Meath Forum

Meath V Cork

(Oldest Posts First)

Navan Saturday week 3pm, can we attract 8,000 plus meath fans in? the amount of fans in croker sunday who thought our year was over after Louth defeat tells me that they need to be notified !

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 828 - 14/05/2025 21:43:52    2609707

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Absolutely. No reason why we can't get the 8,000-12,000 or whatever the official capacity is these days. One thing I noticed from the Meath crowd on Sunday was the huge number of young families. Despite the result you'd like to think we've captured a new generation of young supporters.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2005 - 15/05/2025 10:41:24    2609763

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Look's like Cian McBride is now fully fit and back in contention for Cork game. A good option in midfield.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2217 - 15/05/2025 12:41:59    2609802

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1 Hogan
2 lavin
3o neil
4keoghan
5 coffey
6 Rafferty
7 caulfield
8 Flynn
9Menton
10 Duke/McGowan
11 Kinsella
12 Jones/macbride/McGowan
13Morris
14 Costello
15 Conlon
Rafferty add a bit of steel to 6 (very important position)o neil at 3 think hed be good there,Keoghan cornerback mam marking maybe chris og Jones.10 and 12 )to come into the middle and help midfielders and play a diamond shape kinsella conlon,morris and Costello at the top,Caulfield and Coffey to attack and Rafferty sits,Midfield is so key so overload with 4 big men surely we could win out then.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 352 - 15/05/2025 16:09:08    2609859

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Who decides the throw in time of these games, I don't think it's televised so not sure why it couldn't have been 6pm. 3pm is gonna cut serious numbers off the crowd and a later throw in would have naturally created a better atmosphere

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 983 - 15/05/2025 16:57:19    2609869

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Who decides the throw in time of these games, I don't think it's televised so not sure why it couldn't have been 6pm. 3pm is gonna cut serious numbers off the crowd and a later throw in would have naturally created a better atmosphere"
Assume to cover folks coming up from cork?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1823 - 15/05/2025 17:44:20    2609876

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Replying To Proudroyal:  "1 Hogan
2 lavin
3o neil
4keoghan
5 coffey
6 Rafferty
7 caulfield
8 Flynn
9Menton
10 Duke/McGowan
11 Kinsella
12 Jones/macbride/McGowan
13Morris
14 Costello
15 Conlon
Rafferty add a bit of steel to 6 (very important position)o neil at 3 think hed be good there,Keoghan cornerback mam marking maybe chris og Jones.10 and 12 )to come into the middle and help midfielders and play a diamond shape kinsella conlon,morris and Costello at the top,Caulfield and Coffey to attack and Rafferty sits,Midfield is so key so overload with 4 big men surely we could win out then."
Agree with Rafferty at 6. He kind of was playing out the field more on Sunday any way. But no Frayne? He does lack pace and went out of it a bit on Sunday but what he lacks he's makes up with his free taking and always good for a few scores. No way Duke should be dropped. He's shown way more in his short Meath career than likes of McBride or McGowan have over longer stretches. I think his ceiling is very high in terms of potential. Agree it'd be great to have a fully fit Conor Gray in midfield as well. We've seen how important midfield is and Menton and Flynn can compete for 45/50 minutes but it'd be great to have some of these big men fit and in a bit of form to run them in and not lose midfield like we did in last quarter against Louth. Maybe Flynn was feeling effects of injury he had before Dublin.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 43 - 15/05/2025 18:57:41    2609897

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Replying To NYRoyal:  "Agree with Rafferty at 6. He kind of was playing out the field more on Sunday any way. But no Frayne? He does lack pace and went out of it a bit on Sunday but what he lacks he's makes up with his free taking and always good for a few scores. No way Duke should be dropped. He's shown way more in his short Meath career than likes of McBride or McGowan have over longer stretches. I think his ceiling is very high in terms of potential. Agree it'd be great to have a fully fit Conor Gray in midfield as well. We've seen how important midfield is and Menton and Flynn can compete for 45/50 minutes but it'd be great to have some of these big men fit and in a bit of form to run them in and not lose midfield like we did in last quarter against Louth. Maybe Flynn was feeling effects of injury he had before Dublin."
I just don't think we should be moving Rafferty at all given the impact he is having. Probably don't have a natural centre half back but Coffey is a really good player with his best position Probably wing back. Perhaps Ronan Ryan at 6 and Keoghan at 4 with Coffey wing half. Again it all depends on opposition and personnel where really probably should have tasked a player against Louth to take Mulroy and stay in his socks. Who will Cork even have at 11? Chris Og Jones and Hurley will likely start in full forward line so maybe that's Rafferty and keoghan/Lavin tied up. If Morris comes in, it could be Curtis or Conlon that miss out and then there is Shane Walsh. Although he seems to be playing very deep when brought on. Would like to see Gray getting time but don't know about his readiness. Agree Duke was motoring well but his form has tailed a bit. Again how much more would McGowan or McBride give. I have yet to see either prosper overly well yet. There is also the U20s to consider. I think Murphy by far the best and surely he must be an option in full forward line at least as an impact off bench initially.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 644 - 15/05/2025 21:49:09    2609913

