Meath Forum

Longford v Meath, April 7th, Pearse Park, Longford

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Replying To Young_gael:  "This wont be easy. Meath lost in Pearse Park in this very fixture in 2018 by a few points. Down through the years Longford have had great results there. This is their game of the year I would imagine.

My concern for Meath from the league is the lack of scoring power; We only managed a few goals in the whole league and points tallies around 10/12 - which is low at any level. I think the selected team and bench for the game is as strong as we have, and considering Longford have dipped a bit in the last few years as well, Meath should get over the line here. But like I said at the start, wont be easy.

The reward for the winner is a game against an angry, reactionary Dublin, what better incentive!"
Have to disagree with your prediction on this one, Longford are a very very poor senior team and I expect nothing only a comfortable win, can see Meath scoring 3 goals plus in this contest.

Going for a 8+ point plus win here.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1047 - 06/04/2024 12:21:41    2535994

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Replying To Young_gael:  "This wont be easy. Meath lost in Pearse Park in this very fixture in 2018 by a few points. Down through the years Longford have had great results there. This is their game of the year I would imagine.

My concern for Meath from the league is the lack of scoring power; We only managed a few goals in the whole league and points tallies around 10/12 - which is low at any level. I think the selected team and bench for the game is as strong as we have, and considering Longford have dipped a bit in the last few years as well, Meath should get over the line here. But like I said at the start, wont be easy.

The reward for the winner is a game against an angry, reactionary Dublin, what better incentive!"
Over the last couple of years, the gulf in class between divisions has gotten bigger and bigger, and despite Meath being far from world beaters - they are a mid table Div 2 team versus a team than finished mid table in Div 4.

Anything other than a relatively easy victory will be unacceptable. I expect it'll be similar to some of our Tailteann Cup games last year vs Waterford/Tipperary. 2-17 - 0-10 type victory.

No disrespect to Longford, who will be up for it - but if we can't brush them aside then it's time to just give up

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 200 - 06/04/2024 15:54:19    2536048

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3-12 is a shocking score to concede against a div 4 team. If Dublin want they will double that next week.

Islander21 (Meath) - Posts: 12 - 07/04/2024 16:41:05    2536216

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The one thing we probably did well in Div 2 this year was defensively, but to concede 3-12 against a mid table Div 4 team is embarrassing. Absolutely shocking

Not sure if it was complacency as were always in control, but Dublin are going to absolutely obliterate us in 2nd gear.

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 200 - 07/04/2024 16:46:25    2536219

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No disrespect to Longford but they are a division 4 team and to concede 3-12 against them is a real concern. Conceding big scores has been a consistent trend all through the league and it doesn't bode well for the Dublin game next week.

Not expecting much against Dublin but it would be good to see some fight and belief.

RoyalClass (Meath) - Posts: 789 - 07/04/2024 17:12:47    2536226

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Let's call a spade a spade, 2-2 came directly from the keeper. The scoreline doesn't reflect the team performance as much as it looks and the gift wrapped scores from errors really helped that healthier longford scoreline.... meath were 12 plus the better team on the day imo. I don't want to go over the top on the lad, felt sorry for him tbh

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 889 - 07/04/2024 18:18:27    2536264

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Was Costello injured or why was he hooked at ht? Seemed to be the only forward not moving well in first half!

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 509 - 07/04/2024 19:24:26    2536321

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Half back line Solid when we're passing the ball around to one another but missing when it comes to defensive duties. Longford had great joy attacking down both our wings in the first half and down our left side in the second half. Delighted to see Morris back. Chipped in with some nice points and an excellent set-up of the first goal. And what about Banty. I know it was Longford but goes to show when you give good ball into him he has the talent to score despite being small in stature. Back to the big smoke and the big pitch next Sunday. We go in hope.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 07/04/2024 19:43:57    2536329

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It was disappointing to concede 3-12 but just after looking at other results from today and to see Tipp, Monaghan and Westmeath all lose and being favourites I'm happy to get a win under the belt.

Bad day by Brennan but I wouldn't be changing him based on that performance alone. Happy with a return of 3-19 however Conlon or Frayne won't get that space the next day and they will be relying on scrapes.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 355 - 07/04/2024 21:20:50    2536368

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A handy win but the scoreboard ended up not being as pretty as it looked like at 20 minutes. Conceding 3-12 is very sloppy but I suppose 2-2 of that was in the last 5-10 minutes when the game was long over. Brennan struggled any time was put on the kickouts and made a mess of a high ball for their 3rd goal I think it was. 14/16 on our shooting in the first half was very impressive. I think with our forward line is now the most potent and has the potential on it's day to put up a score more than any forward we've had since about 2012 when we had Bray, Sherdian, Ward, Farrell etc. But I still think we lack a bit around the middle third especially physicality at wing back and wing forward and I would like to see Ronan Ryan in for O'Higgins for Dublin. Lets call a spade a spade here we haven't a chance next week. I just want it to be a contest for as long as possible to not have us going into the group stage on a downer.

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1458 - 07/04/2024 21:32:18    2536372

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Wasn't a brilliant game, at times it felt like a training game.
Put up a big score which was good.
Disappointed with the loss in concentration and some of the bad goals we conceded.
Don't feel great heading for Dublin but at least playing Dublin early will mean we have more time to regroup for group stage.

bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1350 - 07/04/2024 22:34:28    2536393

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "It was disappointing to concede 3-12 but just after looking at other results from today and to see Tipp, Monaghan and Westmeath all lose and being favourites I'm happy to get a win under the belt.

