Replying To winatallcost:  "Any news on final panel for league and new additions from last year?"

Replying To madmeath:  "Great to be finally going into the start of the year confident Meath can do well.
The lads let go from the panel after the O' Byrne cup I do feel sorry for as it is very hard to make an impression at this time of year and the conditions the O' Byrne cup is played in, the pitch in Offaly the grass was very long, in any case Brennan had to start reducing numbers and there are probably a good few more players to be cut.
He will probably play a few different midfield combinations in the league, as a Dunshaughlin man I would love to see the Gray/O' Connor duo in the middle, but if I was betting at this stage (before the league even begins) who will be the two starting midfielders in the championship I would think it will be Ronan Jones partnered with Gray and if not Gray (in order of best chance) Menton, McBride, Charlie O' Connor, Jack Kinlough, Flynn, McGowan.
It is a long time since Meath had so many good options at midfield."

Replying To Sheridan2010louth:  "Agree the midfield options are good. I've been at some sigerson games the last few weeks.

Saw Mcbride 2 weeks ago, it was as dominant a midfield display as I've ever seen, that's not meath bias or exaggeration either, he won both throw ups cleanly, fielded 9 kickouts, and was fouled on 4 more. And he punched in a goal too. My only question would be around his kicking, it seems a non existent part of his game. He obviously needs to back it up for Meath now but he looks to be set up for a big season.

Saw Conor Gray and Charlie O'connor on Tuesday against UCD. Both excellent in their own ways. Neither are fielding kickouts like Mcbride is at the moment, but their distribution of the football particularly when it comes to kicking is ahead of Mcbride. Maynooth should have won that game but for what it's worth two meath men Rian McConnell and Michael Mcivor came off the bench and changed the game for UCD.

I'd be shocked if Mcbride didn't start with Flynn vs Derry. Both need to play well as Gray and Charlie O'connor will be pushing for places not to mention Mento as well."

Replying To Coylesrighthand:  "I don't think you can drop Menton if he's fit. He was easily our best and most consistent midfielder last year. Gray still gets spoken about as having "potential," but he's 22 now. The talk of potential has to go; it's now time for realization. For me, he is still too inconsistent. Last year's quarter-final and semi-final are a distillation of his career so far. A brilliant, game-changing performance in the quarter-final vs. Galway; however, in the semi-final vs. Galway, he gets brought on early for Menton and can't make any impression whatsoever on the game."

Replying To latouche25:  "Menton, Gray, Flynn all similar style of players. None of them can cover a lot of ground and lack the pace for hard ground that we see in the later stages of the championship. In fairness Menton is 36 so can't blame him there. Jones never excels in the middle he's a much better wing forward and can use his size athletic ability to better effect. Mc Bride is a big athletic man with a great ability to field kickouts I'm not worried if he's not the best kicker of the ball we have 6 forwards for that. O'Connor is a good prospect but needs to cot his teeth and take his chances. O'Neill is not a midfielder he's a full back but probably the best corner back in the county miles ahead of Lavin or O'Hallerin. Who will step up when they're needed who knows."

Replying To bert09:  "I think he was out much of last year though due illness?"

Replying To winatallcost:  "Kerry won an Ireland with two midfielders not hugely mobile or fast but played to their strengths and very affective.
Wouldn't fully agree that none of players mentiined cover much ground either but true they are not speedsters. They are however strong and good players. Agree O'Neill not a midfielder and we are not overly well stocked at corner back. McCarrick is a tigerish player who impressed in O'Byrne cup so could be an option too?"