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The O'Byrne Cup

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I actually think Andy leaned more in those 45 minutes than he did in previous two games or all the challenges put together. A draw was a fair result and now Andy has plenty of info. For a time I thought we would walk I again which while it would have been nice, we would have learned absolutely nothing, and in league it could have came back to haunt us royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2017 13:07:30 1945807 Link
Nice to get another game out of it before the league starts, gives McEntee an opportunity to look at more players and get his team ready for next month. Didn't get down to Stradbally so maybe I'm wrong but losing another large lead doesn't look good at all. It's been a horrible feature of Meath football for the last couple of years and more than anything else I'd love to see that put to bed! Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/01/2017 13:16:01 1945810 Link
Did Alan Forde play as a half back or half forward when he was brought on? Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 15/01/2017 13:59:44 1945816 Link
Kennelly certainly could be a big addition this year. Very impressive in the first half, fatigued somewhat in the second but he put in a big shift. Epitomised the aggression shown by the team as a whole. Great to see lads who weren't afraid to put their bodies on the line. Tough night for McQuillan of course but he will learn a lot from it. If a remember correctly, both Keogan and McGill took a roasting from Kingston in recent times. MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 15/01/2017 14:08:22 1945817 Link
Replying To Htaem: "Nice to get another game out of it before the league starts, gives McEntee an opportunity to look at more players and get his team ready for next month. Didn't get down to Stradbally so maybe I'm wrong but losing another large lead doesn't look good at all. It's been a horrible feature of Meath football for the last couple of years and more than anything else I'd love to see that put to bed!" While it looked bad on paper, it was actually different to the other ones, as Laois never really got their act together in first 25 minutes, when they did it was more of a reflection of them, they went from a pretty orthodox set up , to a blanket defense with long accurate balls into forward line particularly to Kingston who was magnificent. So in that regard we were different than the implosion we have became all to use to. We kept fighting till the end and changes things up a bit. So overall I'm happy enough for this time of year. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2017 14:08:34 1945818 Link
Replying To Htaem: "Nice to get another game out of it before the league starts, gives McEntee an opportunity to look at more players and get his team ready for next month. Didn't get down to Stradbally so maybe I'm wrong but losing another large lead doesn't look good at all. It's been a horrible feature of Meath football for the last couple of years and more than anything else I'd love to see that put to bed!" yYah its worrying trend. We didn't look totally over run as with previous games we kept up a decent level of intensity. Loais retreated into blanket defense second half and our scores dried up. Loais gradually built up a lead rather than any kind of a collapse. Some of our forwards started to lacking a bit confidence passing the parcel a bit. But we where starting getting to grips with it we changes made etc. bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1263 - 15/01/2017 14:14:52 1945819 Link
Replying To Htaem: "Nice to get another game out of it before the league starts, gives McEntee an opportunity to look at more players and get his team ready for next month. Didn't get down to Stradbally so maybe I'm wrong but losing another large lead doesn't look good at all. It's been a horrible feature of Meath football for the last couple of years and more than anything else I'd love to see that put to bed!" In fairness I didn't expect this to be changed overnight. ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 15/01/2017 14:20:11 1945822 Link
As RD said, it wasn't the collapse of previous seasons which were in open games like vs. Westmeath, Laois & Armagh (Navan) and others I have forgotten by now. The players (most of them anyway) didn't drop their heads. They showed plenty of endeavour throughout the game. It is just that there was more brawn (for 45 mins) than brain (for 25 mins), but against a team that was always going to dominate or overpower them physically. The problems are primarily down to our inability to keep the scoreboard ticking over consistently against blanket defenses. And it doesn't help when the opposition turnover ball and counter attack you when you've pushed up, and have a legend like Donie Kingston kicking scores from all angles. Forde especially, Downey and Ross to a certain extent can give as good as they get, despite their size. It is handy to have Tobin and/or Ross on the field for certain freetaking duties. Lenihan and McMahon are more easily physically dominated. They need plenty of free space around them to function well, otherwise against blanket defences scores dry up. Tobin and Ward offer more in this scenario but they are only as effective as the ball going into them. Half-forwards trying to run at and break through blanket defences on their own with little support is not going to happen. They don't win many frees, just take hard hits and lose possession. Meath need to work on a system of play to ensure they can get scores from many sources and more consistently throughout a game against the more defensive set ups. They need more movement to try and create space and have more patience at times rather than trying to force things. Take more responsibility (have a go) and show more composure when opportunites arise. The top/best teams have players (including half-backs and corner backs) with the ability and confidence to kick long range points (under pressure) when it is the optimal thing to do. GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 15/01/2017 14:36:02 1945823 Link