Bad day by Brennan but I wouldn't be changing him based on that performance alone. Happy with a return of 3-19 however Conlon or Frayne won't get that space the next day and they will be relying on scrapes."
To be honest, I would be making a change.

Dublin are going to absolutely savage Meath if they go short with any kickouts. Teams that press up aggressively on kickouts, want you to go short. Just listen to what Paddy Christie said after the game today, and Meath should take it on board. They will be putting a full on press on Meaths kickouts from the start. With Fenton suspended, Meaths best bet from their own kickout is, if Dublin press them high, which they will, just drive the ball as long and as far as possible over the press and on top of our big men around the middle (Costello, McGowan, Jones and McBride). Best case scenario Meath win the ball and have an open defense to attack if the ball is moved forward fast, and atleast if Dublin do win the kickout, they are far enough away from goal that is gives Meath a chance to stop a score.

This is why Harry or Billy Hogan should play. Brennan doesn't have the boot to do that and he will go short, and if he does the ball will be going by him and into the net just as quick and the game will be over after ten minutes.

Meath can't afford to gamble on anything in this game. They need to come out of it in one piece, meaning having put in a solid defensive and attacking performance, and not being annilated.

This is the only time Meath might get Dublin when they are not at full tilt, as they know Leinster means nothing to them anymore and no matter what their energy levels won't be high for this game. For Meath to be competive in the game, they need to bring those high energy levels, while being solid at the back and being brave when attacking, as a keep ball approach against Dublin won't work. They will just eventually take it off you, and punish you with scores, and you will have nothing to show for your couple of minutes of possession.

Team that I would go with for this game

1. Harry Hogan (Has championship experience against Dublin in Croke Park)
2. Donal Keogan
3. Adam O'Neill
4. Ronan Ryan or Ross Ryan (Ronan if he is fit for 70 minutes)
5. Ciarán Caulfield
6. Daragh Campion
7. Sean Coffey
8. Ronan Jones
9. Cian McBride
10. Shane Walsh
11. Eoghan Frayne
12. Daithí McGowan
13. Jordan Morris
14. Matthew Costello
15. James Conlon

You then have strong options off the bench in Jack O'Connor, Cathal Hickey, Keith Curtis,

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 934 - 07/04/2024 23:13:31    2536408

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Replying To BigJoe14:  "To be honest, I would be making a change.

Dublin are going to absolutely savage Meath if they go short with any kickouts. Teams that press up aggressively on kickouts, want you to go short. Just listen to what Paddy Christie said after the game today, and Meath should take it on board. They will be putting a full on press on Meaths kickouts from the start. With Fenton suspended, Meaths best bet from their own kickout is, if Dublin press them high, which they will, just drive the ball as long and as far as possible over the press and on top of our big men around the middle (Costello, McGowan, Jones and McBride). Best case scenario Meath win the ball and have an open defense to attack if the ball is moved forward fast, and atleast if Dublin do win the kickout, they are far enough away from goal that is gives Meath a chance to stop a score.

This is why Harry or Billy Hogan should play. Brennan doesn't have the boot to do that and he will go short, and if he does the ball will be going by him and into the net just as quick and the game will be over after ten minutes.

Meath can't afford to gamble on anything in this game. They need to come out of it in one piece, meaning having put in a solid defensive and attacking performance, and not being annilated.

This is the only time Meath might get Dublin when they are not at full tilt, as they know Leinster means nothing to them anymore and no matter what their energy levels won't be high for this game. For Meath to be competive in the game, they need to bring those high energy levels, while being solid at the back and being brave when attacking, as a keep ball approach against Dublin won't work. They will just eventually take it off you, and punish you with scores, and you will have nothing to show for your couple of minutes of possession.

Team that I would go with for this game

1. Harry Hogan (Has championship experience against Dublin in Croke Park)
2. Donal Keogan
3. Adam O'Neill
4. Ronan Ryan or Ross Ryan (Ronan if he is fit for 70 minutes)
5. Ciarán Caulfield
6. Daragh Campion
7. Sean Coffey
8. Ronan Jones
9. Cian McBride
10. Shane Walsh
11. Eoghan Frayne
12. Daithí McGowan
13. Jordan Morris
14. Matthew Costello
15. James Conlon

You then have strong options off the bench in Jack O'Connor, Cathal Hickey, Keith Curtis,"
If we don't make changes then it will send the wrong message. A number of lads who are normally decent enough were off the pace yesterday and with all due respect to Longford they struggled.

Our keeper was poor yesterday and was responsible for a lot of errors, Our back line was solid and when Ryan went off you could see a massive gap. Shane Walsh was ok in possession and had a better second half.

Was Castello injured? Our two inside men were fantastic and kicked some great scores. Morris ran out of steam which is understandable but Banty was very lively.

The question now is can they do that against the Dubs? Can one of our inside men score 6,7 or even 8 points? Yes maybe but will they get the supply, will the lads out the field get the room and time to ping passes in like the did yesterday, I doubt they will. This is where you want to be playing one if not the best team in Ireland and seeing where you are. Keeper would be a worry and he kicked two that I can remember straight into there 14's hands and they failed to punish us.

The question is now can we improve some more next week.

199710 (Meath) - Posts: 120 - 08/04/2024 08:38:56    2536445

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