Meath Forum

Meath V Down

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Replying To meath1977:  "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"
Yep look I understand that our destiny is in our own hands. Win both games and there's no issue.
The problem is that by arranging the games like this it throws up the possibility of a major issue. So the correct thing to do is play the outstanding games first.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 20/03/2018 21:59:32    2086454

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Replying To Analyst:  "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"
There would be a small point in that I have the season ticket so have already paid into a match that may not happen. I'm sure there are also people who had bought tickets in advance of the game in Drogheda last week.

You would expect that the GAA will do something to resolve those things, but then again.......

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 522 - 20/03/2018 22:23:21    2086466

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Replying To royaldunne:  "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."
Yep that's all very well but what happens if the worst happens and a depleted Tipp lose to Down and relegate us?
What do we do then ? Shrug our shoulders and say ah Shure we were shafted but that's life ?

People need to wake up and realize that this is plain wrong. This is the GAA trying to save face by trying to have the Division 2 final on Easter weekend and say that the new format worked fine. Well it's not fine and we should not accept it.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 20/03/2018 22:26:39    2086468

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Replying To ROYALOPTIMIST:  "Yep that's all very well but what happens if the worst happens and a depleted Tipp lose to Down and relegate us?
What do we do then ? Shrug our shoulders and say ah Shure we were shafted but that's life ?

People need to wake up and realize that this is plain wrong. This is the GAA trying to save face by trying to have the Division 2 final on Easter weekend and say that the new format worked fine. Well it's not fine and we should not accept it."
No body has shafted us but ourself.If we cant beat Down at home and Louth away then we deserve to go down.. Its time we took responsibility for our shocking results this year..If it was the other way round and we had the so called advantage not one of us would care a jot..Dead rubbers happen every year for teams just luck of the draw! Get over it and stop complaining

grahamc9897 (Meath) - Posts: 1174 - 21/03/2018 07:51:39    2086511

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Ok just an update on what I have been able to find out on this situation.

Last night I emailed the GAA, local officials, a few journalists and anyone I could think of who might be able to shed light on what is happening.

The situation seems a bit confused and my understanding now is as follows.

Initially it was decided that if the promotion places were decided next weekend then the Final could go ahead on Easter weekend. no thought was given to the relegation issue and the fact that Tipperary were pivotal to both scenarios. Even last night some people I was in contact with, had not realised the full extent of what these arrangements meant.

I have now been told that if any issues remain unresolved after next weekends games then the two outstanding games will be played Easter weekend with the Final being played the week after. That makes a little more sense but if Tipperary do not get to the final, I do not see why the final could not be played (Say Roscommon v Cavan) on Easter Sunday as planned with the remaining two games also going ahead. However if Tipperary reach the final they will have to play Down first before the Final.

In all honesty I think this has been a cock up but no one is going to admit it.

Either way Down have had a result in the sense that if Tipperary lose to Cavan next weekend they will have missed promotion and will have to head north the following week to fulfill their last fixture.

All of this could have been avoided if the two outstanding games were played next weekend as it would have preserved the integrity and fairness of the league.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 21/03/2018 08:17:57    2086514

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If more than 2 teams finish level on points then the outcome of the head to head with Down is irrelevant as score difference will be used to determine who is relegated. Currently there is a possibility that as many as 5 teams could end up on 7 pts - Meath, Down,Tipperary,Cork and Clare so a lot of permutations to be considered !!

Royal_Rover (Meath) - Posts: 72 - 21/03/2018 08:39:08    2086518

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Replying To grahamc9897:  "No body has shafted us but ourself.If we cant beat Down at home and Louth away then we deserve to go down.. Its time we took responsibility for our shocking results this year..If it was the other way round and we had the so called advantage not one of us would care a jot..Dead rubbers happen every year for teams just luck of the draw! Get over it and stop complaining"
Dead runners do happen and that's part of a league system. This is different and should have been avoided.

Survival is still in our own hands and despite our performances so far we might survive but that still does not make it alright.

I despair when I see the apathy on this thread where we are told just accept it and move on. It mirrors the apathy I see around the team and it's shocking.

Instead of standing up and fighting for our county we are regaled on this forum of tales of the past and our proud heritage and how we belong at the top table.

Yet when faced with being shafted by the GAA we just lie down and take it. Well I have news for you and every other poster here and that is that we need to start rolling up our sleeves and getting behind the efforts being made to improve the team and that also involves standing up to the GAA on issues like this where their handling of the issue has been farcical.

Wake up people

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 21/03/2018 10:04:00    2086539

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Replying To Royal_Rover:  "If more than 2 teams finish level on points then the outcome of the head to head with Down is irrelevant as score difference will be used to determine who is relegated. Currently there is a possibility that as many as 5 teams could end up on 7 pts - Meath, Down,Tipperary,Cork and Clare so a lot of permutations to be considered !!"
How can Meath and down end up on 7 points? We can by beating Diwn but that means they can't?

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 21/03/2018 10:05:52    2086541

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RO, I'm with Graham on this. Meath's destiny is entirely in their own hands and now is the time to deliver, or face the consequences. Anyway, it is not the Meath way to whinge.

Down played Louth in round 1 when they both had something to play for. We'll (we might) play Louth when they have nothing to play for in terms of relegation/survival, just an old grudge (we're fond of you Ollie!). So whether Tipp have anything to play for against Down or not, is Down's luck ... good or bad. These things tend to balance out.

