A chance for some young guns to really put the paw up on Sunday, no point talking about the next game or injuries etc our sole focus should just be on Sunday and getting a win and an encouraging performance from the players we have fit to play, we're not really in a position to take anything for granted so the one game at a time way of thinking is very relevant to us. I hope Meath supporters come out in big numbers next Sunday, our first Leinster game in Navan for 20 years is cause enough to turn out and rock what's left of Pairc Tailteann but this squad and management are working very hard to be successful, sure they might frustrate the hell out of us at times and we are again cursing injuries which hopefully will clear up quickly, but they are representing the county and proud of the jersey so we should show equal pride in them and their efforts, a big crowd and plenty of noise will be a welcome sight on Sunday. I for one am looking forward to driving straight down from Donegal after finishing the night shift with Mr. Tayto smiling on the front of my jersey which I regret to say has become a little tighter since last summer, I'm blaming the tumble dryer :-)

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 09/06/2015 13:06:56    1734599

Everyone needs to understand that mcentee will start.I don't know who will be left out but he is a definite starter.Menton,Newman and Gillespie will be back for next match .What I have heard that their has been much more done with tactics in training than ever before and that the players have seriously bought into what the management team have been installing.I also have been told that Dalton and Wallace and biggy have been the standout players in training with biggy and Dalton attacking with serious pace all the time.

tampa (Meath) - Posts: 54 - 09/06/2015 19:00:53    1734813

Lets all be honest here,the meath junior team named today would beat wicklow,i personally would be very disappointed if we dont make another leinster final but would lads like power,burke & mcmahon in a team against dublin would worry me.Only one way to put it up to dublin and that is play with 13 men behind a ball and try hit them on the counter attack like donegal did last summer,but we are not donegal and simply dont have the soldiers to go to war with dublin especially with o reilly & menton & gillespie struggling(probably our 3 best players).I would have a few of the junior team on the senior team on current form,starting with my own club man chris o connor in the half back line,kevin ross & danny quinn better than bryan mc mahon also.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1047 - 09/06/2015 19:45:41    1734838

Bad start to our campaign, not so much worried about Wicklow game, but important to get best team on pitch for all championship games. Newman Gillespie and Shane O Rourke all needed game time. Sunday is all about the result, be it one or ten points. Will have little bearing on rest of year

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 09/06/2015 20:33:09    1734861

Lets all be honest here,the meath junior team named today would beat wicklow,i personally would be very disappointed if we dont make another leinster final but would lads like power,burke & mcmahon in a team against dublin would worry me.Only one way to put it up to dublin and that is play with 13 men behind a ball and try hit them on the counter attack like donegal did last summer,but we are not donegal and simply dont have the soldiers to go to war with dublin especially with o reilly & menton & gillespie struggling(probably our 3 best players).I would have a few of the junior team on the senior team on current form,starting with my own club man chris o connor in the half back line,kevin ross & danny quinn better than bryan mc mahon also.

I hear O'Connor is playing some stuff lately alright, you could make worse moves alright I'd say, in fairness I saw McMahon in the challenge v Down in Stamullen and he impressed that day, showed well for ball and made good use of it when he got it and kicked some nice points. I questioned his physicality myself I have to say but I think his confidence took a fierce wallop last year too, he may still have the goods if he can be toughened up mentally although that probably goes fm for half the squad, confidence and belief are hugely important factors.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 09/06/2015 21:15:12    1734882

Richie

It was a huge mistake playing McMahon centre forward last year.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 09/06/2015 21:47:02    1734915

tampa where have you heard all of this inside info?

I'm not doubting the legitimacy just interested.

Uncle_Fester (Meath) - Posts: 217 - 10/06/2015 08:37:01    1734950

tampa

Where should McEntee start though? Is he really a corner back?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 10/06/2015 09:19:38    1734970

Look ive heard lads go on about this player that player etc etc, lutch totally agree the one that should be brought back now with menton and Reilly out is without doubt Chris O'Connor, he is absolutely flying, and id go as far as to say the best player in county not on team i would not have Danny Quinn though for seniors, good club player but that's it

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/06/2015 10:06:12    1734999

Ziggy, I don't know if he's naturally a corner back but he's only about 19 very strong, quick and aggressive.

