Replying To Furlong1949:  "You say Dublin arent the benchmark at minor level in leinster, I think the below says something different
Top 5 teams in leinster minor football

1 Dublin 33 leinster minor titles
2 Meath 10 leinster minor titles
3 laois 9 leinster minor titles
4 Kildare 8 leinster minor titles
5 Louth 8 leinster minor titles

Below are all the counties in leinster who have won or reached an All Ireland minor final

1 Dublin 11 All Ireland minor titles / 10 All Ireland minor runners up
2 Meath 3 All Ireland minor titles / 3 All Ireland minor runners up
3 Laois 3 All Ireland minor titles/ 3 All Ireland minor runners up
4 Louth 2 All Ireland minor titles/ 2 All Ireland minor runners up
5 Offaly 1 All Ireland minor title/ 1 All Ireland minor runners up
6 Westmeath 1 All Ireland minor title/ 1 All Ireland minor runners up
7 Kildare 0 All Ireland minor titles/ 1 All Ireland minor runners up
8 Longford 0 All Ireland minor titles/ 1 All Ireland minor runners up"

Replying To TheUsername:  "I think any day you beat Dublin in Leinster mate is a good day if you are not a Dub. Everything you post i acknowledge, but by a long shot minor is our least successful grade. Im not really sure there is a massive gap between the likes of Meath, Kildare and Dublin at that level if i am being honest, yet in the grade above the gap seems much wider. I also dont think its the cast iron marker for senior success some do. You seem good with stats be interesting to see how many all Ireland winning minors teams have gone on to repeat the feat at senior in say the last couple of decades? I can only think of Dublin in recent years.

That isn't absolute of course, but i suppose if you apply minor success to Dublin current dominance its just not there. For me that begs a question of objectives at that level, just my opinion and other Dubs may think differently, i think we use that level for development rather then success. we have a high rate of changes in the starting 15 in most games and it seems about exposure games and development, if trophies come all well and good. Another question is what happens in the couple of years between minor and U21/U20, with Dublin being bereft of success at minor but hugely successful at the next level, its all very interesting. what makes Dublin progress and other Leinster counties regress? Even nationally Kerry and their amazing minor success's in the last four years haven't been able to transfer that to an All Ireland at the grade above. Its genuinely very curious."

Replying To royaldunne:  "It was a good win. But I
Think it has to
Be backed up by at least winning Leinster.
I got a bit of stick last year when I said Meath minor team was as good as any the county produced, and I stand by that, but they didn't fulfill their potential, I know very little about this minor team compared to last, but if they are to prove themselves then they need silverware. Here's hoping"

Replying To St.Conleth:  "You actually said best in the country thats why you got stick."

Replying To royaldunne:  "It was a good win. But I
Think it has to
Be backed up by at least winning Leinster.
I got a bit of stick last year when I said Meath minor team was as good as any the county produced, and I stand by that, but they didn't fulfill their potential, I know very little about this minor team compared to last, but if they are to prove themselves then they need silverware. Here's hoping"

Replying To royaldunne:  "Actually I said one of the best. And they were. But at this grade things can go wrong. It did. But they have hell lot of players to come through."

Replying To Furlong1949:  "1 Minor is not Dublins least sucessful under 21 is. Dublin have won 11 minors and 10 runners up and 5 under 21 and 3 runners up All Irelands. Dublin didnt win their first under 21 All Ireland title until early 00s. Yes Dublin have been very sucessful recently but overall only Kerry have won minor All Irelands. Look at this way Dublin have played in 21 minor All Ireland finals , Meath have played in 6 and kildare have played in 1 All Ireland final at minor level. Donegal kildare and Monaghan have never won minor All Ireland. Armagh have won 2 and Down 4 All Ireland minor titles. Dublin might have had lean period in 80s and 90s at minor and under 21 but most counties go threw leans periods for the vast majority of time at underage level. Meaths best period at minor was in the 90s. kildares best period is now and in the early 70s. Dublin are dominating every level in football at the moment. But the truth is not even kerry have dominated underage or senior level decade after decade. Anytime a county has had a hugely sucessful period the following decade there is a massive dip and decline in that counties fortunes. For example after kerry ( 75 to 86), Meath ( 86 to 01), Galway ( 56 to 66) , Cavan ( 40s and 50s) , kildares ( 20s), Wexford ( 14 to 18), Offaly (71 to 82 ) all had their most successful period ever they all.went into serious decline afterwards some have never improved. Even in hurling when Tipp had their greatest team ever in 60s they had a terrible following period in 70s and early 80s. Dublin should go into decline or serious dip sometime in the next 10 years. If they dont that is unprecedented in football history.

