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Replying To RoyalStalwart24: "If you want to talk results, we did get promoted to Division 1 and you have to acknowledge that is a major success. The Championship was disappointing, but the 100% attitude towards the League must've taken it out of them.
If you're talking about actual play, it's a bit more difficult. I think we've improved on kickouts, but I can't name anything else. Conlon and Kinsella were immense individually.
I think we'd all be better off taking the learnings from 2026 and moving on swiftly." Next year a huge year. No doubt about that at all. The good thing about getting promotion this year meant that looking forward to Div 1 next year avoids a very strong div 2 again next year. Dublin and Tyrone had strong championship finishes. Monaghan had an inury crisis this year in league which couldn't be as bad. Louth never an easy opponent for Meath. If Meath stay up with 3 wins out of their 4 home games and a point or two on the road, it will be mission accomplished and all about championship. They really need to be looking at Leinster championship a month out and manage players load especially those with niggles. If that means giving game time to new players, so be it.
Leinster will be huge with a preliminary round possibly beneficial. Dublin and Louth will also be gunning for Leinster while Westmeath will be defending the title. Loais, Offaly and Kildare likely to improve and Wicklow on the up.
All Ireland series is about form but also depends on the draw. A home draw in 1st round would be great but lets see. Meath are at a very similar level to 4 or 5 teams that probably were unlucky not to go further this year. Really need to look.at improving team either through personnel.or coachimg or both. Expect a big response next year from Donegal and Armagh and others won't go away.
winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 1034 - 18/07/2026 20:58:45
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Replying To RoyalStalwart24: "I agree with the points here. Kinsella will more than likely miss most of the League (but knowing the lad, his mentality is top notch) but will probably be back for the Leinster Championship (you'd say it'll probably take him some time to regain match sharpness once fit). Looking at the team, I'd say our must vulnerable position is the centre half back. Menton did well there for the final stages of the season, but he isn't a natural centre back and much more of a midfielder. He also has a tendency to drift out, which can leave us exposed. Coffey played there most of the year but is a natural wing back and probably not defensively minded enough - he was caught badly in the Westmeath game in particular, and has put in a number of respectable performances since then as a wing back.
Goalkeeper is an interesting one too, but Brennan improved greatly as the year went by and learned to pull the trigger on kickouts much quicker and we looked far more organized. Billy Hogan did well in 2025 too, so maybe he deserves a run, but I just think Seán Brennan is the better keeper overall, with Hogan a decent alternative.
We absolutely need to improve game management and need to get a bit more bite - we can look incredibly soft and naive at times. The frustrating thing is that we do so much right, but so much wrong at the same time. It nearly felt inevitable at halftime against Mayo that we would lose, as these issues have surfaced again and again over the season and haven't been resolved. I would have more faith in this Meath team if they went in at halftime 3 down rather than 8 up.
If we can learn to slow things down when we get a lead, to learn that we don't always have to dash to get the next score when we get the ball - instead we can build it up slowly. Defensively we struggle but upon reflection, the defense has clearly improved each game since Westmeath. Still too open, but particularly in the first half against Mayo we had them locked out most of the time. With how the game is played these days, you are never going to control the game 100% and teams will wrestle the momentum back from you and have purple patches. That's just how the game is now - look at Kerry against Tyrone, and Dublin against Galway. These issues aren't unique to us, but are really just parts of the modern game. That being said, most of those teams are able to survive and weather the storm of momentum, particularly when they already have a strong lead. If we can learn to do that, we'll be a strong side and have a serious chance of going far next Championship." I think Hogan is a better keeper/ has more consistsnt kickouts but Brennan is a good option for long range 2 point frees/ 45s.
GreenMan1987 (Meath) - Posts: 134 - 19/07/2026 08:00:59
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Could we see Conor McGill back next year (I don't really see senior club game, assuming he is doing well at club level)?. We need more defensive cover.
GreenMan1987 (Meath) - Posts: 134 - 19/07/2026 08:02:49
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Replying To GreenMan1987: "Could we see Conor McGill back next year (I don't really see senior club game, assuming he is doing well at club level)?. We need more defensive cover." If I remember correctly, he fell out with Colm O'Rourke and left when he came in. When Robbie took over, he hinted at getting both McGill and Menton back in action, but only Menton came back so that suggests he declined an offer to return. Intercounty is tough, and he gave plenty of years to McEntee so maybe he won't return.
RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 49 - 19/07/2026 11:30:51
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Replying To GreenMan1987: "Could we see Conor McGill back next year (I don't really see senior club game, assuming he is doing well at club level)?. We need more defensive cover." He'll be turning 34 next year, I'd forget about that and be looking at younger players. We've had consistently good u20s team since O'Bric took over in 2024. Liam Kelly, Sean and Ciaran O'Hare, Sam Jordan and Cillian Yore should be seriously considered next year.
Sheridan2010louth (Meath) - Posts: 352 - 19/07/2026 11:32:24
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We need to see the u20s incorporated next year - or even the u20s from 2025. We need Jamie Murphy to get game time, and there's certainly some promising defenders coming through. We need to build depth. I do still think that we can work with the current batch of defenders with a new game strategy - if we do that, we won't need an overhaul, but all the same we need the young lads for depth. If I was in Robbie's shoes I'd be rotating in the League until we have a settled squad, and as another poster pointed out, we should keep in mind the Leinster Championship in the last few rounds of the League.
James McEntee did well when he came on I thought, and he was excellent on short kickouts, but all the same I think it's clear we need to move on from that era and build a new generation.
One thing that baffled me was why Jordan Morris was never taken off. I suppose management were waiting for him to come to life but it just never happened. We need lads like him (he's not the only one) to step it up, or we could give the likes of Murphy, Commons, Lynch, etc a run out. I still have faith Morris will be a big part of our year next season, but he needs improvement.
Morris and Conlon are primarily our two scoring threats in the FF line, and when both of them are well marked and figured out - for example, Mayo had a smaller man marking Conlon as to what Derry had - we run out of ideas quickly. Morris is good at playmaking too, and he connects well with the runs of Coffey and Caulfield, but they can't do all the work as they inevitably run out of steam. We need to figure this out.
RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 49 - 19/07/2026 13:15:20
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Replying To RoyalStalwart24: "We need to see the u20s incorporated next year - or even the u20s from 2025. We need Jamie Murphy to get game time, and there's certainly some promising defenders coming through. We need to build depth. I do still think that we can work with the current batch of defenders with a new game strategy - if we do that, we won't need an overhaul, but all the same we need the young lads for depth. If I was in Robbie's shoes I'd be rotating in the League until we have a settled squad, and as another poster pointed out, we should keep in mind the Leinster Championship in the last few rounds of the League.
James McEntee did well when he came on I thought, and he was excellent on short kickouts, but all the same I think it's clear we need to move on from that era and build a new generation.
One thing that baffled me was why Jordan Morris was never taken off. I suppose management were waiting for him to come to life but it just never happened. We need lads like him (he's not the only one) to step it up, or we could give the likes of Murphy, Commons, Lynch, etc a run out. I still have faith Morris will be a big part of our year next season, but he needs improvement.
Morris and Conlon are primarily our two scoring threats in the FF line, and when both of them are well marked and figured out - for example, Mayo had a smaller man marking Conlon as to what Derry had - we run out of ideas quickly. Morris is good at playmaking too, and he connects well with the runs of Coffey and Caulfield, but they can't do all the work as they inevitably run out of steam. We need to figure this out." Agree on your point about Morris, when things aren't happening on the pitch for Jordan he disappears from the game so to me should be subbed off. On his day he's unplayable but once a defender starts getting the upper-hand he never seems to be able to find a way to get the upper-hand back.
Frayne is regularly subbed off and he's the captain so no one should be immune from it, that does seem to be more of a fatigue thing which is strange for a 22/23yr old. I was thinking maybe he's fatigued from too much gametime across the year but when you're regularly coming off after 55-60mins that has to have a saving in the legs too.
Conlon is our main scoring threat from play and in fairness to him he was being starved of quality ball going into him v Mayo.
Kinsella is our main man and losing him to injury was a huge blow for us, not alone his 4-6 points per game but his playmaking, turnovers & football IQ to me makes him our most important player heading into 2027.
Was so impressed to how he raised his levels between 2025 & 2026, hope he has a speedy recovery and can get back to his best.
LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 109 - 20/07/2026 11:10:19
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Replying To LowerHogan: "Agree on your point about Morris, when things aren't happening on the pitch for Jordan he disappears from the game so to me should be subbed off. On his day he's unplayable but once a defender starts getting the upper-hand he never seems to be able to find a way to get the upper-hand back.
Frayne is regularly subbed off and he's the captain so no one should be immune from it, that does seem to be more of a fatigue thing which is strange for a 22/23yr old. I was thinking maybe he's fatigued from too much gametime across the year but when you're regularly coming off after 55-60mins that has to have a saving in the legs too.
Conlon is our main scoring threat from play and in fairness to him he was being starved of quality ball going into him v Mayo.
