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Oldcastle is also in the west of the county. As are Kells and Clan Na Gael and Ballivor and Ballinabrackey and Longwood. So it is just as valid (and pointless) to talk about Oldcastle as a west Meath team. In reality, they have about as much in common with Ballivor as they do with Drumconrath. I just dont get this obsession with drawing an arbitrary line in the county, and grouping all clubs north of it into one, as if they have something in common. Of if that is to be done, why the obsession with drawing it across the county and grouping into north and south, as opposed to drawing it down the middle and grouping into east and west. Its just silly. I would also recommend getting the viewpoint of more than one supporter if you are looking to make assumptions about a club. In fairness, one is quite a small sample size. Of course Ratoath has some fools of supporters who think they are better than they are. Show me a club that doesn't. The truth though is that the majority of their supporters and players are as realistic as any other clubs. I remember a good few years back, all the talk on here was about how the O'Mahonys posters were always assuming that they were going to win it every year. The same rubbish time and time again. In reality, there was only ever O'Mahony's poster who posted regularly (JamesT ??), and he was pretty level headed. And yet people kept on and on about the arrogant O'Mahonys posters. Seems that you could substitute in Ratoath for O'Mahonys, and the same would still apply. anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 25/09/2017 19:49:55 2050460 Link 12 |
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I was talking to my father last night who was at the game (as a neutral), and he said the same thing about McGill. He reckoned that the Tones full forward wasn't great and he couldn't understand why McGill wasn't moved out to midfield, considering they were being beaten all ends up out there. Considering that for the most part, their best players are quite small, they really need to find a way to make their midfield more solid. Unless they can find anyone better, they should try McGill there. Plenty of precedent for it - Mick Lyons, Darren Fay and Kevin Reilly all played midfield for their clubs at times anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 25/09/2017 19:55:07 2050461 Link 12 |
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I will ask the same questions I always ask when comments like this are made: 1. Name these players from Simonstown, or Summerhill, or Kells or anywhere else who you think should be on the panel 2. Explain why you think each one is better than what is already there 3. Confirm that you know for a fact that each one is available for selection. It would be lot more informative that the usual "surely there must be SOMEBODY from these clubs who we could try" anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 25/09/2017 20:01:35 2050464 Link 11 |
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The five best teams are left in the championship and their is no standout team irrespective of some of the previous comments. You will not win a senior championship without some very good players (and players of good county standard). Who will win? -at this time it is anybody guess/opinion. browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 25/09/2017 23:09:46 2050519 Link 14 |
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In fairness he didn't look to good on Friday because he wasn't let.... McGill had him bet up a stick, yet in most other championship games he had been the top scorer for Tones from play. Both McGills had Saran and Cian Ward mainly anonymous from open play, if you take Conor McGill out of Full Back and put his bother in full back then you risk allowing the two lads they had been marking to come into the game. Ratoaths problem wasn't the midfield as such (Tones didn't actually field a huge amount of clean ball from kickouts) it was the breaking ball where they got absolutely cleaned out of it. The bottom line is that both teams didn't play overly well with numerous handling and passing errors on both sides, albeit a lot more from Ratoath!! What won it for the Tones was a higher work rate and hunger on the night!! This doesn't mean that Ratoath players didn't want to win, or took the game for granted but the Tones lads just brought an intensity that Ratoath didn't seem able to match. If they played again next week I think Ratoath have the ability to beat them, as do I think the Tones could repeat the result, however Championship football only gives you one chance and the Tones took it, Ratoath didn't, its as simple as that. ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 557 - 26/09/2017 09:28:35 2050546 Link 0 |
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ratlag (Meath)- The match could have went either way. I do think that the Tones full forward was an 18 year old-maybe I'm incorrect. The younger Ward who came on twice was carrying an injury I was told. browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 26/09/2017 10:22:25 2050561 Link 13 |
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Disagree that the 5 best teams are left. Dunboyne would be way ahead of O mahoneys in all fairness, and in Navan Ratoath would be slightly better than Summerhill or Kells i would think. That said the 4 senior matches last weekend were all on a knife edge and could have went either way. Its more interesting than usual with there bejng so little between the sides as is the case in the intermediate also
Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1467 - 26/09/2017 10:23:04 2050562 Link 14 |
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Ratlag Was at the game as a neutral and couldnt agree more... some poor analysis on here regarding game. Ratoath were far from cleaned out in midfield ..would even suggest they won more clean ball than tones....particularly through b o brien.. theres no doubt that that as the game was drawing to a conclusion tones were winning more breaking ball.. id suggest it was ratoath wastefulness in attack which was the difference between the two teams.... tones had a much higher rate of converting chances as oppossed to ratoaths attacks breaking down and being unsuccesful...ratoath definitely had more of the ball and made most of the running. Expereince counts for a lot and it was the difference in the end. On the point of moving mcgill out from full back ...would have to agree the reason tones 14 was so quiet was due to mcgills excellence... he had been scoring heavily previous and to move m gill out would possibly have give fresh impetus to a dangerous attacker Marcopolo22 (Meath) - Posts: 3 - 26/09/2017 10:40:03 2050569 Link 1 |
