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Meath V Down

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Game scheduled for this Sunday 25th Louth game Easter Sunday. Weather permitting of course, we are due snow again Easter weekend!

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 20/03/2018 14:40:18    2086252

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This really makes us favourites for the drop now.

If Down beat us on Sunday we are gone.

If We beat Down and Tipp beat Cavan (neither beyond the boundaries of possibility) then we are a point ahead of Down so the 2 outstanding games will have to be played to decide the relegation places.

They couldn't be played on April 1st as Tipp would be in the final so couldn't fulfill the fixture with Down. The following weekend is Club Championship.

Then when they are played we would have to go to Louth to play a team that would love to bring us down with them, while Down would have a home game against a team coming off the back of a league final who most likely won't care about the game one way or the other.

In the event that we beat Down and Cavan beat Tipp to end up in the final with Roscommon then at least the games could be played the following week, but again how motivated would Tipp be against Downin that scenario?

This whole thing is a sham.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 522 - 20/03/2018 15:42:33    2086287

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We most win the last 2 games, or we go down very simple, would prefer to play louth first but it is what it is. regardless of how you feel towards the team or management Sunday is a huge game and they need our full support. Relegation to division 3 would be a complete disaster.

longroadback (Meath) - Posts: 325 - 20/03/2018 16:39:17    2086316

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Should we not be objecting to this arrangement? We could end up with Tipperary not reaching the final and then scheduled to play Down in a game that means nothing to Tipperary but that Down have to win to stay up at our expense?

i don't know if I am right, but say that Roscommon and Cavan win on Sunday and we draw with with Down. That means Tipperary have not qualified for the final and can not be relegated. We are a point behind Down and have to beat Louth while hoping that Down lose (or draw and then we have to beat Louth by more than 3 points) to Tipp.

So Tipperary could be faced with a long trip up to Down to play a game which means nothing to them but could influence relegation?

If this is right, then we need to stand up and make our objections known.

I know it does'nt suit the top brass but the two outstanding games need to be played next weekend then all round 7 games played on Easter weekend at the same time.

Sorry if I am wrong on this but if I am right this is ridiculous.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 20/03/2018 18:32:11    2086354

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Bottom line is we have to win the next two games. Last 3 games we def are not as bad as we looked although we showed some
Improvement against Cork. Will need a good defensive display as down have handy forwards. Hopefully we get the win we so badly need.

MeathWawa (Meath) - Posts: 61 - 20/03/2018 18:58:03    2086361

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You can't really object to a game (that you're not even involved in) based on your assumptions about how motivated one of the teams are.

Where would it end?

Imagine Down complained saying its not fair that they played a fresh, motivated, ambitious Louth team in the first game, but now Meath are playing a tired, demoralised already relegated Louth team in the last round.

In any case, complaining about the order of fixtures is cowardly excuse making. Our poor finish won't be because of the league schedule, it will be because we've taken 3 points from a possible 10 so far.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 20/03/2018 19:20:36    2086366

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Its simple really...if we win our last two games we stay up in division 2.

If we are depending on other results and fixtures time tables not going our way we deserve to be in Division 3.

If we don't man up and face what's ahead we will never get anywhere ..

We have two games left in the league ...then probably more than likely two games in the championship because Longford are looking very good i am afraid to say.


So in 3 months time it could very well be curtains at inter County level for 2018...it could very well be also the end for the manger and a lot of players, sport has no sympathy for the wrongs and errors of the past,its still a result driven game regardless !

Their is plenty of excuses to why Meath Football is bad...when the excuses stop and when everybody stops playing the blame game...we might actually start to win !

So hopefully we will win our last two games ...its not how you start the league that is important but how you finish it.

Besides getting into Division 1 will not be important anymore if the super 8 is kept on...because its better to play a higher standard of football at the end of the year rather than in mud and snow this time of year were there is nearly a five month gap between league and super 8 and a lot can change in 5 months ...i wonder have Mayo already clock that ..maybe

WhyTheLongFace (Meath) - Posts: 876 - 20/03/2018 19:42:23    2086377

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "You can't really object to a game (that you're not even involved in) based on your assumptions about how motivated one of the teams are.

Where would it end?

Imagine Down complained saying its not fair that they played a fresh, motivated, ambitious Louth team in the first game, but now Meath are playing a tired, demoralised already relegated Louth team in the last round.

In any case, complaining about the order of fixtures is cowardly excuse making. Our poor finish won't be because of the league schedule, it will be because we've taken 3 points from a possible 10 so far."
I understand the point you are making, but you are wrong.

The reality is that you can end up with a situation where a team fighting relegation plays a team with nothing to play for in the final round of games but thats just the luck of the draw. No one complains because its a league format and these things happen.

In this instance its not by chance that we have this situation but it is by design and thats my problem.

If the GAA kept the sequence that was supposed to happen, then next weekend would see Meath play Louth and Down play Tipperary. Ok Louth are relegated but thats the luck of the draw. Both Down and Tipperary need to win.

The round 7 games then are then fixed for Easter weekend and Meath play Down and again both teams are going for the win. All the final round games are scheduled to start at the same time to ensure fairness.

Thats the only way the games should be arranged because thats the fairest to everyone.

Instead the Gaa switch the games and you could end up with Tipperary either playing and winning or losing the league Final before they play their last game against Down and that is just plain daft.

So in this instance the GAA are allowing a possible situation arise that does not promote fairness and that is my problem with the arrangements.