Kinsella is our main man and losing him to injury was a huge blow for us, not alone his 4-6 points per game but his playmaking, turnovers & football IQ to me makes him our most important player heading into 2027.
Was so impressed to how he raised his levels between 2025 & 2026, hope he has a speedy recovery and can get back to his best." I get your point on Morris, but what is Eoghan Frayne doing not to be in the same conversation.
Excellent player - no question. But (frees aside!) I would question whether he has led the line effectively in the past 2 seasons. Has the captaincy been a burden to carry?
Would like to see him back to his brilliant best and maybe the captaincy sits better with Jack Flynn or Caufield. Free Frayne up to contest with Murphy to be the primary focal point of the attack. Everybody needs to be kept on their toes.
GerryD (Monaghan) - Posts: 343 - 20/07/2026 13:33:30
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Replying To GerryD: "I get your point on Morris, but what is Eoghan Frayne doing not to be in the same conversation.
Excellent player - no question. But (frees aside!) I would question whether he has led the line effectively in the past 2 seasons. Has the captaincy been a burden to carry?
Would like to see him back to his brilliant best and maybe the captaincy sits better with Jack Flynn or Caufield. Free Frayne up to contest with Murphy to be the primary focal point of the attack. Everybody needs to be kept on their toes." I don't think the captaincy has necessarily been a burden on Frayne but I think it has changed the way he used to play, in his first 'proper' season back in 2024 which was O'Rourke's last and a car crash of a campaign, Frayne was a standout player with his scoring from play.
Then when RB came in he gave him the captaincy but you can see why, Frayne is a natural leader and one of our few vocal players on the pitch, in games with lower attendances where it's a bit more quiet around the grounds you can hear Frayne giving orders and directing the team which is great to see, but does have an impact on him getting into those natural scoring positions that he would have back in 2024.
I would like to see Frayne remain as captain and instead have management work on his fatiguing, and how he can better lead the team while still being an attacking threat because there's no denying his scoring ability from play when he's on it. Plus I don't think it's a great look having to sub off our captain with 10-15mins to go in games which maybe has been a factor in our collapses this year
I wouldn't give the captaincy to Jack as he's a bit of a wildcard in how he plays and wouldn't want to take that out of him. Caulfield is vice captain so he's not a mile off captaincy anyway.
The natural choice outside of Frayne/Caulfield for captaincy is Ronan Jones as he's a natural leader but with the injuries I'm not sure it'd be worth the risk.
LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 109 - 20/07/2026 15:41:14
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Frayne is a decent captain, and I doubt it wears him down too much - he'll have a few other leaders sharing the load. I know that ultimately the buck stops with Frayne (who I had at first thought was too nice to be captain), but when the likes of Jones, Caulfield, Menton and of course Keogan are in the camp, it's hard to see him bearing the weight of the squad on his shoulders.
RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 49 - 20/07/2026 17:26:41
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Replying To LowerHogan: "I don't think the captaincy has necessarily been a burden on Frayne but I think it has changed the way he used to play, in his first 'proper' season back in 2024 which was O'Rourke's last and a car crash of a campaign, Frayne was a standout player with his scoring from play.
Then when RB came in he gave him the captaincy but you can see why, Frayne is a natural leader and one of our few vocal players on the pitch, in games with lower attendances where it's a bit more quiet around the grounds you can hear Frayne giving orders and directing the team which is great to see, but does have an impact on him getting into those natural scoring positions that he would have back in 2024.
I would like to see Frayne remain as captain and instead have management work on his fatiguing, and how he can better lead the team while still being an attacking threat because there's no denying his scoring ability from play when he's on it. Plus I don't think it's a great look having to sub off our captain with 10-15mins to go in games which maybe has been a factor in our collapses this year
I wouldn't give the captaincy to Jack as he's a bit of a wildcard in how he plays and wouldn't want to take that out of him. Caulfield is vice captain so he's not a mile off captaincy anyway.
The natural choice outside of Frayne/Caulfield for captaincy is Ronan Jones as he's a natural leader but with the injuries I'm not sure it'd be worth the risk." Have to agree, sometimes i think hes our only vocal outfield player, Sean Brennan in goals in fairness is very vocal too, even in croke park you can see Frayne barking instructions at players and as you said in the quieter less attended venues you can really hear him. Caulfield/Jones who you suggested as credible alternatives as captains just don't have that vocal side to them, they lead just by their actions more so.
If other players could step up in this area maybe Fraynes starting position would be under threat more but until they do Frayne will always start even if hes not scoring much. It's a rare enough quality to be so vocal in these high stakes inter county games.
redser123 (Meath) - Posts: 430 - 20/07/2026 17:32:05
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