Meath Forum

Meath V Louth

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The other thing i think we need to weigh up here in terms of individual performances is that this crop of players put out a warning last year that if you underestimate them they will beat you or run you right to the wire.

The element of surprise is gone and the other counties will be sizing themselves up to our lads to an extent so our lads cant have off days or they will be exposed. Most of the top forwards in the country will be looking for Rafferty now, to say hey i popped over 4-5 points against the all star.

Irish_downunder (Meath) - Posts: 668 - 05/02/2026 14:39:52    2655096

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Reading some of the posts about lads underperforming, it's a very fine balance between management persisting with players to allow them find form, and simply not having the squad depth to replace underperforming stars.

Rafferty will play almost every minute when available, even if he doesn't hit All-Star form. The same goes for Coffey, Keoghan and Caufield.

We need to add depth in defence - and fairly quickly, in my opinion. At the very least, options should be explored for scenarios like suspension or injury. Keoghan, for example, could slot into the full-back line, with a natural ball-player pushed out to wing-back. Could Coffey cover corner-back? Could Costello do a job at 6 for a spell? The top teams are fluid, and I'd like to see lads get more exposure to covering positions.

That said, I don't actually expect much of that to happen, and I understand why. Brennan is striking while the iron is hot. Promotion is the goal, and if he delivers it, it's hard to argue against rigid team selections.

Louth game:
Meath press high, but once that press is broken, they tend to become passive. We learned our lesson last year by standing off Lennon and Mulroy. I'd like to see a more aggressive defensive approach - don't allow Louth to give Mulroy easy ball around the arc, and get right in Lennon's face.

I expect the team to remain unchanged. Banty deserves to start, but I think he'll be held in reserve. Strangely, you could even drop one of Frayne, Costello or Duke, let Adam O'Neill empty the tank for 40 minutes, and the impact from the lads coming in would probably outweigh what those players give if they start. I'm a big fan of the work Adam O'Neill gets through, he earns us the ability to let a footballer play.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 44 - 05/02/2026 23:14:56    2655157

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Replying To RoyalBadger:  "Wouldn't be surprised if they bet us and then lost all remaining games in the league. Their campaign always revolves around their cup final against us."
Our "cup final" ended with us lifting Leinster. Yours ended with excuses and a forum post. #PipeDown

Walter_White (Louth) - Posts: 3 - 06/02/2026 10:17:26    2655182

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Replying To Royalroyal97:  "I agree. Thought he cleaned up some vital ball back there and is a calming presence. Still a few positions up for grabs in my opinion. If rafferty, duke and possibly Frayne don't have a big day against Louth there could be changes in there?"
Rafferty is a man putting too much pressure on himself. He possibly thinks he needs to do more now because of the All-Star. Hopefully, he settles and remembers what got him to the dance and he performs to his standards.

Opinion2026 (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 06/02/2026 16:25:26    2655256

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Meath by 7.

2010 Ghost is dead and buried and thank God.

Meath are on the up, Louth just dormant.

Very confident on this one.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1140 - 06/02/2026 17:59:19    2655265

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Replying To Walter_White:  "Our "cup final" ended with us lifting Leinster. Yours ended with excuses and a forum post. #PipeDown"
As a meath man pains me to say it but very true. Meath people have to accept louth are a serious threat to us and are the provincial champions for a reason. I think it's absolutely acceptable to have big target on this game, this is a great rivalry and louth have been bossing it now for years. This is a cup final for us. Win and promotion is a strong possibility. I think the snobbery from are part comes from heritage and we went on a run after the leinster final.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 44 - 07/02/2026 12:07:04    2655319

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Replying To royalcounty1:  "As a meath man pains me to say it but very true. Meath people have to accept louth are a serious threat to us and are the provincial champions for a reason. I think it's absolutely acceptable to have big target on this game, this is a great rivalry and louth have been bossing it now for years. This is a cup final for us. Win and promotion is a strong possibility. I think the snobbery from are part comes from heritage and we went on a run after the leinster final."
I would have to agree with the sentiments here. Louth are the best coached team we have played so far so this one is far from a formality. Although the 2 wins have been a massive plus I would be slighly concerned over how we defended at times in the first 2 games and our kick outs are starting to look slightly one dementional. Louth could exploit both these areas but hopefully our firepower will get us over the line.

