score difference is something that the county board need to take a serious look at,i agree on the head to head rule but score difference always plays havoc in the last rd of matches,ballivor did the same last year fielding a minor team against castletown in the latter rounds resulting in a 30 point win,was hoping the relegation might sort it out but has clearly not,disgrace to see a team lose out by a 1 score difference,a play off next week would be fair.im not from trim by the way

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1047 - 01/09/2014 10:14:12    1645753

Yes, I agree. There is always a risk with the size of the groups and it will always happen that teams will play the last game having already qualified and wish to try some of the subs. Not sure how strong a side that Syddan put out, perhaps tom1212 can tell us.

At the same time, I dont think Trim would have gone much further but it would have been good have got a shot at the play-off.

trim1 (Meath) - Posts: 162 - 01/09/2014 10:42:42    1645807

I was at the Ballinlough/Syddann game yesterday, Ballinlough are contenders and thats for sure. 1-18 yesterday and someone mentioned 10 different scorers after the match. Ballinlough got a lucky break in that the start of the second half got delay 7-8 minutes for the ambulance to remove a player who got injured in the first half so the Trim/Nobber game finished up 7-8 minutes before the Ballinlough match so that knew exactly how much they needed to win by so instead of trying to run down the clock at the end of the game they pushed on and got the last few scores to pip Trim by a point on score difference. Anyone who witnessed the altercation towards the end of the match would know that there was nothing "convenient" about the margin of victory. Syddann can't be ruled out either they had a bad day at the office but they they have beaten good teams along the way so they are still very much in the hunt and will test Ratoath.

The real problem for me with the championship is Preliminary quarter finals which will now delay the quarter finals proper, why not 4 groups of 4 and straight quarter finals involving the top 2 teams in each group.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 467 - 01/09/2014 10:50:42    1645816

I heard that Sydden were missing 2 of their main players due to injury before the game and also lost one of their Midfielders from the Throw in with a bad injury.

CMacT (Meath) - Posts: 36 - 01/09/2014 10:53:12    1645819

Anybody know the dates for next round/s?

dubsout (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 01/09/2014 11:05:19    1645828

Does anyone know the Format of the relegation playoffs?

Is there a draw? When will the games take place?

UpMeath90 (Meath) - Posts: 2 - 01/09/2014 11:37:50    1645861

Ballinlough are no great shakes, overly reliant on Peadar Byrne

You are obviously basing your comments on the Trim game because only for him Ballinlough would've been beaten that day. However, yesterday he scored 1-3 (all in the second half when he reverted from midfield to full forward) out of a grand total of 1-18 which would prove they don't rely heavily on Peadar.

thevillage (Australia) - Posts: 51 - 01/09/2014 14:48:46    1646063

Maybe I was seeing things but I'm pretty sure Byrne scored at least 4 points in the first half!

boeder (Meath) - Posts: 59 - 01/09/2014 17:12:21    1646260

Looking at whose left I would predict the following
(1) Dunderry v winners of Ballinlough and Clann Na nGael
Ballinlough will beat Clann Na Gael
Will be a close battle between Dunderry & Ballinlough but would expect Ballinlough to squeeze through
(2) Syddan v Ratoath

(3) Ballivor v Ballinabrackey
(4) St Colmcilles v Castletown

Shatter (Dublin) - Posts: 13 - 02/09/2014 08:53:09    1646513

(1) Dunderry v winners of Ballinlough and Clann Na nGael
Ballinlough will beat Clann Na Gael
Close battle between Dunderry & Ballinlough but Ballinlough to squeeze through by small margin
(2) Syddan v Ratoath
Ratoath by 4 or 5
(3) Ballivor v Ballinabrackey
No contest, Ballivor will freewheel into the semis by at least 7
(4) St Colmcilles v Castletown
Another close one but Castletown's experience of previous years at this stage should see them home

The reality is that the real final will take place between Ballivor & Ratoath in the semis - whoever wins this will be champions elect. My money is on Ballivor

Shatter (Dublin) - Posts: 13 - 02/09/2014 09:01:42    1646520

Ballivor struggled against Ashbourne's third string, Ratoath wiped the floor with a much stronger Ashbourne outfit earlier in the year!

