Meath Forum

Meath 2026

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Fixtures out:

Home vs Derry, Louth and Tyrone. And away trips to Cavan, Cork, Kildare & Offaly.

Doesn't appear to be dates on all of them yet but the home games have dates and will be double headers in Croke Park with Dublin, so you can work out a lot of the fixtures.

Derry Home on January 24th

Cavan Away on January 31st

Louth Home on 14th/15th February

Cork or Offaly Away February 21/22

Kildare A way on March 1st

March 14th/15th Home vs Tyrone

Cork or Offaly Away March 21/22

Some tough games on the road, but Division 2 will be incredible competitive regardless where the games are.

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 104 - 05/11/2025 15:54:31    2643168

Link

Anyone else worried by a lack of home games in the NFL? Especially as double headers with the Dubs to make it feel like an away game. Could hinder us competitively.

trimmer (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 05/11/2025 16:06:27    2643172

Link

Replying To trimmer:  "Anyone else worried by a lack of home games in the NFL? Especially as double headers with the Dubs to make it feel like an away game. Could hinder us competitively."
It is what it is. Croke Park really a neutral venue but playing there regularly can only be a good thing. The away games are probably the easier ties but thought Cork would have been a home venue as played them away last year. Cavan, kildare and Offaly are bordering counties so shouldn't have a major effect and expect a big Meath following to travel for each.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 848 - 05/11/2025 16:55:09    2643178

Link

Replying To trimmer:  "Anyone else worried by a lack of home games in the NFL? Especially as double headers with the Dubs to make it feel like an away game. Could hinder us competitively."
If you take a more possitive outlook, on the flip side, we have never had a more winnable schedule of away games in a league campaign. Also I'd rather play derry Tyrone and louth in croke park then up in derry Tyrone or that god awful iniskeen

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 1038 - 05/11/2025 21:44:36    2643214

Link

Replying To Head4TheBlackSpot:  "Hearing that Eric Lowndes , Glen O'Reilly , Caolan Ward and John McDonagh called into Meath"
Eric lowndes, is surely just a rumour ?? Win so much with Dublin and go play a year or two with meath at the end of his career. It'd be a welcome addition in a position we are short on.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 30 - 05/11/2025 22:22:02    2643217

Link

Replying To southmeathgael:  "If you take a more possitive outlook, on the flip side, we have never had a more winnable schedule of away games in a league campaign. Also I'd rather play derry Tyrone and louth in croke park then up in derry Tyrone or that god awful iniskeen"
Inniskeen!

GerryD (Monaghan) - Posts: 339 - 06/11/2025 09:08:38    2643227

Link

Replying To GerryD:  "Inniskeen!"
Lovely ground but i still have nightmares about our two games there against louth.

Royal.Legend (Meath) - Posts: 738 - 06/11/2025 09:44:13    2643232

Link

Replying To Cabbagepatch1667:  "Provisional fixtures see Dublin host Donegal Saturday January 24th, so on the basis Meath and Dublin double headers look to be all but confirmed - Meath will open their campaign that evening too.

Provisional fixtures have gone to the county board, have a feeling it'll be Tyrone.

2nd game will be Cavan Sat, Jan 31st in Breffni Pk as Cavan have released their provisional fixtures."
https://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/338423

As I predicted.

Made sense from a cost point of view.
Renting of Croke Park and Insurance and match day workers etc.

Better atmosphere at the games now also hopefully.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4727 - 06/11/2025 09:51:51    2643234

Link

Don't know if anyone caught Robbie Brennan's We Are Meath interview, but he confirmed a few names they are looking at bringing in:

Jack O'Connor (Curraha), Conor Ennis (Ballinbrackey), Killian Smyth (Castletown), Oran Smullen (Na Fianna), Gary Breslin back in too (Meath Hill). I'm sure there's a few others but he name dropped the above and said he can't wait to get them in. He mentioned the Summerhill lads when they finish up with the clubs, Adam McDonnell and Ross Ryan were mentioned.

O'Bryne cup will be used to look at players in the development squad and lads who didn't get much game time last year. Currently about 54 players involved, and they will whittle that down to 36.

Outside of the addition of Aaron Kernan, the management team largely the same.

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 104 - 06/11/2025 12:40:19    2643256

Link

Conor scully gone in to setup aswell not sure in what role

Opal1902Mcl (Meath) - Posts: 6 - 06/11/2025 15:55:15    2643289

Link

Replying To Opal1902Mcl:  "Conor scully gone in to setup aswell not sure in what role"
According to Robbie Brennans interview this morning Conor Scully is going in to coach the transition

Northroyal55 (Meath) - Posts: 12 - 06/11/2025 16:43:50    2643292

Link

Replying To Cabbagepatch1667:  "Don't know if anyone caught Robbie Brennan's We Are Meath interview, but he confirmed a few names they are looking at bringing in:

Jack O'Connor (Curraha), Conor Ennis (Ballinbrackey), Killian Smyth (Castletown), Oran Smullen (Na Fianna), Gary Breslin back in too (Meath Hill). I'm sure there's a few others but he name dropped the above and said he can't wait to get them in. He mentioned the Summerhill lads when they finish up with the clubs, Adam McDonnell and Ross Ryan were mentioned.

