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Meath 2026

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Replying To Selwyn: "Good first half performance today. Let Wicklow back into the game in the 2nd half. Some great performances. Finnerty looks like he has huge potential. McConnell looks decent and is one for the future. Very light though (at the moment). Thought Smullen did well before going off injured. Moriarty was the pick of the bunch. Looks strong and conditioned. Would like to see him given more of a chance this year. Oisin Martin played quite well also. We were cleaned out of it on their kickouts. Don't think we won one until midway through the 2nd half. Bit of a worry there, especially with Gray in midfield. Jackson was able to pick out a blue shirt with ease. To be fair, he's a great kicker of a ball. On that, our Keeper, his kick outs were poor (although he did other GK duties really well). He either let the ball hang in the air for an eternity, or put it over the sideline. It's Offaly away on Wednesday I believe?" Very good showing first half despite alot of early misses and 2nd half was largely postive with a shakey few moments towards end meaning game was too close for comfort. Backline quite comfortable and thought Duane and O'Regan very solid. Smullen started really well so a pity he got injured and McCarrick was very positive when he came in. Smyth showed great energy going both ways. Wonder was Gray minding his minutes for Sigerson? McConnell a really good all round player if he can strengthen a little more for contact situations. Finnerty and Moriarty the pick of the fowards. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 894 - 03/01/2026 21:36:03 2649612 Link
Good showing from the development squad in Aughrim today. Thought Aaron Kiernan was adding plenty of value from the touchline as well. Any word back from the carrier pigeon on the game v Kerry in Limerick? TheFlyingTeacup (Meath) - Posts: 286 - 03/01/2026 22:57:13 2649625 Link
On the we are meath podcast they said meath lost by 2 points to limerick, they didn't seem to know anything else about the game or who played its always difficult to get news on these challenge games, less then 3 weeks now to derry game it comes around fast also sigerson games starting this week too with plenty of meath players involved. Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 740 - 05/01/2026 12:00:01 2649854 Link
At the end of the day challenge game results mean damn all. I know players are trying to impress and show what they can do but there is always an element of experimentation and its not official. The O'Byrne cup game was the only official match played and was important to those that played it. Would be hopeful that plenty that played against Wicklow will make the Meath squad and feature as league progresses as improvements are needed on first team squad last year. A fully fit Gray hopefully will push on once he gets into swing of things along with O'Regan, Charlie O'Connor and Killian Smyth. Others impressed Saturday too if some of last years squad not up to scratch. The football side of things probably only really getting going now after alot of slogging so its early days. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 894 - 05/01/2026 12:40:13 2649864 Link
Went to TUD vs DKIT sigerson game today. Cian McBride dominated the game, lorded the skies and got a goal. Its been puzzling how far off the pace he has looked since returning from Australia, but I'd be very hopeful he'll have a big year is coming from him. Apparently he has been very impressive in the challenge games too. Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 278 - 06/01/2026 22:04:15 2650112 Link
Impressive performances by Brian O'Halloran Conor Gray Conor Duke and Charlie O'Connor today for Maynooth University in the Sigerson Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 14 - 07/01/2026 17:37:35 2650198 Link
Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan: "Impressive performances by Brian O'Halloran Conor Gray Conor Duke and Charlie O'Connor today for Maynooth University in the Sigerson" Yes Gray scored a goal and Duke scored very heavily apparantly. Alot of talk about McBride but think once Gray gets fully up and running he has greater potential and could be a huge player. Menton got a good 60 minutes under his belt this evening and despite a bit of early rustiness he had a good 2nd half and fought hard. Was Kinsella injured for Maynooth's match? Frayne I guess still working on fitness. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 894 - 07/01/2026 21:23:58 2650209 Link
Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan: "Impressive performances by Brian O'Halloran Conor Gray Conor Duke and Charlie O'Connor today for Maynooth University in the Sigerson" Is Kinsella injured? Coylesrighthand (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 07/01/2026 22:43:18 2650220 Link
Replying To Coylesrighthand: "Is Kinsella injured?" Apparently so, not sure to the extent of which it is but it's a hamstring Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 14 - 07/01/2026 23:06:41 2650223 Link
Will be interesting to see how squad is fine tuned and cut down for the national football league. The boost of players returning from injuries since end of championship last year which includes Jack Flynn, Ronan Jones and James Conlon will be crucial. Bryan Menton looks like he is fully back to match fitness based off recent O'Byrne cup outing. Plenty of fringe players impressed and with the exception of Menton and Keoghan it is perhaps time to include mostly the younger players as part of the extended panel for the year ahead. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 894 - 09/01/2026 13:12:56 2650385 Link
I wouldn't be messing around with kinsella until hes fully fit, hes clearly Meaths most important player now and if it means only getting 2nd half of the league so be it southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 1043 - 10/01/2026 12:49:24 2650526 Link
Replying To southmeathgael: "I wouldn't be messing around with kinsella until hes fully fit, hes clearly Meaths most important player now and if it means only getting 2nd half of the league so be it" Hoping the injury is not too bad. Saw where Maynooth manager stated in an interview he expected Kinsella and Frayne to make returns later in the Sigerson competition which ends in late February. It is probably the one position where there is no natural replacement for Kinsella at 11 for Meath and he has become one of the key players. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 894 - 10/01/2026 19:15:35 2650590 Link
