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Meath Club Football 2024

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Senior: Ratoath to claim the Keegan cup back, they had a poor championship last year but still ended up taking Summerhill to extra time in the decider. Bench will have a massive say who wins the championship and Summerhills panel isnt as strong with lads gone away, injuries and lads retiring. Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Donaghmore Ashbourne and Wolfe Tones all potential challengers with any of them with a strike of luck having a good chance of beating Summerhill to the final and ultimately falling short as runners up. Simonstown, Trim and Skryne could all go down but i fancy Trim to go down as they are missing players.

Intermediate: Moynalvey could be a serious threat in this championship if they a few good players home from 'down under'. The likes of Sean the digger Duggan, and Brian O'Reilly are well experienced senior championship footballers that they would love to welcome home. Meath Hill and O'mahonys will fancy their chances at this championship as there is no clear favourite but Duleek are going to win it and get over the line at the third time of asking with good young players like the Bowdens and Armstrong leading this team. Longwood and Blackhall Gaels will be playing in the relegation decider on the weekend of the finals with Longwood qualifying for the junior championship for 2025.

Junior: Hardest Championship to call by far, the club that provided a home to future family of All Blacks could go strong this year. Anyone could win it, but Moylagh are the clear favourites for relegation in my mind.

Junior B: Moynalty to win the local rivalry in the final vs Carnaross.

Meathboyos86 (Meath) - Posts: 31 - 15/06/2024 01:35:37    2551529

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Replying To Meathboyos86:  "Senior: Ratoath to claim the Keegan cup back, they had a poor championship last year but still ended up taking Summerhill to extra time in the decider. Bench will have a massive say who wins the championship and Summerhills panel isnt as strong with lads gone away, injuries and lads retiring. Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Donaghmore Ashbourne and Wolfe Tones all potential challengers with any of them with a strike of luck having a good chance of beating Summerhill to the final and ultimately falling short as runners up. Simonstown, Trim and Skryne could all go down but i fancy Trim to go down as they are missing players.

Intermediate: Moynalvey could be a serious threat in this championship if they a few good players home from 'down under'. The likes of Sean the digger Duggan, and Brian O'Reilly are well experienced senior championship footballers that they would love to welcome home. Meath Hill and O'mahonys will fancy their chances at this championship as there is no clear favourite but Duleek are going to win it and get over the line at the third time of asking with good young players like the Bowdens and Armstrong leading this team. Longwood and Blackhall Gaels will be playing in the relegation decider on the weekend of the finals with Longwood qualifying for the junior championship for 2025.

Junior: Hardest Championship to call by far, the club that provided a home to future family of All Blacks could go strong this year. Anyone could win it, but Moylagh are the clear favourites for relegation in my mind.

Junior B: Moynalty to win the local rivalry in the final vs Carnaross."
Very hard to know. I think combination of current form and players returning from county duty is a good indication of potential performance for senior grade.

Senior: Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, Dunboyne

Meathooooo (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 16/06/2024 09:35:32    2551779

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Anyone noticed any upcoming/undiscovered talents at club games recently, based off what I've seen I reckon
Conor Duffy blackhall Gaels and Daragh Mcvann from Summerhill have had serious league campaigns and could be well worth a senior call up. I know Mcvann in particular has sigerson experience with Athlone so would well understand the level required.
From what I heard Conor Duffy played no 14 for maynooth post primary possibly in their Leinster final championship, another one worth a look maybe?

Meathgaafann (Meath) - Posts: 2 - 16/06/2024 22:24:06    2552070

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Senior relegation this year will be extremely competitive this year with no clear standout favourite to go down which is different to the last couple of seasons in my opinion. Curraha would probably be the bookies favourite, but their ability get big goals when needed seems to continually get them over the line with their marque forwards who would start on any senior team. Trim , Simonstown and Kells are teams that shouldn't be anyway near the bottom end of this championship but unfortunately for Meath football these big population centres are completely under preforming.