Northroyal55 (Meath) - Posts: 16 - 07/02/2026 16:32:01    2655373

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Replying To royalcounty1:  "Reading some of the posts about lads underperforming, it's a very fine balance between management persisting with players to allow them find form, and simply not having the squad depth to replace underperforming stars.

Rafferty will play almost every minute when available, even if he doesn't hit All-Star form. The same goes for Coffey, Keoghan and Caufield.

We need to add depth in defence - and fairly quickly, in my opinion. At the very least, options should be explored for scenarios like suspension or injury. Keoghan, for example, could slot into the full-back line, with a natural ball-player pushed out to wing-back. Could Coffey cover corner-back? Could Costello do a job at 6 for a spell? The top teams are fluid, and I'd like to see lads get more exposure to covering positions.

That said, I don't actually expect much of that to happen, and I understand why. Brennan is striking while the iron is hot. Promotion is the goal, and if he delivers it, it's hard to argue against rigid team selections.

Louth game:
Meath press high, but once that press is broken, they tend to become passive. We learned our lesson last year by standing off Lennon and Mulroy. I'd like to see a more aggressive defensive approach - don't allow Louth to give Mulroy easy ball around the arc, and get right in Lennon's face.

I expect the team to remain unchanged. Banty deserves to start, but I think he'll be held in reserve. Strangely, you could even drop one of Frayne, Costello or Duke, let Adam O'Neill empty the tank for 40 minutes, and the impact from the lads coming in would probably outweigh what those players give if they start. I'm a big fan of the work Adam O'Neill gets through, he earns us the ability to let a footballer play."
I don't think Costello is able to be dropped personally, I think despite two games that were quiet by his standards from last year he is still very reliable, think back to 2024 when he hadn't scored from play in 2 games and only scored 0-3 from frees, then scored an absolute wonder goal against Louth running from the halfway line and skinning the likes of Ciaran Keenan Conor Grimes and others for pace and then decking Mulroy with minimal contact before burying it in the far corner outside of the boot

Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 26 - 07/02/2026 22:44:02    2655438

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Replying To Northroyal55:  "I would have to agree with the sentiments here. Louth are the best coached team we have played so far so this one is far from a formality. Although the 2 wins have been a massive plus I would be slighly concerned over how we defended at times in the first 2 games and our kick outs are starting to look slightly one dementional. Louth could exploit both these areas but hopefully our firepower will get us over the line."
I believe our focus has to be about showing continuous improvement as a team. Every player has to take responsibility for his own improvement. Robbie Brennan no doubt will be working on shortcomings in training and it seems with his style will further promote an atmoshere of encouragement .I expect to see a less porous defence with a strong commitment in the tackle to win back the ball and less room for their shooters.
Our forwards know that one or two have more improvement required to hold their place. I expect accuracy levels will improve having been focussed on in training
Louth have Mulroy and Lennon etc potential match winners if given room... I expect Full back Rafferty will tend to be drawn outfield by his marker maybe. Interesting to see how the sideline monitors that...Will they use him best by having Sean stick to Mulroy their best player and one of the best in the country.
How can Costello be used to best advantage. undoubted talent but prone to drifting in and out of the game. I would play him as a utility player even if fit enough with the intention to just go at their defence directly and shoot from distance .Review as the game progresses.
The most positive thing that can be said at this point is this panel has great potential and anything is possible..... Good management team who have instilled a good atmosphere and good options with players on the bench. I fully expect Meath to win having learned from the last 2 games.

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1295 - 08/02/2026 09:53:47    2655465

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