2 You are right underage sucess doesn't gurantee senior sucess but yes sucessful minor teams in the past have have repeated the feat at senior

1 Offaly 1971 1971 All Ireland senior winning winning team was backboned with players from Offaly only minor All Ireland winning team in the mid 60s
2 Cork 1973 All Ireland winning senior team was backboned from players from a three in a row Cork All Ireland winning minor team 1967 68 69.
3 When kerry won All Irelands at senior level in 7 78 79 80 81. Players on that senior team came from the All Ireland minor winning kerry team in 1975
4 Meath won 2 minor All Irelands in the early 90s and players from both those teams went onto to win 2 minor All Ireland senior titles in the late 90s
5 Galway team that won senior in 98 and 01 was backboned by players from minor Galway team that reached a minor All Ireland final in mid 90s.
6 Tyrone won minor All Ireland in 2001 and players from that team would play a role in Tyrone 3 seniors in 03 05 08.

There are just a couple examples of sucessful minor teams repeating the feat at senior. While Westmeath laois and Tipperary all won minor All Ireland titles in the last 20 years and players from those teams would play a part in all those counties having their most sucessful period in decades eg Laois 2003 and Westmeath 2004 leinster senior champions and Tipp 2016 All Ireland senior semi finalist . And kerry at the moment are trying to build the next great kerry team on back of minor All Ireland winning teams.

Now I must say Meath minor sucess is faraway from All Ireland minor or senior future sucess. But to beat Dublin at underage 3 years in a row is unusual. No county has beaten Dublin 3 years in a row at underage in this decade at underage or senior level in leinster or outside the provience. And yes Dublin were beaten at underage in the 00s and 90s and 80s but when was the last time in leinster football at underage did a county beat Dublin three years in row by the same county. That is rare. I cannot think of the last time that happened , because it is rare.

Meath will need to keep these players on board. But beating Dublin year after year is not a bad thing , it is not negative for Meath. Its a positive good sign for the future. There is a good possibility if we keep these players on board that these young Meath footballers will go on to beat Dublin at senior level. It will definitely give them serious belief to do so.

And I do think you are downplaying this a bit. When Dublin were beating Meath year after year at minor level I didnt hear the Dubs saying it doesnt matter we are just developing players . When Meath beat Dublin a couple of times sure its like ur saying we are nor taking it serious in Dublin. Well how come Dessie Farrell and now Jason Sherlock why was Jack O Connor minor manager recently all minor managers, why did Waterford celebrate minor hurling All Ireland two years on an open top bus and civic reception in Waterford city. Why is the minor All Ireland finals and semi finals played in Croker before senior. Minor championship was 35 years old before even the first under 21 championship was run. It has a long illustratious past and it matters. The 4 biggest GAA competitions are senior minor under 21 and club, thats a fact.

To beat Dublin in any era has always being difficult. The most difficult opponent in gaelic football for decades has been a Dublin footballer in front of packed hill 16. Thats one of the reasons for Meaths past successes. When Meath had great periods of sucess over Dublin in 40s 50s 60s 80s and 90s it meant when Meath came out of leinster after beating Dublin it gave them belief to take on kerry Cork Mayos and Northern teams. Playing Dublin in Croker is the nearest thing to an All Ireland final. So beating any Dublin at any grade particularly in this golden age of Dublin football is a massive positive for the county that defeats the Dubs.