I've said it before on this form, and I'll say it again: there is a serious problem in Meath football, with the big towns simply not generating the footballers they should. Meath Gaa need to invest and try to achieve a higher return from the areas that I named above, additionally  Enfield which is a complete soccer town from what I understand. Clubs like Summerhill and st colmcilles seem to have the right infrastructure in place at under age levels compared to some of these other big clubs

Faithfulmeath (Meath) - Posts: 13 - 17/06/2024 19:51:36    2552503

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Replying To Faithfulmeath:  "Senior relegation this year will be extremely competitive this year with no clear standout favourite to go down which is different to the last couple of seasons in my opinion. Curraha would probably be the bookies favourite, but their ability get big goals when needed seems to continually get them over the line with their marque forwards who would start on any senior team. Trim , Simonstown and Kells are teams that shouldn't be anyway near the bottom end of this championship but unfortunately for Meath football these big population centres are completely under preforming.

I've said it before on this form, and I'll say it again: there is a serious problem in Meath football, with the big towns simply not generating the footballers they should. Meath Gaa need to invest and try to achieve a higher return from the areas that I named above, additionally  Enfield which is a complete soccer town from what I understand. Clubs like Summerhill and st colmcilles seem to have the right infrastructure in place at under age levels compared to some of these other big clubs"
So you want meath gaa to invest in the large towns gaa clubs? So clubs like Ballinabrackey, Rathkenny etc should paddle their own canoe ?? Am.i missing something as i don't recall Kells, Trim or Simonstown back boning our senior team?

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1494 - 17/06/2024 21:49:50    2552525

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Replying To Analyst:  "So you want meath gaa to invest in the large towns gaa clubs? So clubs like Ballinabrackey, Rathkenny etc should paddle their own canoe ?? Am.i missing something as i don't recall Kells, Trim or Simonstown back boning our senior team?"
Navan Parish - Simonstown NOM Bective

Kells Parish - Gael Colmcille Drumbaragh Kilmainham

Two large parishes. Three teams in each.

Too many clubs = weaker teams, diluted talent, weaker club competition, weaker county.

Trim is very much dual club with a lot of teams surrounding it. Not sure on parish boundaries.

Meathooooo (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 18/06/2024 08:55:32    2552586

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Replying To Meathooooo:  "Navan Parish - Simonstown NOM Bective

Kells Parish - Gael Colmcille Drumbaragh Kilmainham

Two large parishes. Three teams in each.

Too many clubs = weaker teams, diluted talent, weaker club competition, weaker county.

Trim is very much dual club with a lot of teams surrounding it. Not sure on parish boundaries."
I'm not sure I agree with your point here. A team can only field 15 players at a time. Larger clubs have huge drop off of players. It is noticeable that many of their 2nd teams are not fielding. Numbers is not an issue, it is actually developing and nurturing Talent that seems to be issue!

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 18/06/2024 10:13:32    2552613

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Cork, Dublin have the most clubs with Leitrim, Longford with the lowest, doesn't back up you argument. If you are old enough to remember our successful teams had players from all grades and clubs, such as Carnaross, K Wood, Moynalvey, St Colmcille's, Dunderry

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1494 - 18/06/2024 10:36:44    2552627

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Replying To winatallcost:  "I'm not sure I agree with your point here. A team can only field 15 players at a time. Larger clubs have huge drop off of players. It is noticeable that many of their 2nd teams are not fielding. Numbers is not an issue, it is actually developing and nurturing Talent that seems to be issue!"
Numbers is obviously an issue if second teams aren't fielding.

Drop off in all sports from juvenile to adult is 60-70% in boys. Higher with girls. Multiple studies in multiple regions.

North Meath region has 16 clubs in lowest playing population area. Mostly junior clubs. Not all but most.
Maybe one competitive Intermediate team amongst them.
This clearly demonstrates more clubs is not better.

