Doublehop
Don't think Meath have the same defensive system as Donegal as we have been doing it since 2011 must say it's very effective and usually Donegal don't concede much more than 11 to 13 points per game Leaving out the Mayo game last year Donegal did not concede many goals either. Don't forget Kildare got goal chances against Meath but failed to take them
As regards the Dublin poster about Meath/Donegal/Monaghan beating Dublin even though we were all in Div 2 I think overall Meath were a bit behind the other two counties even though they drew with us As far as I know Meath have a poor recent record against Monaghan.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 14/07/2014 18:54:54    1619260

Doublehop
Don't think Meath have the same defensive system as Donegal as we have been doing it since 2011 must say it's very effective and usually Donegal don't concede much more than 11 to 13 points per game Leaving out the Mayo game last year Donegal did not concede many goals either. Don't forget Kildare got goal chances against Meath but failed to take them
As regards the Dublin poster about Meath/Donegal/Monaghan beating Dublin even though we were all in Div 2 I think overall Meath were a bit behind the other two counties even though they drew with us As far as I know Meath have a poor recent record against Monaghan.

Drew with Donegal and could have beat them, mind you I think Donegal thought all they had to do was turn up that day and the two points were in the bag, yeah we have a rotten record against Monaghan lately and lost the last three league matches to them, two in a Clones and a final in Croker, but a championship meting between the two would be a horse of a different colour as would a meeting with Donegal, something I would personally relish, but the Dubs will suffice for now

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 14/07/2014 19:25:30    1619285

SamErrigal my point is the same people who are so absolute in giving Meath no chance against Dublin, reckon Donegal or Monaghan can beat Dublin. Meaths record against Monaghan in the league means nothing in the context of Dublin v Meath. Im saying on evidence so far this year Meath are as much a challenge to us as Donegal or Monaghan.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 14/07/2014 19:35:48    1619292

Ok well here is my two cents on this,

To beat Dublin you must crack the kickouts/restarts. No team have really done this, we did it for a good bit
last but didn't hold out.

Meaths fitness needs to be spot on to do this, thight on each Dublin player pushing up on Cluxtons kickouts.
Make him kick it into the middle and compete 50/50.
For as good as MDMC is I'm not sure he is a big guy who fields a lot of ball.
That's the platform you need to disrupt.

For me I think the fullback line is also an area that is vulnerable.
High ball in on them might cause problems.

Finally and this is the main reason we lost last year Meath need there strongest
15 on the field for the last quarter when Dublin are strongest.

Dublin should win, they are the bench mark at the moment but everyone
is shooting for them. Meath like ourselves understand the tradition
of wearing the green & gold and not fearing Dublin.
Im sure Meath will give them a good rattle

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 14/07/2014 20:28:22    1619335

I need to do a proper check on the stats, but as far as I recall, as good as Kerry did on our kickouts last year, I think we still won 70% of them!
Feel free to correct me on this (not that I need to say that :D )

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 14/07/2014 20:48:28    1619351

Realdub - you probably right our midfield didint do as well as they should have.
I was referring to the first half were Kerry pushed right up on the kickouts and caused Cluxton to hesitate and created
difficulties.

I do think that for all mobiity/agility Dublin have in the midfield I dont think they are great fielders.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 14/07/2014 21:07:51    1619364

Hard to disagree with that westkerry!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 14/07/2014 21:12:31    1619368

Meant to add that Flynn is a better fielder than either of them!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 14/07/2014 21:26:01    1619374

Meath's weaknesses is definitely there backs (apart from Reilly at full back) hopefully our forwards give them a skinning , Carroll who had a great game against Kildare but coming up against Flynn or Connolly is a completely different proposition and I can see us giving him the runaround, also Shane O Rourke who is a good player but is not match fit for obvious reasons so I expect our two midfielders to run him into the ground and hopefully he tires and we get some joy from that also Menton who is a good player but we could cause him problems, Meath's main man is Bray we need to keep him quiet as much as possible cause he's a confidence player and if we do he could drop the head so I reckon Cooper will take him , then hopefully we can keep Newman and Reilly at bay cause there big players for Meath and if on form could destroy us so I see The roc taking Newman and James Mac taking Reilly and if we can hold them (easier said than done) we will win.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 14/07/2014 21:33:30    1619383