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Slightly off topic but how can the county board put full round of fixtures on after the Cork game? With the Cork game at 3 they expect people to the game, come home (out of navan with crazy traffic) and then go play a game for half 7? absolute madness whoever thinks of these days. Surely midweek fixtures would suit far better for all and let people go to the game and enjoy the day without the hassle of rushing home or to a game.

SillySimonsOpinion (Meath) - Posts: 71 - 16/05/2025 06:40:00    2609943

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Replying To NYRoyal:  "Agree with Rafferty at 6. He kind of was playing out the field more on Sunday any way. But no Frayne? He does lack pace and went out of it a bit on Sunday but what he lacks he's makes up with his free taking and always good for a few scores. No way Duke should be dropped. He's shown way more in his short Meath career than likes of McBride or McGowan have over longer stretches. I think his ceiling is very high in terms of potential. Agree it'd be great to have a fully fit Conor Gray in midfield as well. We've seen how important midfield is and Menton and Flynn can compete for 45/50 minutes but it'd be great to have some of these big men fit and in a bit of form to run them in and not lose midfield like we did in last quarter against Louth. Maybe Flynn was feeling effects of injury he had before Dublin."
7 possitional/personal switches from, basically, the team that has played since January ???? I think you may be hitting the panic button a bit. Morris might start. That'll be it. Any major changes will only be in from the bench.

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 983 - 16/05/2025 07:30:26    2609948

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Replying To NYRoyal:  "Agree with Rafferty at 6. He kind of was playing out the field more on Sunday any way. But no Frayne? He does lack pace and went out of it a bit on Sunday but what he lacks he's makes up with his free taking and always good for a few scores. No way Duke should be dropped. He's shown way more in his short Meath career than likes of McBride or McGowan have over longer stretches. I think his ceiling is very high in terms of potential. Agree it'd be great to have a fully fit Conor Gray in midfield as well. We've seen how important midfield is and Menton and Flynn can compete for 45/50 minutes but it'd be great to have some of these big men fit and in a bit of form to run them in and not lose midfield like we did in last quarter against Louth. Maybe Flynn was feeling effects of injury he had before Dublin."
If 10 and 12 pull into the middle, it leaves space so you need pace to exploit that's why I'd have Conlon and morris ahead of Frayne.Id doubt Morris will last the whole game judging by how heavily he was strapped the last day so may not even start.Another poster has said too many switches but we need to do something as we were cleaned out in midfield the last day 2nd half and fairly open in the backs.Cork play a more direct game than Louth (with Hurley,chris og Jones)si need to control the middle to stop the supply coming in.Looks like Jones won't be involved so as you say Gray/McBride type player needed to win ball.Robbie is hardly going to listen to me though lol just my opinion and thinking a little outside the box.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 352 - 16/05/2025 10:38:30    2609982

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Replying To Proudroyal:  "If 10 and 12 pull into the middle, it leaves space so you need pace to exploit that's why I'd have Conlon and morris ahead of Frayne.Id doubt Morris will last the whole game judging by how heavily he was strapped the last day so may not even start.Another poster has said too many switches but we need to do something as we were cleaned out in midfield the last day 2nd half and fairly open in the backs.Cork play a more direct game than Louth (with Hurley,chris og Jones)si need to control the middle to stop the supply coming in.Looks like Jones won't be involved so as you say Gray/McBride type player needed to win ball.Robbie is hardly going to listen to me though lol just my opinion and thinking a little outside the box."
Frayne is the captain and our most consistent scorer. Was our top scorer last year, been our top scorer this year. Dropping him is just crazy talk.

Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 235 - 16/05/2025 11:45:42    2610008

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Replying To Sheridan2010louth:  "Frayne is the captain and our most consistent scorer. Was our top scorer last year, been our top scorer this year. Dropping him is just crazy talk."
Just because hes captain for the year doesn't mean he has to start.Id argue our most consistent scorer(championship this year) is Costello who has 7 points less than Frayne but Frayne takes most frees so gives him an advantage.Im not having a go at Frayne he is a quality player but I'm referring to the diamond system in my original post and pace is key to that.You could put him at the top of the diamond and move Costello out to 10 or 12 and let him run at the defence.Anyway it's just my thought on a system just something a bit different.Im sure he will start and wont be too many changes but do you not think we need to be exploring different options?