Replying To winatallcost: "Hoping the injury is not too bad. Saw where Maynooth manager stated in an interview he expected Kinsella and Frayne to make returns later in the Sigerson competition which ends in late February. It is probably the one position where there is no natural replacement for Kinsella at 11 for Meath and he has become one of the key players." Not buying there is no natural replacement for Kinsella at 11.. what about Rian McConnell and Jack Kinlough?? I know Kinlough is still a month or 2 away from returning but he could be a fine center forward for meath. Same with Rian McConnell. Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 278 - 10/01/2026 19:44:02 2650597 Link
Replying To Sheridan2010louth: "Not buying there is no natural replacement for Kinsella at 11.. what about Rian McConnell and Jack Kinlough?? I know Kinlough is still a month or 2 away from returning but he could be a fine center forward for meath. Same with Rian McConnell." Yes both Kinlough and McConnell are very good prospects but Kinlough has been out for almost a year so will take time to build match fitness and would consider him more of a midfielder than playmaker. McConnell is a nice player but has played just one game at adult intercounty level and remains to be seen if he is ready for the major stepup yet and if he will actually make the final cut for the league panel. Hoping he will but there is alot of competition for places. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 894 - 10/01/2026 20:07:02 2650603 Link
What about Mathew Costello? A natural half forward and you can have Duke and someone else on the other wing, Bryan Menton Cian McBride Ronan Jones Conor Gray will all be competing for midfield and you can have one of Menton Flynn or Jones at 12 even and play Conor gray and someone else in midfield Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 14 - 10/01/2026 22:40:28 2650619 Link
Replying To Sheridan2010louth: "Not buying there is no natural replacement for Kinsella at 11.. what about Rian McConnell and Jack Kinlough?? I know Kinlough is still a month or 2 away from returning but he could be a fine center forward for meath. Same with Rian McConnell." Not even in the same conversation as kinsella southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 1043 - 11/01/2026 13:49:46 2650646 Link
Replying To southmeathgael: "Not even in the same conversation as kinsella" You're probably from dunshaughlin with that sort of comment, as the commenter said before you Kinlough and McConnell are top prospects. I heard Robbie say McConnell was the best player in meath club championship in 2025 and i totally agree he was outstanding, also I'd be stunned if Kinlough didn't end being one of our most important players. All Ireland Minor champion, Leinster u20 champion and was starting to find his feet in his first year of senior before he got injured against Carlow. Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 278 - 11/01/2026 15:52:10 2650666 Link
Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan: "What about Mathew Costello? A natural half forward and you can have Duke and someone else on the other wing, Bryan Menton Cian McBride Ronan Jones Conor Gray will all be competing for midfield and you can have one of Menton Flynn or Jones at 12 even and play Conor gray and someone else in midfield" No doubt there are lots of options around midfield/half forward line especially from an extra fetcher point of view to support midfield. Cathal Hickey for work rate and running power also likely to be used as offers something different. Kinsella however is still exactly the only prototype centre forward that Meath have so hopefully he will be availble soon. The make up of full forward line will also be interesting for first round of league. Morris for certain will start and likely be 2 from Curtis, Lynch and Costello if Costello not in half forward line and assuming Frayne doesn't make it. Jamie Murphy another option and then maybe Moriarty. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 894 - 11/01/2026 15:59:48 2650669 Link
No one will be able to replace Kinsella. Not even a fully fit Kinlough IMO. However we are in this position so here are some options as i see them: I thought Campo in his last full year was starting to show play making potential, under the old rules he ended up at 6 as this was almost the best position to play that role with packed defences, but I dont he's going to hit top speed until the middle of summer. If happens to be further ahead than I thought he could be an option. Charlie O'Connor plays a good bit at 11 for Dunshaughlin so has experience there and would be another fethcher, albeit we would be losing a ground hog in Kinsella for another fethcher in O'Connor. We need to get that balance right. Rian McConnell - still concerned about top level intercounty phisicality for him. He's very thin frame and could be could short for power and pace. He has Kinsella footballing IQ levels, in fact I would say the two are alone in front in that aspect for Meath. Killian Smyth plays 11 for Castletown, I was hoping he would really rise above everyone in the O'Byrne cup and really stick his hand up, he ended play well but didnt stick out as much as I hoped. Coylesrighthand (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 11/01/2026 21:44:24 2650717 Link
Replying To Coylesrighthand: "No one will be able to replace Kinsella. Not even a fully fit Kinlough IMO. However we are in this position so here are some options as i see them: I thought Campo in his last full year was starting to show play making potential, under the old rules he ended up at 6 as this was almost the best position to play that role with packed defences, but I dont he's going to hit top speed until the middle of summer. If happens to be further ahead than I thought he could be an option. Charlie O'Connor plays a good bit at 11 for Dunshaughlin so has experience there and would be another fethcher, albeit we would be losing a ground hog in Kinsella for another fethcher in O'Connor. We need to get that balance right. Rian McConnell - still concerned about top level intercounty phisicality for him. He's very thin frame and could be could short for power and pace. He has Kinsella footballing IQ levels, in fact I would say the two are alone in front in that aspect for Meath. Killian Smyth plays 11 for Castletown, I was hoping he would really rise above everyone in the O'Byrne cup and really stick his hand up, he ended play well but didnt stick out as much as I hoped." Teams we beat last year without Ruairi kinsella - Cavan, Down away and Roscommon. He's a nice player but far from irreplaceable. Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 278 - 11/01/2026 22:29:47 2650727 Link