Consolidate clubs, more players, chances of finding great talent, level for everyone's ability, more resources, more facilities, better for Meath football.

Not rocket science. People just need to admit traditional Gaa micro mini club model is dead.


.

Meathooooo (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 18/06/2024 13:53:33    2552725

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Replying To Meathooooo:  "Numbers is obviously an issue if second teams aren't fielding.

Drop off in all sports from juvenile to adult is 60-70% in boys. Higher with girls. Multiple studies in multiple regions.

North Meath region has 16 clubs in lowest playing population area. Mostly junior clubs. Not all but most.
Maybe one competitive Intermediate team amongst them.
This clearly demonstrates more clubs is not better.

Consolidate clubs, more players, chances of finding great talent, level for everyone's ability, more resources, more facilities, better for Meath football.

Not rocket science. People just need to admit traditional Gaa micro mini club model is dead.


."
I think you can look at it another way. The smaller clubs are more often than not fielding while it's the big clubs lower ranked teams that are not. If you reduce the number of clubs, the drop off will actually increase and not reduce. I think players seem to rather playing for their own club albeit at a lower level than player for a larger club 2nd or 3rd team. The regional championships need to be looked at as I agree it would be better for more players to have opportunities to play at a higher level. The current structure is flawed but be careful about reducing the number of clubs. Not the obvious answer.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 594 - 18/06/2024 15:48:45    2552766

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Replying To Analyst:  "So you want meath gaa to invest in the large towns gaa clubs? So clubs like Ballinabrackey, Rathkenny etc should paddle their own canoe ?? Am.i missing something as i don't recall Kells, Trim or Simonstown back boning our senior team?"
My primary point in the above statement is outlining the issue that the big town clubs are not back boning the senior team. you are not missing anything you simply re-enforced my statement. For the numbers they have access to they should be back boning or at least makin a significantly bigger impact on our senior team.

Don't think i ever once said the smaller clubs should be left paddle their own canoe. Think you may find that both of these rural clubs that you mentioned are senior which would suggest that they currently do not have an issue with getting the most out of their players in their catchment area. My point was regarding how to strength and improve Meath Gaa

Faithfulmeath (Meath) - Posts: 13 - 18/06/2024 18:08:09    2552809

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Replying To Meathooooo:  "Numbers is obviously an issue if second teams aren't fielding.

Drop off in all sports from juvenile to adult is 60-70% in boys. Higher with girls. Multiple studies in multiple regions.

North Meath region has 16 clubs in lowest playing population area. Mostly junior clubs. Not all but most.
Maybe one competitive Intermediate team amongst them.
This clearly demonstrates more clubs is not better.

Consolidate clubs, more players, chances of finding great talent, level for everyone's ability, more resources, more facilities, better for Meath football.

Not rocket science. People just need to admit traditional Gaa micro mini club model is dead.


."
What brown are you talking. There are 18 clubs in North Meath. 3 Senior, 6 Intermediate, 5 Junior and 4 Junior B.

Tell the likes of Rathkenny, Curaha and Ballinabrackey that the mini club model is dead and they will show you different.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 18/06/2024 21:07:19    2552848

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "What brown are you talking. There are 18 clubs in North Meath. 3 Senior, 6 Intermediate, 5 Junior and 4 Junior B.

Tell the likes of Rathkenny, Curaha and Ballinabrackey that the mini club model is dead and they will show you different."
Actually 16. 1 senior team. You most have couple of extra toes or fingers.

But anyway, point is Meath football is very weak. Being a Meath senior does not hold same standing as senior team would in Dublin ( Dublin is the bench mark)

Quality is diluted in Meath with 60 teams!!

Numbers, results, standings don't lie.

Amalgamations or a real Regional Senior Championship is the only way to improve Meath football.

The results of 80s and 90s are not comparable to today's society or demographics. 1987 is 37 years ago!!

