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I was at the game on sat night. It was a fairly entertaining game. Over 50 minutes, Meath were better. They were better defensively and going forward they were more assertive. They did lack a bit in the middle 3rd of the field but were able to carry the ball from defence to offense quite well. I would say the goal was a complete fluke. If Meath had scored another point at that stage, they would have been 5 up and the freezing conditions would have got the better of supporters who may have started to leave by then. I think that Meath were unlucky as we were showing very little at that stage, bar a handful of players. What perplexed me was how little effect the Meath bench had when they were introduced. Also quite bizarre was the persistence of both teams to bounce the ball on the hard surface. The ball seemed to skate away from the controlling player. Neither team learned from this.
All in all, we have 4 points and are looking good to go back up. That is a good return based on how poorly we are playing.
I am trying to figure out who could stop us. Are we away to cork? If so, then we are looking at a potential 2 points dropped there on the back of our last 2 performances. Away to Tipp this weekend I would be more confident as they are in a bit of trouble trying to find their form. We will see.
Good luck to Meath going forward this year. Their county board was very honourable in the way they marked the road tragedy in Gweedore.
Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 05/02/2019 10:08:44
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Replying To Furlong1949: "It is factually correct to say Donegal had young team a younger team then Meath. But is factually correct to say Meath had young inexperienced team also. I dont see the issue in admiting a fact that Meath had a young team also.
Meath had 7 players who played last night who were not on the Meath panel last year.
How many of the Donegal players who played last night were not on Donegal panel last year ?
As far as I can see from Donegal GAA official website 4 of the Donegal players who played last night were not on the Donegal senior panel last year. Players that played last night for Donegal who were not on the panel last year were J McGee McMemanin, Morrison and E McHugh. Donegal players who played last night who were on the panel last year were eg McGinley, Cole, Ward, McGonigle, Ban Gallagher, McFadden, Langan, R McHugh, P and J Brennans, C Thompson, Doherty, O Donnell, McEilananey, M Reilly.
That information is from Donegal official gaa website, they are official stats.
In summary 7 of the Meath players who played last night were not on the Meath senior panel last year.
4 of the Donegal players who played last night were not on the Donegal senior panel last year.
5 of the Meath players who started last night were not on the Meath senior panel last year.
1 of the Donegal players who started last night were not on the Donegal senior panel last year.
17 of the Donegal players who played last night won Ulster senior medal last year.
1 of the Meath players who played last night has won leinster senior medal.
So in conclusion it looks like we can say Donegal had a younger team. But Meath had youngest footballer of the field last night. Donegal had young inexperienced team. But Meath also had young inexperienced team. Donegal had a more sucessful team with only 1 Meath player holding a leinster medal and 17 Donegal players having won an Ulster medal. And with Donegal 14 of the starting 15 were on the panel last year and Meath had 10 of 15 who were on panel last year. And with Donegal having 4 players who played last night who were not on the the panel last year and Meath had 7 players who played last night who were on the panel. We could say then, it wud be correct to say Donegal had more individual players on the field who had more inter county experience and more inter county sucess then Meath players.
In one way we are splitting hair. The fact is Donegal had young inexperienced team and Meath had young inexperienced team last night. To say otherwise would not be factually correct. It wud incorrect to say otherwise." The Official Donegal website is not entirely accurate, It's rarely updated, with only some sections currently being operated fully and I noted info on players (Such as their ages) has been mixed up in the past.
In 2018 we had U20's who got a run out in the pre-season McKenna Cup, but never actually played League or Championship, in fact they weren't even in those squads. A few other players last night got a run out in early rounds of National League in 2018, but again there was no room come Championship, except for a few notable players.
I wanted to highlight that this was not an experienced battle hardened Donegal in Ballybofey, a good few of players have never played League or Championship prior to 2019 for Donegal. In general this Donegal squad is still very inexperienced as a team, and I expect a struggle in every match in Division 2 as we slowly get our established players back between late March and May.
Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1106 - 05/02/2019 10:08:51
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Replying To Curlew66: "Lovely gesture by Meath County secretary in memory of young lives lost in Donegal road accident. Puts everything in perspective, well done Mairead Delaney. Best of luck to both teams in 2019." Yes it was, very poignant moment that won't be forgotten.
It was tough week for a number of our panel, a few of the players were good friends with the fellas that lost their lives.
Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1106 - 05/02/2019 15:02:07
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