Meath are now playing the two weakest counties of three in the group (last), so lets hope they can win and show they belong in division 2.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 21/03/2018 12:24:28    2086587

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Replying To Loyalroyal17:  "Dreading Sunday, would have preferred to play Louth if we dont win Down we may just hang up the boots."
I'd say the players are dreading it too......must be terrible to have to play week in week out in a chaotic shambles of a system that plays against everyone's strengths

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 888 - 21/03/2018 13:33:58    2086614

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Replying To GlasagusOr:  "RO, I'm with Graham on this. Meath's destiny is entirely in their own hands and now is the time to deliver, or face the consequences. Anyway, it is not the Meath way to whinge.

Down played Louth in round 1 when they both had something to play for. We'll (we might) play Louth when they have nothing to play for in terms of relegation/survival, just an old grudge (we're fond of you Ollie!). So whether Tipp have anything to play for against Down or not, is Down's luck ... good or bad. These things tend to balance out.

Meath are now playing the two weakest counties of three in the group (last), so lets hope they can win and show they belong in division 2."
I have no problem with your sentiments but I would say that your comment about things balancing out is exactly the core point of my argument.

I had no problem last year when Kildare went to Galway having already qualified and made 13 changes (and performed well enough if I remember) in a game we needed Galway to lose. Thats just the way the fixtures turned out.

Because now the GAA have interfered with the fixtures in the hope that results will allow the final be played on Easter weekend, that balance is gone.

We are suffering because of this and it should be objected to in the strongest possible terms.

I do not think that highlighting this before the games take place is whinging, however complaining about it afterwards having done or said, nothing beforehand, could be construed as whinging.

Bottom line here is that I do not believe we are being treated fairly and add in the issue with the Louth game being postponed and you should begin to realise that we are being walked on and we need to stand up and make our feelings known.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 21/03/2018 18:56:46    2086747

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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."
CastleBravo

I replied to this earlier and my opening line basically said you were wrong.

I was reading it back and I think It was quite rude of me to be so blunt so I owe you an apology.

Whilst I do feel quite strongly about the issue, I did not mean to offend anyone.

So I am sorry about that.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 21/03/2018 19:01:28    2086748

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No worries ... Meath vs. Down with a place in D2 next year at stake, should focus minds. May the best team win! If it ends in a draw, we may go to Newry to support Tipp :)

If it is entirely the luck of the draw if you get 3 or 4 home games in a season, with a reverse of the previous years fixtures where applicable (home, away); but they could consider having a system where a higher placed team in a group that narrowly miss out on promotion (finish 3rd) get four home games the following year. Some form of incentive to try and minimise dead rubber games.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 21/03/2018 19:37:12    2086760

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Replying To GlasagusOr:  "No worries ... Meath vs. Down with a place in D2 next year at stake, should focus minds. May the best team win! If it ends in a draw, we may go to Newry to support Tipp :)

If it is entirely the luck of the draw if you get 3 or 4 home games in a season, with a reverse of the previous years fixtures where applicable (home, away); but they could consider having a system where a higher placed team in a group that narrowly miss out on promotion (finish 3rd) get four home games the following year. Some form of incentive to try and minimise dead rubber games."
3 home games so for us under that system next season then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 179 - 21/03/2018 20:05:20    2086764

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Come on the Royal County - let's win this

MeathWawa (Meath) - Posts: 61 - 21/03/2018 21:08:13    2086782

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Lets get behind the lads this weekend more so than ever they need our support. We play a massive part in the lads confidence aswell. I just cant look at anymore negative comments. It has to be all positive for this weekend.

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 21/03/2018 22:44:11    2086819

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Jesus I thought Andy was sounding a bit foolish with all this paranoid waffle about people conspiring against us.......now I see a Dublin ref appointed to a game where we can get relegated if we lose ......hah

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 888 - 22/03/2018 07:07:07    2086849

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Replying To Loyalroyal17:  "Lets get behind the lads this weekend more so than ever they need our support. We play a massive part in the lads confidence aswell. I just cant look at anymore negative comments. It has to be all positive for this weekend."
Yeah I'd agree with you on this.

We are in corner here, partly our own doing, but none the less this is where we are.

Things have been far from ideal this campaign, but that certainly doesn't mean that supporters should turn their back on the lads at this point. It's at this point more than ever that supporters can play their part by bringing a big crowd to the final Home game on Sunday and making plenty of (positive) noise and hopefully kickstart the recovery of our season.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6342 - 22/03/2018 07:23:44    2086850

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Replying To Jinxie:  "Yeah I'd agree with you on this.

We are in corner here, partly our own doing, but none the less this is where we are.

Things have been far from ideal this campaign, but that certainly doesn't mean that supporters should turn their back on the lads at this point. It's at this point more than ever that supporters can play their part by bringing a big crowd to the final Home game on Sunday and making plenty of (positive) noise and hopefully kickstart the recovery of our season."
Absolutely, we have to play our part. A huge crowd is needed. Plenty of positive energy that the players can play off.
Not one bit of negativity.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 22/03/2018 10:14:33    2086875

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Absolutely, we have to play our part. A huge crowd is needed. Plenty of positive energy that the players can play off.
Not one bit of negativity.
Hon the royal"
100% lads this is what is required of us all Sunday. We need to shake this dark cloud thats hanging over our heads and bring back the sunshine ha.
Positivity all the way, lets bring a true Royal atmosphere to Navan on Sunday. Hon The Royal!!!

Loyalroyal17 (Meath) - Posts: 627 - 22/03/2018 10:24:38    2086878

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