Meathooooo (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 18/06/2024 23:48:01    2552879

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Replying To winatallcost:  "I think you can look at it another way. The smaller clubs are more often than not fielding while it's the big clubs lower ranked teams that are not. If you reduce the number of clubs, the drop off will actually increase and not reduce. I think players seem to rather playing for their own club albeit at a lower level than player for a larger club 2nd or 3rd team. The regional championships need to be looked at as I agree it would be better for more players to have opportunities to play at a higher level. The current structure is flawed but be careful about reducing the number of clubs. Not the obvious answer."
Fair point. But not everyone can be a first team player. So we continuely reduce levels so lads can play first team Junior B?

Where's the opportunity for a good player to develop if he's playing pub football grade. It also degrades Meath County football.

Regional is probably the best and easiest solution. But we need to have some way of helping good players on weaker teams to develop or at least have a chance at developing.

Amalgamations are inevitable with the drop off in participation. It will happen by necessity.

Meathooooo (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 18/06/2024 23:54:29    2552880

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Replying To Meathooooo:  "Actually 16. 1 senior team. You most have couple of extra toes or fingers.

But anyway, point is Meath football is very weak. Being a Meath senior does not hold same standing as senior team would in Dublin ( Dublin is the bench mark)

Quality is diluted in Meath with 60 teams!!

Numbers, results, standings don't lie.

Amalgamations or a real Regional Senior Championship is the only way to improve Meath football.

The results of 80s and 90s are not comparable to today's society or demographics. 1987 is 37 years ago!!"
18, Rathkenny and Tones would both be North Meath.

Look, I agree with your point that senior club football in Meath is at an all time low and has been for 10 years now.

Some clubs need to get their house in order, O Mahonys being the main one but Ashbourne and Colmcilles for their underage success have achieved very little nor had a major impact on the senior championship. Dunboyne are another team who are under achieving.

The likes of Seneschalstown are holding their own since losing the majority of that team from the late 2000's, similar to Skryne.

The best way to improve the championship is the go regional and reduce the number of senior teams.

12 Senior
16 Intermediate
16 Junior
16 Junior B

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 19/06/2024 11:12:46    2552940

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Replying To Meathooooo:  "Actually 16. 1 senior team. You most have couple of extra toes or fingers.

But anyway, point is Meath football is very weak. Being a Meath senior does not hold same standing as senior team would in Dublin ( Dublin is the bench mark)

Quality is diluted in Meath with 60 teams!!

Numbers, results, standings don't lie.

Amalgamations or a real Regional Senior Championship is the only way to improve Meath football.

The results of 80s and 90s are not comparable to today's society or demographics. 1987 is 37 years ago!!"
Not that it really matters, but Wolf Tones, Rathkenny and Gaeil Colmcille are all in North Meath and are senior. But hey, let's just forget about those because they wouldn't fit the narrative?

Your point would be valid if the sole purpose of a club team was to feed the county team, which it's not. 95% of club players will never be county standard regardless of who they play for. Hence why we have a split season to cater for everyone.

I have always argued that a regional championship is the way to go if you want to improve the overall standard of the county, so I agree with you there. But I just can't see the logistically how it would work. We saw the regional championships trialled over the last 2 years, and they just stuck it on in November/December and the general engagement was no existent. The best players at each club weren't playing. For a regional championship to work, it would have to be incorporated into the senior championship in some capacity,

Bur scapegoating some clubs is not the answer. There's no evidence to suggest less is more. The Meath senior championship is poor, and it's evident with how poorly the winner does when they advance to the Leinster championship. They're miles behind the Kildare/Dublin clubs, and struggle to get past the first round.

At least our Intermediate and Junior clubs have done relatively well over the last 10/15 years in Leinster and the All Ireland series if they won Leinster, the last time a Meath senior club won anything was 2022, and before that it was the 70s & 80s. So something seriously wrong there.

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 254 - 19/06/2024 11:35:57    2552948

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "18, Rathkenny and Tones would both be North Meath.