And also the fact is Meath v Dublin is the most unequal rivalry in Irish sport In that Tipp and kilkenny r similar enough counties. So are kerry and Cork simlar and So are Galway and Mayo and Tyrone and Armgh similar also. There are differences between the above counties but nothing compared to the differences between Meath and Dublin. Dublin have had advantages in terms of pop resources and yet for 80 years Meath went toe to toe with Dublin. Its only in this decade Dublin have gone far ahead. Beating Dublin for any teams in leinster at any grade is important even historic. For Meath its what Meaths sucess has been built upon in the past.

It must be said though this leinster minor championship is far from over. Meath need to start wining titles. Kildare are going to have a big say in this championship . At the start kildare would have been favourites with such a good record at minor recently. And they r still strong contenders. They will see Dublin r beatable and they wouldnt fear Meath. Dublin are still also strong contenders. If Meath do play Dublin in the final, Meath will have to beat Dublin twice in 1 year. As far as I can remember that would be the first time any county at any level would have beaten Dublin twice in 1 year in leinster or outside if we achieved that. Sherlock will not want to be the Dublin manager that loses to Meath twice in 1 year. For the vast majority of his career after his first year Sherlock was on Dublin teams which were beaten by Meath teams year after year in the leinster championship. So he will not want this. Sherlock probaly is looking for to be future senior manager also so he knows he needs sucess at minor first. The Dubs will be up for this and could still be leinster minor champions. There is such a positively and strong vide around Dublin football at every grade they are still the team to beat in leinster. The same as it ever was."

Replying To St.Conleth:  "You also admitted that you hadn't even seen them playing when you made the comment right after Dublin winning. You hadn't seen any of the others playing but were still qualified to say Meath were the best or even 'one of the best'.

By all accounts this current Meath minor team should give Leinster a good run if not win it but there are other counties thinking the same. I would expect our lads to reach the final ..and I've seen them play twice so far."

Replying To royaldunne:  "I had seen last years minors play on 3 occasions. If"

Replying To St.Conleth:  "You said you hadnt seen them , but change it yet again. As a matter of interest what 3 times did you see them play? Couldnt imagine you going to minor league if you're now going to include that."

Replying To TheUsername:  "My apologies mate, im not taking anything away from Meath or their win the other night or the last three years they have won at minor grade. Im definitely not as you say running Dublin down at this level to take away from Meath achievements. I think yourself and RD deserve to be rightly excited. I dont really have an axe to grind with Meath and would genuinely like to see them competitive again. My points are not based on the historic rivalry.

1) To answer your points, i wasnt talking in extremes or in black and white thinking, of being successful or not when i spoke of Dublin being unsuccessful in minor, in a global sense of the whole country and historically yes we have won 11 titles and contested finals that is a high record, but Dublin have obvious natural advantages over other counties and at other grandes pound for pound in a contemporary sense Dublin arent great at this grade. You are going back almost 30 years before the win 2012. Your stats are correct but misleading when it comes to comparing U21/U20 and Minor. The minor grade has been around since the 30's while U21 the late 60s so comparative title wins of grades isnt reflective. Given that context pound for pound with the application of context its a grade that Dublin have struggled at especially recently given success at U21 and Senior. It is amazing to think Dublin have won 1 minor All Ireland in almost 40 years, given the return at provincial, U21, and Senior, especially in the past decade. I agree with you regression is inevitable i actually feel at the moment Dublin are quite vulnerable to it as the years go on, say if Dublin dont win an All Ireland this year their are a lot of very sucessful players who have a decision to make on their careers if five in a row was taken of the table at senior. All things eventually find an equilibrium its the force of life and Leinster and football in general will return to more competitive state in my opinion.

