem to struggle at business end when going gets tough. How did Jason Scully play? As a county player, would be expecting him to be leading the way there." Scully was quiet, though made a few bursts where he won frees inside the 45. Ballivor did a good job on him. He took an awful lot of hits off the ball. Had as much involvement as O'Halloran and McKeon, the two other county players on show. McKeon and Garrigan cancelled eachother out, the only score McKeon got from play was when someone else was on him. Ballivor deserved the victory, they left a few scores out there and they have a lot of experience in the team. I fear for them against Meath Hill who are a similar style team to Oldcastle but they won't get away with the same off the ball stuff in Pairc Tailteann with proper linesmen. Adam Gannon and Keith Keoghan will be big additions if they are back for the semi final. royal11 (Meath) - Posts: 102 - 23/09/2024 13:07:06 2571444 Link
Replying To royal11: "Scully was quiet, though made a few bursts where he won frees inside the 45. Ballivor did a good job on him. He took an awful lot of hits off the ball. Had as much involvement as O'Halloran and McKeon, the two other county players on show. McKeon and Garrigan cancelled eachother out, the only score McKeon got from play was when someone else was on him. Ballivor deserved the victory, they left a few scores out there and they have a lot of experience in the team. I fear for them against Meath Hill who are a similar style team to Oldcastle but they won't get away with the same off the ball stuff in Pairc Tailteann with proper linesmen. Adam Gannon and Keith Keoghan will be big additions if they are back for the semi final." McKeon may not have scored much from play, but he was very prominent in most of Ballivor good moves. Off the ball stuff will definitely be harder to get away with in Pairc Tailteann. I actually think Oldcastles defence was okay bar the goals being leaked. It's their attacking up front that let them down..they really struggled to break down a packed Ballivor defence. I expect both semi finals to be close. NOM and Meath Hill favourites for those games based on recent results, but it's all going to be on the day! Meath Hill the only undefeated team left I believe? How can you not love the intermediate championship! trueblue1995 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 23/09/2024 13:28:18 2571447 Link
Mckeon started most attacks but you must remember it was o halloran cutting out the ball time after time and carrying it out through the hands to the half way and laying it off to Mckeon. On the scully point he got a lot of abuse hit off the ball and was still Oldcastle most prominent player. You could tell who were the county players playing Scully O halloran Mckeon. Mmmeath (Meath) - Posts: 15 - 23/09/2024 14:39:27 2571464 Link
Ballivor to beat Meathhill. Meathhill discipline will be the undoing of them here. Ballivor have a physical 15 and speed to go with that. Meathhill have some lovely individual players but Ballivor will snuff them out. With Kildalkey out of the hurling now, concentration will turn to the football. I see the winner of the championship coming from this side. Ballivor by 4 NOM to beat Castletown but a closer game. NOM have been stop start in the championship but when they turn up they are really hard to stop . Their movement in the forwards is quality , a well coached team. An easy QF win and no injuries should see them through. Castletown will give NOM things to think about that NOM might not have seen in the QF. Castletowns youth will not fear them , McConnell & Smith will need to be on fire and if they can stay in the game with 10 to go maybe a surprise win for the north Meath men. I see NOM by a point or 2 in this. fitspert (Meath) - Posts: 25 - 29/09/2024 10:20:56 2572316 Link
The first semi promises to be an absolute cracker with two good footballing teams facing off. O'Mahonys had a hiccup in their first outing against Walterstown but have not put a foot wrong since while Castletown also lost their opener to Ballivor, they will feel disappointed in the manner of their loss having bossed the game for so long. Both teams have since been on a winning streak that will end on Saturday with NOM experience possibly giving them the edge in a one-point victory. The second semi may not be as free flowing. Ballivor know they are up against it like against Oldcastle with Meath Hill standing in their way. They will employ the similar hard-hitting tactics they were so clever with against Oldcastle combined with some decent attacking football. If Meath Hill can keep their discipline and play like they have been they should be eyeing a final showdown with Navan. KingofTara (Meath) - Posts: 21 - 01/10/2024 10:27:42 2572668 Link