Look, I agree with your point that senior club football in Meath is at an all time low and has been for 10 years now.

Some clubs need to get their house in order, O Mahonys being the main one but Ashbourne and Colmcilles for their underage success have achieved very little nor had a major impact on the senior championship. Dunboyne are another team who are under achieving.

The likes of Seneschalstown are holding their own since losing the majority of that team from the late 2000's, similar to Skryne.

The best way to improve the championship is the go regional and reduce the number of senior teams.

12 Senior
16 Intermediate
16 Junior
16 Junior B"
Would you rather have a team or maybe 2 teams that completely dominate meath club football and produce in leinster and all ireland series or have a crackingly open championship each year.
I know ratoath and summerhill are marginely clear atm but any one of 10 teams could beat them on a going day.
We should be careful what we wish for imo....

Ed2010 (Meath) - Posts: 109 - 19/06/2024 11:42:45    2552950

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Replying To Ed2010:  "Would you rather have a team or maybe 2 teams that completely dominate meath club football and produce in leinster and all ireland series or have a crackingly open championship each year.
I know ratoath and summerhill are marginely clear atm but any one of 10 teams could beat them on a going day.
We should be careful what we wish for imo...."
Our senior championship is fairly competitive with 3 different winners in the last 3 years but is it a high standard?
There are a number of teams which dilute the championship at the minute including own and are just happy to stay senior without competing.

I would rather have a competitive senior championship at a higher level. The likes of Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Tyrone all have very competitive championships and do well at intercounty level but they have a high standard of championship

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 409 - 19/06/2024 13:36:45    2552989

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "Our senior championship is fairly competitive with 3 different winners in the last 3 years but is it a high standard?
There are a number of teams which dilute the championship at the minute including own and are just happy to stay senior without competing.

I would rather have a competitive senior championship at a higher level. The likes of Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Tyrone all have very competitive championships and do well at intercounty level but they have a high standard of championship"
Exactly!

Our senior club Leinster record proves its not of a high standard. I don't think any one is bashing any one team or grade. Just looking at it from logical point of view.

it's hard to argue
1. Meath Club football is of a high standard (in general)
2. 60 clubs contribute to improving standards
3. CB is proactively trying to improve it from a structural point.

I fully understand club loyalty etc, but it's time to look.at this. Or else standard will continue to drop.

Meathooooo (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 19/06/2024 14:30:48    2553020

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Replying To hyperache:  "Not that it really matters, but Wolf Tones, Rathkenny and Gaeil Colmcille are all in North Meath and are senior. But hey, let's just forget about those because they wouldn't fit the narrative?

Your point would be valid if the sole purpose of a club team was to feed the county team, which it's not. 95% of club players will never be county standard regardless of who they play for. Hence why we have a split season to cater for everyone.

I have always argued that a regional championship is the way to go if you want to improve the overall standard of the county, so I agree with you there. But I just can't see the logistically how it would work. We saw the regional championships trialled over the last 2 years, and they just stuck it on in November/December and the general engagement was no existent. The best players at each club weren't playing. For a regional championship to work, it would have to be incorporated into the senior championship in some capacity,

Bur scapegoating some clubs is not the answer. There's no evidence to suggest less is more. The Meath senior championship is poor, and it's evident with how poorly the winner does when they advance to the Leinster championship. They're miles behind the Kildare/Dublin clubs, and struggle to get past the first round.

At least our Intermediate and Junior clubs have done relatively well over the last 10/15 years in Leinster and the All Ireland series if they won Leinster, the last time a Meath senior club won anything was 2022, and before that it was the 70s & 80s. So something seriously wrong there."
You're getting there!

And you're correct on quiet a bit.

Competition Logistics are the job of CB.

I still firmly believe the number of Gaa Clubs is huge factor in poor participation level, game quality etc etc.

It's common sense. Regional is best way forward.

Meathooooo (Meath) - Posts: 94 - 19/06/2024 14:34:55    2553021

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