Meath Forum

League Final

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Replying To Selwyn:  "An Observation about Sean Rafferty. I've noticed this year, which was obvious in the Cork game, that he rarely dives in to block a shot. There was a number of times on Sunday where he was tracking the player and trying to get a hand in, then the player gets the shot off easily when Sean could have dived in with a block. There was a point in the first half from Og Jones and then his 1st missed goal and then also Jone's first goal in the 2nd half. He made no effort to get in a diving block. Am I being harsh?"
The word was that he had a hand injury which is why he missed the first Cork game. If that's true, he might be a bit cautious about diving in to block a shot which would be the highest risk thing you could do to re-injure it.

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 129 - 02/04/2026 18:09:04    2664468

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Replying To Selwyn:  "An Observation about Sean Rafferty. I've noticed this year, which was obvious in the Cork game, that he rarely dives in to block a shot. There was a number of times on Sunday where he was tracking the player and trying to get a hand in, then the player gets the shot off easily when Sean could have dived in with a block. There was a point in the first half from Og Jones and then his 1st missed goal and then also Jone's first goal in the 2nd half. He made no effort to get in a diving block. Am I being harsh?"
Raff has rushed back from a broken hand so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, i heard Paul Galvin say there's an epidemic in the modern game of defenders making these token efforts at blocks, a lot of the meath defenders are currently guilty of it. As good as Sherlock was there should have been someone diving at his boot laces for several of his scores. Something I'd love to see more of, Killian Smyth had a great block and it seemed to give the whole team energy.

Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 314 - 02/04/2026 20:08:02    2664493

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Replying To Sheridan2010louth:  "Raff has rushed back from a broken hand so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, i heard Paul Galvin say there's an epidemic in the modern game of defenders making these token efforts at blocks, a lot of the meath defenders are currently guilty of it. As good as Sherlock was there should have been someone diving at his boot laces for several of his scores. Something I'd love to see more of, Killian Smyth had a great block and it seemed to give the whole team energy."
That block was as good as a score for us.

Royalio11 (Meath) - Posts: 834 - 02/04/2026 22:14:00    2664510

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These top forwards want to draw ya in for the big diving block and then they dummy hop or solo and are gone in on goal, sherlock and og jones are 2 of the top forwards in the country, ya dont see defenders blocking Morris shots fo ya? Too risky. On another topic, anyone hear what home or away scenario us for leinster QF yet? Think we are down as home team but cant see it being in croker obviously

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 1066 - 03/04/2026 08:20:05    2664538

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "These top forwards want to draw ya in for the big diving block and then they dummy hop or solo and are gone in on goal, sherlock and og jones are 2 of the top forwards in the country, ya dont see defenders blocking Morris shots fo ya? Too risky. On another topic, anyone hear what home or away scenario us for leinster QF yet? Think we are down as home team but cant see it being in croker obviously"
Probably Tullamore? Feel like we've a good record there too and they'll nominate to play there.

Seems like Costello gone for the first round anyway. I would say they'll try not risk him for as long as possible as seems like a serious enough hamstring injury.

Feel like we'd need him for a Leinster Final to get over the line - if we get back there that is! Because if we do get back there, you've got to imagine it'll be a dog fight with Dublin or Louth and we'll need everyone.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 92 - 03/04/2026 16:10:21    2664607

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Replying To NYRoyal:  "Probably Tullamore? Feel like we've a good record there too and they'll nominate to play there.

Seems like Costello gone for the first round anyway. I would say they'll try not risk him for as long as possible as seems like a serious enough hamstring injury.

Feel like we'd need him for a Leinster Final to get over the line - if we get back there that is! Because if we do get back there, you've got to imagine it'll be a dog fight with Dublin or Louth and we'll need everyone."
Yes I read that too unfortunately he's gone for the first one or two games. Like you said if he's available for the end of the leinster, happy days.

Good news though otherwise a clean bill of health.O'Neill and jones will be available for selection. Brennan said kinlough took a set back but is on the pitch so he could be available for selection and Menton is fine too.

It's a nice squad with everyone good to go. Curtis, Conlon, gray, jones, smyth, Ryan, O'Neill, hogan, duke, hickey,(one of costello,oconnor, lynch or McBride) and less experienced options charlie O'Connor, oison martin, kinlough.

A job well done getting a squad like that to stay together.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 66 - 04/04/2026 10:36:39    2664672

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If we're home team we should push for croker they will bring another game there even for 25000 , b like 2001. Kildare v Carlow was first game and Meath v Westmeath was second .

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 914 - 04/04/2026 23:49:35    2664833

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Replying To dickie10:  "If we're home team we should push for croker they will bring another game there even for 25000 , b like 2001. Kildare v Carlow was first game and Meath v Westmeath was second ."
I would agree, if there's any chance we can play all of our games in Croke Park, we should. We've won 4 out of 4 there this year and if we're going to win a Leinster, that's where it'll be and we've grown familiar there now.

Playing Westmeath and maybe Kildare in Croke Park would suit us to be honest. Smaller provincial grounds would help other teams keep the game tighter for longer. Our athleticism around the middle third with Caulfield, Flynn, McBride, Kinsella etc. is suited to Croke Park. That's why we're winning games there. Plus there's momentum behind the team in terms of support now so yeah, we could get 25,000 there for Leinster quarter and semis.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 92 - 06/04/2026 01:33:37    2664941

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A great win for the lads and management team. Delighted for them. Still some real issues though in defence.

Do we think we'll see the same 6 start the first round of Leinster? I wouldn't be worried too much about Lavin, he has been really influential throughout the league and I think his game is gone to a new level this year.

I do worry about RAF, we've been speculating about excuses re training etc but maybe we try someone else there and see what happens? What do we think?