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 352 - 16/05/2025 12:37:48    2610018

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Last game I attended was first league game v Cork so it is difficult to get a good idea of where are at. Overall not the worst of seasons and no matter what happens the victory over Dublin should be of great help to team going forward. Its a major monkey off our back and great that it was Meath who ended their run.
Many of the faults that have dogged us over the years are still with us, team's who run at us and press kickouts are half way there. Midfield is still a major problem and the most concerning aspect of Sunday's defeat was it was obvious change was needed but sidline was found wanting, we brought in SW and Lynch at a time forwards were starved of ball. If wevhad won 30% of our kickouts in second half chances are we may have sneaked it. Its hard to understand what was our plan when Louth took over around middle. Learning the lesson of previous games has not been a strong point over last 15 years, hopefully next time we will.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2217 - 16/05/2025 14:47:29    2610057

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Replying To seadog54:  "Last game I attended was first league game v Cork so it is difficult to get a good idea of where are at. Overall not the worst of seasons and no matter what happens the victory over Dublin should be of great help to team going forward. Its a major monkey off our back and great that it was Meath who ended their run.
Many of the faults that have dogged us over the years are still with us, team's who run at us and press kickouts are half way there. Midfield is still a major problem and the most concerning aspect of Sunday's defeat was it was obvious change was needed but sidline was found wanting, we brought in SW and Lynch at a time forwards were starved of ball. If wevhad won 30% of our kickouts in second half chances are we may have sneaked it. Its hard to understand what was our plan when Louth took over around middle. Learning the lesson of previous games has not been a strong point over last 15 years, hopefully next time we will."
Agreed, one fault of ours is repeating mistakes we've made before. While Sunday was disappointing, I think our issues are addressable. I understand Gray might not be match fit but surely could have 10 minutes in him. He's a big man but we've seen he's got ability too. We're competing for 2 reasons - our personnel has improved and the new rules suit us. Kinlough and Duke are going to be phenomenal players and mainstays of the team for years to come. Pity about Kinlough's injury this year but he'll be back. Frayne, Conlon, Costello and Morris are lethal on their day. Secondly on the rules, we've struggled for years against blanket defenses but it's a more open game now, this is why our forwards have space to show their ability e.g. the 4 minute spell when we got 7 points on Sunday. Morris form before he got injured was sensational at times as he now has the space inside. You seen with Morris and Costello when they got that turn over, they smelt blood straight away. I don't think there's any coincidence some of our forwards are playing as well as they are because on their day they are as good as anyone. We need to tighten up at the back and break even in the middle and we could be onto something.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 43 - 16/05/2025 17:39:09    2610092

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Replying To seadog54:  "Last game I attended was first league game v Cork so it is difficult to get a good idea of where are at. Overall not the worst of seasons and no matter what happens the victory over Dublin should be of great help to team going forward. Its a major monkey off our back and great that it was Meath who ended their run.
Many of the faults that have dogged us over the years are still with us, team's who run at us and press kickouts are half way there. Midfield is still a major problem and the most concerning aspect of Sunday's defeat was it was obvious change was needed but sidline was found wanting, we brought in SW and Lynch at a time forwards were starved of ball. If wevhad won 30% of our kickouts in second half chances are we may have sneaked it. Its hard to understand what was our plan when Louth took over around middle. Learning the lesson of previous games has not been a strong point over last 15 years, hopefully next time we will."
By midfield, it is really the middle third so that includes all breaking ball and that means half forwards and half backs aswell. I'm not sure if any really well won breaks in 2nd half happened at all. Flynn was going fairly well for 40 mins in his own right but Menton had little impact and understandably really tired in 2nd half given his age. Could kickouts or choice of kickouts been a factor also? The point is that did Louths 8 and 9 really dominate midfield either. Dornin had a good final 20 mins but before that he was quiet. I would also argue that Costello who was exceptional in first 3 games and deservedly rewarded player of month didn't help here either. Several kickouts went in his direction and while he got hands to them, they neither stuck or went on the Meath side. I think with experience this will improve and as eluded to, with possession Meath could potentially be a very dangerous team.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 644 - 16/05/2025 18:09:02    2610100

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Not sure what games some lads were looking at when referring to 3 and 6 and 1 etc etc.

We defend zonally, numbers on back mean nothing.

Yes I would be more inclined to have rafferty and coffey as our attacking backs and let Keoghan sit back.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1099 - 16/05/2025 18:13:46    2610101

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