NOM to beat Castletown by 6 plus. Castletown will be senior in the next 4-5 years but Navan are ready to get back to the senior ranks where they belong. Meath Hill to beat Ballivor but it will be closer than people think. Ballivor had a great win 2 weeks ago and Meath Hill haven't been tested. They will be Sunday but should have enough. MH by 3. Gaelic_Games (Meath) - Posts: 21 - 01/10/2024 15:20:00 2572705 Link
Two interesting games, and I think we've seen it all year at Intermediate level, it really is all on who shows up on the day. There hasn't been much consistency across the board, so these games could go anyway. NOM vs Castletown: On paper, NOM should be stronger and it's a golden opportunity for them to try and get back to Senior. But I'm not convinced. They could very well be too strong, and they've shown a few times that they can go through the gears when they need to. The Walterstown game is the one I would be worried about, shipping 4-11 against a team that finished bottom and are in a relegation semi final. But otherwise they've been tipping along nicely and are justified favourites on Saturday. Castletown on the other hand are a young side, propped up by 3 Meath U20 players (2 of which started), and throw in a bit of experience with the likes of Kevin Ross who was involved in the Meath set up 5/6 years ago. So they are dangerous and more than capable. They probably should be perfect 4/4 so far, but for that blunder when 8/9 points up against Ballivor in the opening game. I'll go for Casteltown to just edge it as I did put them up somewhere in these forums as a dark horse at the start of the championship Castletown by 2 Meath Hill vs Ballivor: I've always had Meath Hill as the best team in intermediate, I think only themselves will stop them from winning it outright. They've got some really good players like Gary Breslin, and look the most senior ready. But it's hard to know where they're at. They undoubtedly had the softest group, Nobber & Blackhall Gaels are both in relegation semis, and Bective aren't much better than either of them. But discipline discipline discipline is key for them, they have a tendency to lose their heads and end up a man down. Ballivor on the other hand are definitely a surprise package, I didn't have them getting out of their group - but they've looked impressive so far. They know how to win ugly and they did it against Oldcastle who proved to be too soft in the end. I don't think they'll be able to bully Meath Hill like that. They'll have a go but I think Meath Hill will be too strong. Meath Hill by 6 hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 254 - 02/10/2024 13:53:47 2572785 Link
Final pairing sorted after the weekend and it should be a ding dong final. O'Mahonys proved too experienced for Castletown according to spectators at the game. I was at the Meath Hill Ballivor game and Meath Hill were very impressive. Took the pace of the game to Ballivor and were spurred on by there enourmous crowd. The place will shut down for a year if they are to get over the line. Young Breslin is a great operator and could not understand how Ballivor didn't put their county man on him, he would be more than able. Focusing more on my neighbours, too many of their big players didn't show up on the day and for the second time in a row they relied heavily on Thomas Raleigh to keep them in the game. A good year for the maroons though and they have shone a light that all of us South Meath clubs have a bit of bite in us yet LoyaleRoyale (Meath) - Posts: 13 - 07/10/2024 11:08:31 2573428 Link
Would it be team with smallest pick in county up against team with biggest pick? happydude (Meath) - Posts: 234 - 07/10/2024 21:41:36 2573548 Link
Replying To happydude: "Would it be team with smallest pick in county up against team with biggest pick?" Meath Hill have a much bigger pick that you'd think. While it's absolutely a rural area, but there's no clear parish boundary lines I would say. Anyone in that kind of Rural Nobber, Kilmainhamwood, Drumcondrath, and out to Kingscourt area would fall into the catchment area. The area stretches across the Cavan to Louth border. So it's bigger than you'd think. I certainly seen players play for Kilmainhamwood at underage level but go to Meath Hill for adult football. So they've benefited from a lot of that. And Navan O'Mahonys on the other hand have one of the biggest picks on paper, but despite Navan's population surge, it's clear a lot of people aren't getting involved in GAA. They really share punching below where they should be hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 254 - 09/10/2024 13:36:50 2573884 Link