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I know, that's what I'm saying, it was a very close game and could have gone either way, with the determining factors being Wolfe Tones higher work rate and hunger to win the breaking balls. Yes the Full Forward is only a Minor but that doesn't mean hes not a good player as another poster stated!! He's been the Tones top scorer from open play this year but McGill showed he was a class above that and completely nullified him, a feat that teams in the group stages couldn't do. My point was that if McGill had been taken out of Full Back and into Midfield, would another of the Ratoath backs have been as good on him? ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 557 - 26/09/2017 10:47:23 2050573 Link 0 |
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Fair comment Ratlag - as I said I wasnt at the game so I'm just going on what I was told. Interesting that you say that Ratoaths problem was in getting breaking ball, because that largely mirrors the problem that the Meath team often has as well. Even with the new mark rule, and even with teams playing short kickouts, a lot of the time possession does depend on lads being able to pick up breaking ball. And that is a skill in itself. Its not just about courage in going in hard for the dirty ball, although that it is essential. Its also about the ability to anticipate where the ball is going to break, and the reaction times to be the first one to move towards it. Meath haven't had too many players able to do that over the past few years. Seamus Kenny was good at it. Alan Forde brought us up a level at it last year until he got injured. But it is definitely something we need to work on, especially since you cannot rely on Paddy O'Rourke to play a short kick-out game anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 26/09/2017 10:50:39 2050576 Link 12 |
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One area that I feel Conor McGill struggles is under high balls so I would have my doubts if moving him to midfield and weakening the defence would have been beneficial overall. As ratlag said, it was more the lack of breaking ball winners that killed us in midfield. While we were poor on Friday, were it not for the Tones' keeper's magnificent first half save from Brian McMahon we probably would have gone on to win. But thems the breaks. We scored at least one goal in each of our games up to Friday's. The one time we didn't, we were not accurate enough from longer distance to negate the lack of goals. Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 26/09/2017 11:30:12 2050590 Link 14 |
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Well that's a fair point but what I do know is we've seen enough of alot of the current panel to know that some just aren't up to it so it's pointless just going on and on with them hoping they come good when they just simply havnt delivered and aren't going too
southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 890 - 26/09/2017 11:41:33 2050594 Link 14 |
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You rarely hear a debate now amongst gaa folk about why isn't so and so on the county panel, because there practically are no standout players who have not been in or asked in. I as many go to a lot of club games and dont see who is going to step up to be good enough to play for Meath
Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1467 - 26/09/2017 12:26:12 2050622 Link 14 |
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Well for example id question why David Larkin was dropped.....hes playing exceptionally well at the minute.......so too is mckeever from Simonstown altho maybe he was asked and opted out
southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 890 - 26/09/2017 13:57:17 2050656 Link 13 |
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Another year coming out on the wrong side of a classic. Not sure how we managed to throw that away, it's hard to even analyse but full credit to Simonstown, good champions and they'll be hard stopped now. dunboynelad (Meath) - Posts: 227 - 26/09/2017 16:46:38 2050721 Link 0 |
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Larkin - was brought in under Micko, didn't do much to set the world alight. Possibly too old and unable to give the commitment required McKeever- was brought in under micko, didn't get much chance to shine. Did his cruciate and knocked him back a few years . Was asked back last season but unable to give the commitment. I think being honest unless a guy is under 25 there's no point bringing them in now, as they'll need a season to get to intercounty fitness, another season to establish themselves and a third season to nail down a spot. If a player isn't established by 28 they're not really going to be willing to give the time and commitment required. That's also pretty much a full managerial term and a new manager will want to try new and younger guys. brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 26/09/2017 16:52:52 2050723 Link 6 |
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Mckeever cant commit to it, a real pity. On the issue of breaking ball niall kane is the best around at it but hasnt been given a chance in fact it's quite baffling how none of the simonstown half back line are regular starters I know conlon should be next year but that trio have been the best in meath 2 years on the trot and shane McEntee gets in there?? Questions to be asked if things don't improve this year
Northsidegaels (Meath) - Posts: 237 - 26/09/2017 16:56:44 2050724 Link 0 |
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Shane mc entee stood out on Sunday in all fairness
Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1467 - 26/09/2017 17:15:29 2050729 Link 14 |
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Good point re Kane, always seems to be around the ball and surely worthy of a chance this upcoming season. WE could do with a ground hog of a player ala Seamus Kenny that wins dirty ball and gives it to players who can do better things with it.
brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 26/09/2017 17:17:40 2050733 Link 6 |
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I thought lavin was impressive and would have generally thought finn would be the half back from dunboyne playing for meath but your right I don't want to dog a player McEntee is a great tryer and very brave just think the jury is still out on him starting for the county
Northsidegaels (Meath) - Posts: 237 - 26/09/2017 17:48:11 2050742 Link 0 |