This should not be allowed happen and if Dublin, Kerry or Tyrone were inolved or possibly impacted by it then it would be treated differently. Well I'm sorry, because if its not good enough for those counties then it should not be good enough for Meath.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 20/03/2018 19:50:13    2086385

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Replying To Loyalroyal17:  "Game scheduled for this Sunday 25th Louth game Easter Sunday. Weather permitting of course, we are due snow again Easter weekend!"
there will be no Louth game if we lose on Sunday

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 20/03/2018 20:09:45    2086393

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Replying To ROYALOPTIMIST:  "Should we not be objecting to this arrangement? We could end up with Tipperary not reaching the final and then scheduled to play Down in a game that means nothing to Tipperary but that Down have to win to stay up at our expense?

i don't know if I am right, but say that Roscommon and Cavan win on Sunday and we draw with with Down. That means Tipperary have not qualified for the final and can not be relegated. We are a point behind Down and have to beat Louth while hoping that Down lose (or draw and then we have to beat Louth by more than 3 points) to Tipp.

So Tipperary could be faced with a long trip up to Down to play a game which means nothing to them but could influence relegation?

If this is right, then we need to stand up and make our objections known.

I know it does'nt suit the top brass but the two outstanding games need to be played next weekend then all round 7 games played on Easter weekend at the same time.

Sorry if I am wrong on this but if I am right this is ridiculous."
if we beat down then we have to beat Louth it would not matter that down does as it would go on head to head. if we can't beat down well then it's division 3

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 20/03/2018 20:12:46    2086395

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Replying To meath1977:  "if we beat down then we have to beat Louth it would not matter that down does as it would go on head to head. if we can't beat down well then it's division 3"
Yep I understand that, win our 2 games and we stay up but thats not the issue here.

Say we draw against Down then even if we beat Louth then the other result becomes crucial and because the way it has been rescheduled that means that Down could be playing a Tipp team that has payed in a league final and is now concentrating on other things.

This is only happening because the way the GAA are going about it. it does not have to be like this and the fairest thing is to keep the schedule the way it was meant to be.

Forget its Meath involved, its simply not acceptable for whoever is affected and its wrong

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 20/03/2018 21:02:19    2086423

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Replying To meath1977:  "there will be no Louth game if we lose on Sunday"
There would be no point but a precedent was set earlier this year when Roscommon were forced to play a dead rubber match that neither they or Galway wanted to play

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1467 - 20/03/2018 21:05:19    2086425

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Down appear to be the real winners here.
If tipp lose Sunday, they'll be sending and shadow squad to down the following week, whereas the other way around down were faced with 2 meaningful games.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6342 - 20/03/2018 21:08:41    2086428

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Replying To Jinxie:  "Down appear to be the real winners here.
If tipp lose Sunday, they'll be sending and shadow squad to down the following week, whereas the other way around down were faced with 2 meaningful games."
I have to say I agree. It's a disgraceful decision . Meath could be relegated because of this. Okay their performances thus far have put them in this position but it's not a level playing pitch from here on in. Down have an unfair advantage now. The same is true for us as a fresh Tipperary come to Breffni for a crucial match after we slugged it out with Roscommon at the weekend. Typical GAA. It simply would not happen to Dublin or Kerry!

BlueHeaven (Cavan) - Posts: 75 - 20/03/2018 21:33:54    2086442

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Replying To Jinxie:  "Down appear to be the real winners here.
If tipp lose Sunday, they'll be sending and shadow squad to down the following week, whereas the other way around down were faced with 2 meaningful games."
Agreed. That been said it's in our own hands. A win v Down and a win v Louth will put us on 7 points , we stayed up with less previously so hopefully then a match in may v wm in obc final will set us up for Longford and then we know what awaits, really that's all that matters at this stage , 3 games to put things in order and see where it takes us.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 20/03/2018 21:34:21    2086443

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Replying To Jinxie:  "Down appear to be the real winners here.
If tipp lose Sunday, they'll be sending and shadow squad to down the following week, whereas the other way around down were faced with 2 meaningful games."
unless it's a draw with Meath and down that won't matter. lose we are gone anyway. win and we just have to beat Louth and we are safe

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 20/03/2018 21:35:12    2086445

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Replying To Jinxie:  "Down appear to be the real winners here.
If tipp lose Sunday, they'll be sending and shadow squad to down the following week, whereas the other way around down were faced with 2 meaningful games."
Correct and if Tipp win, they qualify for the final. Win or lose the final their thoughts are gone from the league and onto the championship. So what interest have they in playing down a week or two later. It's farcical.

I don't think people have thought this through at all because the more you look at it the more unbelievable it is.

Forget that its Meath involved or that results may make the last two outstanding games meaningless, it's the fact that this situation has been allowed to happen that is wrong.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 20/03/2018 21:36:48    2086446

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Replying To ROYALOPTIMIST:  "Yep I understand that, win our 2 games and we stay up but thats not the issue here.

Say we draw against Down then even if we beat Louth then the other result becomes crucial and because the way it has been rescheduled that means that Down could be playing a Tipp team that has payed in a league final and is now concentrating on other things.

This is only happening because the way the GAA are going about it. it does not have to be like this and the fairest thing is to keep the schedule the way it was meant to be.

Forget its Meath involved, its simply not acceptable for whoever is affected and its wrong"
yes I do agree they should have played the games that were called of next weekend and leave final round to Easter Sunday

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 20/03/2018 21:37:11    2086447

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if the gaa want April free why don't they play the division 2 final on the first week of may before championship

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 20/03/2018 21:45:09    2086450

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Replying To meath1977:  "there will be no Louth game if we lose on Sunday"
Dreading Sunday, would have preferred to play Louth if we dont win Down we may just hang up the boots.

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 20/03/2018 21:56:42    2086453

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