Replying To hyperache: "Meath Hill have a much bigger pick that you'd think. While it's absolutely a rural area, but there's no clear parish boundary lines I would say. Anyone in that kind of Rural Nobber, Kilmainhamwood, Drumcondrath, and out to Kingscourt area would fall into the catchment area. The area stretches across the Cavan to Louth border. So it's bigger than you'd think. I certainly seen players play for Kilmainhamwood at underage level but go to Meath Hill for adult football. So they've benefited from a lot of that. And Navan O'Mahonys on the other hand have one of the biggest picks on paper, but despite Navan's population surge, it's clear a lot of people aren't getting involved in GAA. They really share punching below where they should be" You know your stuff yes Meath Hill is a sprawling rural area but covers a lot of ground and has no village as such. This has led to a lot of one off housing in the area. Indeed it does stretch from the Gypsum near kwood all along the Cavan/monaghan border right to the Louth border. They have two schools as Carrickleck which is in kingscourt parish but Co Meath can play with the hill. Traditionally families living in Drumconrath with Meath hill backgrounds play with them (McMahons, Griffins McCabes and are fully entitled to do so as So to be fair The Hill would have a bigger pick than say Drumconrath, Nobber, Castletown and even St Michael's which are all smaller areas while Kwood would be more similar another big rural area noelpconnon (Cavan) - Posts: 219 - 11/10/2024 07:47:07 2574131 Link
It will be interesting to see how the Mahonys get on in the final without their talisman Jake Regan . He has been a marvelous servant to the club and has been their go to man for scores this long time. I think the Hill will simply have too much for De La Salle on the day but it will be a nail biter and the Hill already have one eye on Leinster. The Hill by 3. NorthMeathRising (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 14/10/2024 11:27:31 2574753 Link
In a blow to Dmahonys was above in CP saturday and saw young gossin Mallon on crutches & in a jes knee brace RobbiesArmy2025 (Meath) - Posts: 35 - 14/10/2024 12:00:42 2574767 Link
I'm not sure how de intermediate hurling championship victory ( a fabulous championship I must declare) will efect the maneys. The mountain men are well adjusted to the intermediate football, not sure where the maneys are at the moment hai sumtimes i think they feel like their still playing the senior football. That been said the likes of young Aiden Mallon and Conor brady might draw some inspiration from watching the likes of Jinxy beggy and the brays growing up. I think it is a north meath year. They bring that raw strength ye dont get in the town. Hill by 15. MartryMorrisey (Meath) - Posts: 19 - 14/10/2024 13:14:11 2574792 Link
Replying To NorthMeathRising: "It will be interesting to see how the Mahonys get on in the final without their talisman Jake Regan . He has been a marvelous servant to the club and has been their go to man for scores this long time. I think the Hill will simply have too much for De La Salle on the day but it will be a nail biter and the Hill already have one eye on Leinster. The Hill by 3." Tones in the senior football too. It will be the weekend North Meath takes over. MartryMorrisey (Meath) - Posts: 19 - 14/10/2024 13:16:50 2574796 Link
Does any1 have the odds for the final? Last I saw MH were 5/6 favs. TIA Wonder would that make Breslin a defacto fav in MOTM market RobbiesArmy2025 (Meath) - Posts: 35 - 16/10/2024 11:39:45 2575252 Link
Nom to get over the line on Saturday in what will be a titanic battle. Both will feel they haven't faced a better opposition up until this point. I expect young Melon to pick up Breslin and keep him at bay. Up front Rob K duggie Dillon Oisin Obrien and young Ronan Clarke will prove too strong. Nom by 2 Royale1 (Meath) - Posts: 9 - 16/10/2024 14:01:47 2575296 Link
Replying To RobbiesArmy2025: "Does any1 have the odds for the final? Last I saw MH were 5/6 favs. TIA Wonder would that make Breslin a defacto fav in MOTM market" Last I saw it was 5/6 Meath Hill, and NOM were 6/5, draw is 13/2. And odds to win the competition are 4/6 Meath Hill and NOM are evens. Discrepancy is that the match betting is to win in 60 mins, extra time doesn't count. hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 254 - 16/10/2024 14:21:40 2575301 Link