Growtown (Meath) - Posts: 50 - 02/09/2014 09:55:34    1646557

growtown. ballivor rested their kildalkey hurlers

dubsout (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 02/09/2014 10:07:20    1646566

Growtown
Ballivor left Kildalkey hurlers off - which accounted for 6 or 7 of their starting 15. As well as that the tight pitch in Kilmessen didn't suit their type of play. The semi final against Ratoath will probably be in either Navan or Trim which will give their forwards the opportunity to cut loose.

Shatter (Dublin) - Posts: 13 - 02/09/2014 11:35:26    1646642

Shatter , maybe Im mistaken but I dont think the quarter finals have been played yet? So talk of Ratoath Ballivor Semi Final is way out of place. Ballivor are flying at the minute and are favourites to win the Inter with the majority of people havign beaten a full strength Ratoath already earlier in the Championship. Ratoath will have to be at the very top of their game to try beat Syddan never mind thinking about Ballivor in a Semi Final

lagoreX (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 02/09/2014 12:36:23    1646697

Sorry boeder I meant in the opening half.

(1) Dunderry v Ballinlough or Clann Na nGael: Ballinlough should easily account for Clann Na nGael who have not won in the competition since Round 2 in April. Dunderry have shown great character to grind out wins in Group A and remain unbeaten. It will be another tight call. Verdict: Ballinlough
(2) Syddan v Ratoath: Ratoath are hitting form at the right time and have a few regulars from last year back. Syddan were going well in the earlier rounds but the management in place seem to have lost the dressing room. Verdict: Ratoath

(3) Ballivor v Ballinabrackey: Ballinabrackey had the upperhand when both teams met in the group stages last year but Ballivor are a different animal this season. Verdict: Ballivor
(4) St Colmcilles v Castletown: St Colmcilles are improving but a second straight championship defeat at the hands of Drumbaragh is worrying for them. Verdict: Castletown

Does anyone know the relegation format?

thevillage (Australia) - Posts: 51 - 03/09/2014 12:16:41    1647412

The Village
What problems are Syddan having?
Also agree with your comments regarding Ballivor - Completely different outfit this year with a good balance throughout the team. Will account for the Bracks without breaking a sweat. Their biggest test will be in the semis against Ratoath (no offence Syddan). Will be a cracker of a game with the south Meath amalgamation edging it.

Shatter (Dublin) - Posts: 13 - 04/09/2014 08:45:10    1647762

ST COLMCILLES TO BEAT CASTLETOWN. Forever the team that flatter to deceive. being underdogs will really suit them, and if biggy makes them tick I don't see anyone on the castletown team capable of stopping them

dubsout (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 04/09/2014 09:49:41    1647783

dubs out:Are u for real, there is no way cilles will pull one over Castletown, remember a few year ago in duleek , castletown gave them a good triming .Lets be honest currently cilles are going nowhere , and that not the fault of the manager but the players.I cant believe that there is not more time dedicated to Drumbarragh beating them last sunday. It was a shambles, an area of 20k people and thats the best they can produce against a rural townland from norh west meath.Biggys preformance wasnt from the top draw but noone else stood up.Looks like we will be waiting another year for the mattie mc donnell cup to come to meaths gold coast.And that might be no harm as banty, brodigan, macca & co will shake up things for next year.

cilles man (Meath) - Posts: 142 - 04/09/2014 12:10:38    1647862

I know form their is poor at the moment and their is ZERO reasoning behind my statement, but I just see it as one of those games where everyone will be predicting castletown win, then out of the blue (pun not intended) cilles pull off a minor shock. nobody ever doubted their quality...its the 6 inches between the ears that is their downfall. get that right and few teams match them

dubsout (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 04/09/2014 12:51:55    1647880

Cilles man, I think not many people are reading into that result, as from what I see most people think Colmcilles and Syddan both set out to lose the last day. Neither of them wanted top spot and to have to play Ratoath.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1646 - 04/09/2014 13:00:48    1647888