We still have a few options to come in McGill,McEntee, Wallace, Newman, Harnan and D Tobin to cover various positions, but after the few games are we any nearer to deciding who are the best midfield options? seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2144 - 15/01/2017 15:17:47 1945827 Link
Replying To ziggy32001: "In fairness I didn't expect this to be changed overnight." This is true, I'm certainly not expecting McEntee to wave a magic wand and fix all of our problems in the space of a few weeks. It's going to take a lot of time, MOD was given plenty of time and tried his best but unfortunately things didn't work out for him, hopefully things turn out different for McEntee. Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/01/2017 15:32:34 1945829 Link
Meath v Louth, Dublin v Kildare in the semi finals by my calculations MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 15/01/2017 15:34:37 1945831 Link
Replying To MarkMyWords: "Meath v Louth, Dublin v Kildare in the semi finals by my calculations" Would a Meath/Kildare final be a bad thing ahead of our league opener? ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 15/01/2017 15:39:33 1945833 Link
Replying To GlasagusOr: "As RD said, it wasn't the collapse of previous seasons which were in open games like vs. Westmeath, Laois & Armagh (Navan) and others I have forgotten by now. The players (most of them anyway) didn't drop their heads. They showed plenty of endeavour throughout the game. It is just that there was more brawn (for 45 mins) than brain (for 25 mins), but against a team that was always going to dominate or overpower them physically. The problems are primarily down to our inability to keep the scoreboard ticking over consistently against blanket defenses. And it doesn't help when the opposition turnover ball and counter attack you when you've pushed up, and have a legend like Donie Kingston kicking scores from all angles. Forde especially, Downey and Ross to a certain extent can give as good as they get, despite their size. It is handy to have Tobin and/or Ross on the field for certain freetaking duties. Lenihan and McMahon are more easily physically dominated. They need plenty of free space around them to function well, otherwise against blanket defences scores dry up. Tobin and Ward offer more in this scenario but they are only as effective as the ball going into them. Half-forwards trying to run at and break through blanket defences on their own with little support is not going to happen. They don't win many frees, just take hard hits and lose possession. Meath need to work on a system of play to ensure they can get scores from many sources and more consistently throughout a game against the more defensive set ups. They need more movement to try and create space and have more patience at times rather than trying to force things. Take more responsibility (have a go) and show more composure when opportunites arise. The top/best teams have players (including half-backs and corner backs) with the ability and confidence to kick long range points (under pressure) when it is the optimal thing to do." You put it much more eloquent than I could have glas , that is exactly what happened, it was different, look if it had been the same as previous ones I would be worried, but no ones head dropped, everyone kept upto job in hand and some particularly the new lads put their bodies on the line and weren't afraid of confrontation, also I dont think its bad to have different types of players for different opponents, go with Ross, Kennelly ward against blanket defense Lenehan, Wallace McMahon against open teams, at least we have the players that we can adapt our play. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2017 16:25:50 1945844 Link
Replying To ziggy32001: "Would a Meath/Kildare final be a bad thing ahead of our league opener?" Should we get over Louth. I want dubs in pt, Teagate part 2. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2017 16:37:26 1945848 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "Should we get over Louth. I want dubs in pt, Teagate part 2." Dubs are playing reserve sides,so I expect Kildare to beat them. ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 15/01/2017 16:48:30 1945849 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "You put it much more eloquent than I could have glas , that is exactly what happened, it was different, look if it had been the same as previous ones I would be worried, but no ones head dropped, everyone kept upto job in hand and some particularly the new lads put their bodies on the line and weren't afraid of confrontation, also I dont think its bad to have different types of players for different opponents, go with Ross, Kennelly ward against blanket defense Lenehan, Wallace McMahon against open teams, at least we have the players that we can adapt our play." Could we work on getting Lenihan,McMahon and Wallace stronger physically? ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 15/01/2017 16:49:45 1945850 Link
Replying To ziggy32001: "Could we work on getting Lenihan,McMahon and Wallace stronger physically?" Yeah it can be worked on, but it will take time, actually Lenehan looks as if he has bulked up a little, not in a bad way either. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/01/2017 17:41:21 1945861 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "Yeah it can be worked on, but it will take time, actually Lenehan looks as if he has bulked up a little, not in a bad way either." The other two lads have been around the panel for years.McMahon is very good in space,but cannot beat a man. ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 15/01/2017 18:12:41 1945865 Link
Replying To ziggy32001: "Dubs are playing reserve sides,so I expect Kildare to beat them." Dublin might possibly field a stronger 15 in the knockouts with the league only around the corner? Playing Kildare twice in a week would be unusual but lets not look behind Louth. MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 498 - 15/01/2017 18:44:11 1945873 Link
Replying To MarkMyWords: "Dublin might possibly field a stronger 15 in the knockouts with the league only around the corner? Playing Kildare twice in a week would be unusual but lets not look behind Louth." Yes,IF it happens I would play a totally different 15 in the OBC match v Kildare. ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 15/01/2017 18:56:20 1945877 Link