O'Bryne cup will be used to look at players in the development squad and lads who didn't get much game time last year. Currently about 54 players involved, and they will whittle that down to 36.

Outside of the addition of Aaron Kernan, the management team largely the same."
Very refreshing to hear a manager actually answer questions in an interview, particularly about players and coaching tickets. No cloak and dagger responses, just answering every question asked and probably giving Davy more then he expected. Players clearly want to play for this manager. We are very lucky to have swooped in and got him before any of the div 1 counties looked for him after kilmacud gig. Fair play to plunkett and whoever else was involved in the speedy passing of the torch from COR to Robbie Brennan

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 1038 - 07/11/2025 07:19:07    2643326

Link

Replying To Cabbagepatch1667:  "Don't know if anyone caught Robbie Brennan's We Are Meath interview, but he confirmed a few names they are looking at bringing in:

Jack O'Connor (Curraha), Conor Ennis (Ballinbrackey), Killian Smyth (Castletown), Oran Smullen (Na Fianna), Gary Breslin back in too (Meath Hill). I'm sure there's a few others but he name dropped the above and said he can't wait to get them in. He mentioned the Summerhill lads when they finish up with the clubs, Adam McDonnell and Ross Ryan were mentioned.

O'Bryne cup will be used to look at players in the development squad and lads who didn't get much game time last year. Currently about 54 players involved, and they will whittle that down to 36.

Outside of the addition of Aaron Kernan, the management team largely the same."
Good to see he's added a couple of corner backs to look at. The Castletown lads were very good during club championship as was Adam McDonnell so rightly rewarded. Jack O'Connor brings something different with his speed too.
Wonder about the long term injuries including Jack Kinlough, Ronan Jones and James Conlon and how far off they are? These guys would probably make up the 34 too so with injuries and everything else can see why depth needed. We looked a bit short when it came to the crunch last year.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 848 - 07/11/2025 08:38:06    2643329

Link

Replying To winatallcost:  "Good to see he's added a couple of corner backs to look at. The Castletown lads were very good during club championship as was Adam McDonnell so rightly rewarded. Jack O'Connor brings something different with his speed too.
Wonder about the long term injuries including Jack Kinlough, Ronan Jones and James Conlon and how far off they are? These guys would probably make up the 34 too so with injuries and everything else can see why depth needed. We looked a bit short when it came to the crunch last year."
Yeah he mentioned Rian McConnell later in the show and they referenced him as probably the best club footballer in Meath all year, but he's in the development squad at the minute and will get a chance according to Robbie. Although Robbie was signing his praises calling a beautiful naturally gifted player, I get the feeling he doesn't think he's physically there yet for intercounty level.

Also said the Kilbride lads will be looked at too after they finish up with the clubs. Shane Walsh gone travelling and won't be involved. No mention on injuries, I'd imagine the likes of Kinlough, Jones, Conlon are all on their way back but fitness will be an issue as they haven't played any football in a long time. But yes depth is always going to be an issue, and Robbie highlighted that as something they want to work on and improve.

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 104 - 07/11/2025 10:36:45    2643342

Link

Replying To royalcounty1:  "Eric lowndes, is surely just a rumour ?? Win so much with Dublin and go play a year or two with meath at the end of his career. It'd be a welcome addition in a position we are short on."
Heard on good record its fact from a dunboyne man , won't be with squad till mid December though due to travel

Head4TheBlackSpot (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 11/11/2025 18:58:47    2644051

Link

Replying To Cabbagepatch1667:  "Yeah he mentioned Rian McConnell later in the show and they referenced him as probably the best club footballer in Meath all year, but he's in the development squad at the minute and will get a chance according to Robbie. Although Robbie was signing his praises calling a beautiful naturally gifted player, I get the feeling he doesn't think he's physically there yet for intercounty level.

Also said the Kilbride lads will be looked at too after they finish up with the clubs. Shane Walsh gone travelling and won't be involved. No mention on injuries, I'd imagine the likes of Kinlough, Jones, Conlon are all on their way back but fitness will be an issue as they haven't played any football in a long time. But yes depth is always going to be an issue, and Robbie highlighted that as something they want to work on and improve."
He mentioned two players from regional championship caught the eye but didn't mention names. Suspect one of could be Daire Shine.
Panel sounds like it will be very large next number of weeks before bring whittled down. Hopefully a number of players can show enough and can improve squad for the year ahead!

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 848 - 11/11/2025 23:12:13    2644085

Link

It'll be interesting to see now the battle between Adam Flanagan and Kevin feeley this weekend, 2 powerful men. Feeley had heavy strapping on his hamstring training last night could be a concern

Micklyons3 (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 12/11/2025 07:58:46    2644094

Link

Ciaran McCarrick, Evan Quinn, Mark Coffey and Luke Kealy all standouts for Monfenragh regional team last weekend.
All part of Meath development squad and will be given chances to impress Robbie Brennan and Co over next number of weeks.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 848 - 20/11/2025 13:55:43    2645424

Link