Royalroyal97 (Meath) - Posts: 37 - 07/04/2026 11:23:16    2665058

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Replying To Royalroyal97:  "A great win for the lads and management team. Delighted for them. Still some real issues though in defence.

Do we think we'll see the same 6 start the first round of Leinster? I wouldn't be worried too much about Lavin, he has been really influential throughout the league and I think his game is gone to a new level this year.

I do worry about RAF, we've been speculating about excuses re training etc but maybe we try someone else there and see what happens? What do we think?"
I'd love to see Shane Gibney from Moylagh given a chance in there. I know big step up from club but he performed very well in Regional Championship this year. Rock solid, sticky cornerback well able for the physicality of the game and a great burst of speed to get out of defence. He played well in O'Byrne cup. Would be nice to see the likes of him and Jordan Muldoon given a chance on the inter county scene.

Meathman11 (Meath) - Posts: 2 - 07/04/2026 11:54:42    2665064

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Replying To Royalroyal97:  "A great win for the lads and management team. Delighted for them. Still some real issues though in defence.

Do we think we'll see the same 6 start the first round of Leinster? I wouldn't be worried too much about Lavin, he has been really influential throughout the league and I think his game is gone to a new level this year.

I do worry about RAF, we've been speculating about excuses re training etc but maybe we try someone else there and see what happens? What do we think?"
Agree that there have been some issues in defence and it's clearly our biggest area of weakness. I think management will remain loyal to the same 6 but it might change over the course of the championship. Rafferty was our first Allstar in nearly 20 years - he's not untouchable but he has a higher ceiling than any of the other options. I think he'll improve as the summer goes on. Assuming we're up against Westmeath, Luke Loughlin will be a good tester.

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 129 - 07/04/2026 14:24:03    2665099

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Replying To gwanyagudthing:  "Agree that there have been some issues in defence and it's clearly our biggest area of weakness. I think management will remain loyal to the same 6 but it might change over the course of the championship. Rafferty was our first Allstar in nearly 20 years - he's not untouchable but he has a higher ceiling than any of the other options. I think he'll improve as the summer goes on. Assuming we're up against Westmeath, Luke Loughlin will be a good tester."
From what I have seen so far this year lavin is more the man marker now. Rafferty actually goes and plays a bit more and that is what I would say influenced his all star selection. He's pacey, Strong and very positive with the ball. sticky is probably not how I'd describe him. That said it's in him, I thought his battle with an Clifford in tullamore is as good defending iv seen in a while.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 66 - 07/04/2026 22:54:46    2665170

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Replying To royalcounty1:  "From what I have seen so far this year lavin is more the man marker now. Rafferty actually goes and plays a bit more and that is what I would say influenced his all star selection. He's pacey, Strong and very positive with the ball. sticky is probably not how I'd describe him. That said it's in him, I thought his battle with an Clifford in tullamore is as good defending iv seen in a while."
Let's be honest, the reason we beat Kerry was that we cut off the supply out the field without Paudie Clifford playing and if we'd played Kerry in Croke Park further down the line Clifford would've destroyed him or anyone for that matter. But Clifford has and will destroy the best defenders in the country and will turn it on come latter stages of the Championship. There's no such thing as 1 on 1 marking him, you've got to formulate a plan whether that's cutting the supply or double teaming.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 92 - 08/04/2026 11:27:51    2665224

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Replying To NYRoyal:  "Let's be honest, the reason we beat Kerry was that we cut off the supply out the field without Paudie Clifford playing and if we'd played Kerry in Croke Park further down the line Clifford would've destroyed him or anyone for that matter. But Clifford has and will destroy the best defenders in the country and will turn it on come latter stages of the Championship. There's no such thing as 1 on 1 marking him, you've got to formulate a plan whether that's cutting the supply or double teaming."
I largely agree. Croke park later stages of the championship its group defending is the only way to stop elite forwards. Not necessarily win games though-donegal last year found that out.

There are some decent corner backs floating around in the country, Donald mckinney from louth is a good bit of stuff and he's often on his own in the corner, finbar roarty and mccole too obviously.

Meath don't have the full package personnel wise for complete man on man but our philosophy also doesn't lend its self to fully organized group defence. They're a little bit heavy metal football and it will cost us at times, it cost us against louth last year.

Hopefully some defenders come through in the next 12 months that will add that stability we're looking for.

Generally though on a national level these defenders we have, do have some notoriety and respect, I think we still see them as the meath defenders getting absolutely murdered in the early 2020s. Lavin and Rafferty on average are solid in my opinion.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 66 - 08/04/2026 13:58:42    2665257

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Replying To royalcounty1:  "I largely agree. Croke park later stages of the championship its group defending is the only way to stop elite forwards. Not necessarily win games though-donegal last year found that out.

There are some decent corner backs floating around in the country, Donald mckinney from louth is a good bit of stuff and he's often on his own in the corner, finbar roarty and mccole too obviously.

Meath don't have the full package personnel wise for complete man on man but our philosophy also doesn't lend its self to fully organized group defence. They're a little bit heavy metal football and it will cost us at times, it cost us against louth last year.

Hopefully some defenders come through in the next 12 months that will add that stability we're looking for.

Generally though on a national level these defenders we have, do have some notoriety and respect, I think we still see them as the meath defenders getting absolutely murdered in the early 2020s. Lavin and Rafferty on average are solid in my opinion."
I agree largely with what you are saying but I think it's crunch time and if these players have another off day I think it's time to be more cut throat and next man up. What do we think? We have to look at the bigger objectives of this team and not focus on loyalties or what happened last year.

Royalroyal97 (Meath) - Posts: 37 - 09/04/2026 11:08:19    2665387

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