Clondallkin , keoghan would be no pushover in the backs either. But your match ups are pretty right they are the key battles for us. Also can't wait to see how Dublin handle mcmahon and tormey and who will pick them up. If Newmanis fit he will sstart but mcdonagh who had a handfulof goal shots last day will be seen sooner rather than later.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/07/2014 08:55:28    1619421

clondalkindub: You've summed up it up pretty well. My main fitness concerns are for S. O'Rourke, B. Meade, K. Reilly and G. Reilly. Don't see any of them lasting 70 mins without some serious game management work being done with them. Meade and K. Reilly (another injury) were substituted last day, O'Rourke and G. Reilly were out on their feet for the last 15mins. They weren't the only ones but the most obvious. The most serious of them is K. Reilly as he holds the backs together. If he goes we're in serious bother. Harrington wasn't fit the last day either and I can't see him being fully up to it this Sunday. Basically we have serious defensive problems that are being compensated for by bringing bodies back, to form a defensive shield. Against Kildare for e.g. G. Reilly spent most of his time around half backs/midfield area and didn't get forward as much as I would like to see, was also main reason he was out on his feet near the end.
Cooper will almost certainly look to pick up Bray form the start as Bray gave ROC the runaround last year until Cooper was switched onto him. Who ROC will pick up is anybodies guess at this stage. Meath have 2 fielders in the middle while Dublin have 2 athletes, should be a very interesting area. Half backs and half forwards will be all over the place as both teams will look to counter attack from deep positions, Meath will probably use more direct long ball into a 2 man forward line.
Really looking forward to this match for the first time in a good few years. Will tell how much Meath have improved, and Dublin for that matter. If Meath can take the opportunities that present themselves we can definitely do it.
Heart says Meath, head says that Dublin have too much in the tank.

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 484 - 15/07/2014 09:47:49    1619438

Not sure how Donegal have been doing it since 2011 changes anything SamOnErrigal. Also not sure how Kildare creating goal chances against Meath is relevant. I can't recall a Kildare-Donegal match since Jim was there where Kildare didn't get a goal.

My point is either way the general tactical setup is along the same principles - Pack up the midfield area with a high blanket, get stuck in physically (and fairly) and if you force a turnover get it in quick to the inside forwards. It suits Meath and they're very effective with it. As I said I think it'll give Meath a good squeak at an upset.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 15/07/2014 10:53:32    1619484

I think Meath will be forced to look at their game management as playing for 50 minutes on Sunday wont be enough. Newman is the obvious threat and id be surprised if a couple of rotations are not used to null his influence. Meath will undoubtably target the kickout but it's a energy sapping excercise without serious debt. The alternative is to revert to a defensive set up but this cannot be adopted for one game and be expected to work as it takes years to perfect.

If the game lacks goals I expect Dublin to win but if Meath open us up in the manner that occurred last year and throughtout this years league an
Upset could occur. If Dublin get to pitch fever early and break even at least in the middle sector I'd expect us to create enough to win by 4+. Brogan will be required and I expect him to play...

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1658 - 15/07/2014 12:33:20    1619567

There is alot of delusional Meath fans on here.

Bless them.

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 15/07/2014 12:52:34    1619580

ConnollyDub
County: Dublin
Posts: 1435

1619580 There is alot of delusional Meath fans on here.

Bless them.

Delusion and Belief and two very different things.

chriscart580 (Meath) - Posts: 376 - 15/07/2014 14:04:47    1619630

Hopefully we will fill the HILL early as the Dublin minors are on in the curtain raiser.

Set your alarm clocks Dublin fans - 1st game is on at 12noon... :o)


Also, curiously checking this morning for general ticket availability, it doesn't look like any upper deck tickets are on sale and part of the Hill looks closed, so a small enough crowd for a Dublin v meath Leinster Final looks likely, with the Hill once again being squashed into the centre section.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3736 - 15/07/2014 14:53:06    1619669

chriscart580
County: Meath
Posts: 244


Delusion and Belief and two very different things.

Agreed. But in this case to have belief is delusional in itself....

Were going to mop the floor wit yis. Thats a certainty!!

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 15/07/2014 15:32:52    1619699

chriscart580
County: Meath
Posts: 244


Delusion and Belief and two very different things.

Agreed. But in this case to have belief is delusional in itself....

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 15/07/2014 15:38:50    1619702

Fionn

Maybe the novelty of a Meath v Dublin leinster finals is wearing off, we didn't have one for 11 years (01-12)`so 70k turned up in 12, last year it was 54k and by the sounds of things this year 50k would be a good crowd. Meath support is a pale shadow of what it was over a decade ago and maybe our fans just don't see us as having any chance whereas a lot of Dubs probably just couldn't be bother with Leinster anymore.

Either way a lot of people will still show up and there might be a rush for tickets by the end of the week and on the day, it'd be great to see 50-60k turning up but that doesn't look likely now, fingers crossed though.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 15/07/2014 15:54:33    1619715

fionn

the upper cusack has been on sale since last friday
the lower cusack and lower canal are sold out (except maybe returns from clubs during this week)
lower hogan is nearly gone at this stage too
hill16 will be sold out by friday it looks like and then will be nally terrace on sale
id say between 60-65 thousand it will be come sunday at the moment

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 15/07/2014 16:09:53    1619729