He could potentially become a very good corner back, don't we all know we need one.

Uncle_Fester (Meath) - Posts: 217 - 10/06/2015 10:27:36    1735012

There are lots of guys being named on and off the panel who are average players and may or may not progress to great players-the same could be said about another 20 players who are not on the panel and never was on any panel. Saying a guy has potential for a position counts for little as it is what you can do now that counts when it comes to this years championship football.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 10/06/2015 11:48:06    1735078

Browncows i have said it before and ill say it again, juicy should not have been dropped when mod came in furthermore he upped his game and never got a chance to return, time for mod to swallow his pride and bring him back in , he done it with lenehane, no shame in admitting a mistake.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/06/2015 12:07:27    1735091

Browncows, lads with the same mindset as yourself were the ones in charge of meath football during our decline.

Refusing to look to the future and constantly thinking about the present. McEntee, along with many of the young lads on the panel (who came from a minor all Ireland finalist team), are fantastic young footballers and should be integrated into them team, along with a mix of the older lads.

Our corner backs in the last 3 leinster finals have been Keoghan x2, menton x2, Harrington and Burke. I think it's fair to say none of them stood up to the challenge on them days except keoghan who was the unknown young player in 2012. Funny how similar a situation this is.

Uncle_Fester (Meath) - Posts: 217 - 10/06/2015 12:45:34    1735107

The average age of the squad is 23,and an awful lot of those players WILL get better.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 10/06/2015 13:56:24    1735160

Detecting a lot of confidence in the meath camp particularly when you read Donal Keoghan's interview. Talking about leinster finals and getting a crack at the Dubs. Looks like wicklow are not even seen as a threat never mind the winners of westmeath and wexford. Sure maybe neither meath or dublin won't get to the final. Not one for looking past the next obstacle!!! Can see the royals upsetting the Dubs in the final as it wouldn't be out of turn. No doubt the blanket defence will be in place, heard it is being practised non-stop in training.

Adamski (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 10/06/2015 15:25:00    1735222

Is defending well and in numbers blanket defence though? Everybody in your own half is for sure. No doubt Meath were very naive last year and that has to be addressed..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 10/06/2015 15:28:52    1735227

Nobody in Meath is over confident. The whole Country is talking about a Meath v Dublin final but when a Meath person says it its deemed over confident?? Bit unfair i think.

We WILL beat Wicklow and easily i hope. Westmeath/Wexford will be a different story and will be a tough game. We haven't got the greatest Recent record against Wexford in Championship but i don;t think they are the team they were a few years back. Westmeath would be the toughest of them two teams for us i think. Interesting few weeks ahead but at the moment i am just looking forward to our first outing of the year on Sunday. Meath by 8 to 10 i hope

chriscart580 (Meath) - Posts: 376 - 10/06/2015 16:22:26    1735264

Afamski i don't think its over confident. I think we can say as sure as anything in sport is a certainty (nothing is) that Meath will play dubs in Leinster final, barring a shock to one or both, we will Meet on Leinster final day, we will defend better but i cant see 15 lads inside 45.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/06/2015 16:55:27    1735290

Uncle_Fester- I think that you need to grow up. It is adult footballers we need and just because a guy puts on a Meath jersey in an under age group does not make him a fantastic footballer. The country is full of players with potential, however it is the ones who can deliver that wins matches. The best of luck to all involved in the championship going forward.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 10/06/2015 19:02:52    1735352

I was tempted to say this earlier..but people saying the Junior lads should be on the Senior panel is laughable..with the exception of Chris O'Connor

blind ref (Meath) - Posts: 204 - 10/06/2015 20:01:24    1735374