As we can see from the teams you referenced you have to go back and reach beyond the 2 decades i mentioned to find a direct correlation between minor and senior success, the teams that do well are the teams who have waves of talent come through 3-4 good minor tams adding to an already decent senior stock. So you are rightly excited by Meaths consistency at the grade in Leinster. Any minor team i feel is a snap shot in time and stating the obvious the health of a county at a particular age at any one time, i think by that nature the grade is always going to be a more level playing field, then say senior football when the pick of say 15 years of minor and U21 is available, big populations obviously have that advantage at senior. So how indicative minor success is generally to senior success is a bit misleading in my opinion.

It is of course fantastic for Meath to beat Dublin 3 years in a row at this level and to be honest they have been highly entertaing games, i apologize if it seemed i was down playing that achievement it wasnt my intention. I forget how gratifying it must be to and rightly a cause of optimism. I have no real real complaints they were all worthy wins. I was perhaps musing on a question of the significant difference in Dublins minor performances and relative lack of success in comparrision to U21 and senior success especially recently. Dublin have put together 4 U21 All irelands, 5 Senior and the same innational leagues with only one minor success in 2012. Thats a head scratcher as a Dub, especially in the couple of years from mminor to U21. I can only surmise the development angle, i could be wrong.

I agree with you guys, that the objective now for Meath ahs to be to put a minor Leinster on the table, last year must have been galling to beat Dublin, but went on to win Leinster and contest an All Irealnd semi final. It was a good outcome for Dublin as it was our first minor since 2014.

I accept your argument that Dublin are the benchmark in Leinster as a Dub you often forget that, so congrats to Meath and enjoy the minor success its exciting to do three in a row against the Dubs at any grade. I have my suspicions about the grade generally and what it means, even the make up of it as its like the old traditional all Ireland and is a bit dependent of easy games in your province toward a semi, but it seems like it is getting a shake up after Leinster round robin is proving so successful. Ill be happy if Dublin keep producing 3-4 players per year who eventually go and represent at senior, thats something the grade has been good to with and we have done relatively well with."

Replying To panamasam:  "Seen Tyrone in the flesh. Strong around the middle and have a very good powerful full forward. Did they strike me as All Ireland winners? I am not so sure. They swatted aside Donegal in emphatic fashion but by all accounts Donegal were a shambles off the field with alot of unrest on the sideline. The two sides were closely matched in the league and the year before in the Buncrana cup. Donegal were very wasteful in the first half and should have gone into half time ahead before imploding in the 2nd half. I also seen Monaghan who won the Ulster league but gotta outta jail against Donegal in the qualifiers. No question Donegal should have won but the young Monaghan side showed great character and resilience to get a result that day. They will make it hard for anybody to beat them. My hunch is that the winner will come from one of the other provinces this year but this is a call in the dark as I have no idea how teams there are shaping up."

Replying To mhunicean_abu:  "Fixtures for the minor championship

Quarter Finals:

Galway v Clare
Kerry v Roscommon
Derry v Meath
Kildare v Monaghan

Derry/Meath game hardest to call methinks. The venue might favour Derry (Athletic Grounds) as they have already played there in Ulster Final, but still [slightly

Replying To mhunicean_abu:  "Fixtures for the minor championship

Quarter Finals:

Galway v Clare
Kerry v Roscommon
Derry v Meath
Kildare v Monaghan

Derry/Meath game hardest to call methinks. The venue might favour Derry (Athletic Grounds) as they have already played there in Ulster Final, but still [slightly

Replying To Northsidegaels:  " fancy Meath to edge it in the end.Galway

Kerry going for 5 in a row is it?? Have to be stopped

Semi Finals:

Galway / Clare v Meath/ Derry
Kerry /Roscommon v Monaghan /Kildare

Hon the Farney"

Replying To seamusorinn:  " fancy Meath to edge it in the end.Galway

Kerry going for 5 in a row is it?? Have to be stopped

Semi Finals:

Galway / Clare v Meath/ Derry
Kerry /Roscommon v Monaghan /Kildare

Hon the Farney"