Great episode on the Meehan brothers from Caltra last night. 6 brothers on the side (5 playing one sub) that won the All Ireland club in 2004, and Declan, Tomas winning two All Irelands with Galway, however Micheal in my opinion was a fantastic player and had it all. He is a huge loss to Galway at present and it was so unfortunate that injury called short his inter county career at the age of 28. Up there with Paraic Joyce, Ciaran Mc Donald, Ja Fallon as one of the best forwards to come out of the west in the last 30 years

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 26/04/2016 08:28:07    1849519

It was a good program. However, I disagree on Michael Meehan. He was a class player alright, but not in that league you have described. I can recall several games against mayo where Higgins had him well under wraps and Meehan had no answer - no shame in that mind but I think it underlines the fact that people are getting carried away with the legend and forgetting the player. Absence makes the heart grow fonder as they say.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 26/04/2016 10:22:14    1849553

Agreed. If Michael had an injury free career I believe we'd be talking of him in the same terms as Brogan, Gooch etc. He was an outstanding footballer! I remember first seeing him in action alongside Colm McFadden playing Sigerson football for NUIG and being hugely impressed. They were unstoppable the year they won it in 2003.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 26/04/2016 10:26:45    1849557

Michael Meehan never reached the heights we all thought he would...injury as you say being his downfall. We did get glimpses through his short enough career....his club run to winning the All Ireland and his display in Croke Park in the rain. Shame really.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 26/04/2016 10:47:04    1849578

The Galway team of 98-2001 are one of the greatest sides of all time IMO.

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1222 - 26/04/2016 11:00:09    1849589

Indeed it was Belclare1. Such a pity Micheal Meehan's football days were not as long as they could have been but for that ankle injury.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 859 - 26/04/2016 11:03:20    1849591

Great footballing clann. Declan was a fantastic footballer, probably one of the first roving half-backs (along with James Nallen) that are commonplace today. He got a brilliant goal in the 2000 Al-Ireland final (replay) which brought Galway back into it; Declan O'Keeffe in the Kerry goal barely saw the ball before it whizzed past him into the top corner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYtRelIituI

Michael Meehan was indeed very unlucky with injuries, and could have been one of the greats. Unfortunately, we only saw flashes of his ability, though when he turned it on he was really something. I seem to remember him kicking something like twelve or fourteen points in one Connacht Championship clash against Sligo down in Salthill. He was very unfortunate to take his place on that Galway side just as they were going into decline.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 26/04/2016 11:13:41    1849596

His performance in 2008 QF under lights in the pouring rain was a joy to watch.
Probably one of the best games I was ever at gooch & Meehan at their best.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 26/04/2016 11:31:31    1849601

Great Galway team but nowhere near Kerry or Tyrone of the 00's , the Meehans were class especially Micheal then Declan that goal against Kerry wow was unreal from Declan what a move.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 26/04/2016 12:17:30    1849625

Hard to compare the Galway team of that era to Tyrone and Kerry IMO. I was watching the three All-Ireland finals that Galway contested on YouTube, and one of the things that struck me is how open those games were- there were usually only 6-8 players from the defending team back behind the 40 for most of the scores. Fast-forward to the mid-2000s and there were a probably twice that number back at a given time. The game has declined as a spectacle due to it, and Galway's fortunes as well, due to their persisting with a traditional style of play.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 26/04/2016 13:02:09    1849666

I got more enjoyment out of watching Declan Meehan play than almost any other footballer in my lifetime. Very stylish player and a turn of speed that was unmatched. Phenomenal engine and could take a score. A managers dream.

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 26/04/2016 13:19:14    1849681

Michael Meehan is still going great at club level........still better than all we have.

galwayfan (None) - Posts: 764 - 26/04/2016 13:48:04    1849697

Might get strung up for this but even b4 injuries hit Michael his senior inter county career was slightly disappointing. probley the highest regarded underage footballer I can remember he never quite transferred his jarlaths minor u21 club form to senior level. considering at 18 he would have been rated higher then gooch and Declan o Sullivan he never showed his class consistently at senior level like these 2 did albeit he was on an inferior side.

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1159 - 26/04/2016 14:27:57    1849711

It is difficult to compare teams from different eras. One thing that Galway team, Tyrone from 00's, Kerry 00's and current Dub team all have in common is that they had natural footballers all over the field and a lethal forward line

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1222 - 26/04/2016 15:48:48    1849768

I know I'm completely bias but I don't think that Galway team would get near this Dublin team, I think we would beat them handy tbh.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 26/04/2016 16:27:38    1849791

know I'm completely bias but I don't think that Galway team would get near this Dublin team, I think we would beat them handy tbh.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts:7346 - 26/04/2016 16:27:38 1849791

Maybe, but thats like saying that our team of 98-01 would have hammered yer 1983 and 1995 winning teams.. which they would have!!

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 27/04/2016 08:11:33    1849933

What a great sporting family! A credit to the GAA, their club and county those Meehans.I remember listening to Micheal O Muircheartaigh raving about a colleges final several years ago and saying he hadn't seen footballers like the 'starmen' from each side for manys the year, those players were Michael Meehan and Declan O Sullivan.Such a shame Michael didn't go on to have the same career O Sullivan did.
That Galway side of 98-01 were a pleasure to watch.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 27/04/2016 09:27:30    1849950

Indeed Condorman that was the 2002 hogan cup semi final between St Jarlath's and Colaiste na Sceilge which went to a replay and was an unbelievable footballing spectacle. Both games were played in the Gaelic grounds in Limerick and they were the best games I've ever seen. Brian Sheehan was also on the Sceilge team I believe and the Jarlath's team had a litany of stars, Meehan being the talisman.

Rocky.Road (Galway) - Posts: 374 - 27/04/2016 09:57:48    1849968

I watched A Year til Sunday last night on the web, amazing how much has changed in the past 20-odd years. What was certainly a very dedicated and professional set-up for the time seems innocent and care-free by today's standards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xonkqJt19dM

Makes me wonder how we'll look back on the Dublin, Kerry set-ups etc. in two decades time! It's unlikely that a documentary crew would get access to inter-county panels in an era in which open-training sessions etc. have been dispensed with.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 27/04/2016 10:32:25    1849985

I agree Michael Meehan has to go down as one of the best "could have been a great".
He was involved in 2002 Hogan Cup Semi Final Meehan vs Declan O Sullivan, commonly called the greatest match played in the last 20 years.
Thankfully I was in Cork in 2003 and got to watch him up close in the Sigerson Cup. he was the player of the tournament by miles.
What a full/corner forward in his. he would turn on a 6 pence and pow.
Unfortunately he dint play too many years injury free..if I am not mistaken, 2008 was one of the only years he was in ok shape. His career as a great was over before he got to his mid 20's even though he played until 28.

As for Declan Meehan, as a Kerry supporter he always caused us bother and that goal in 2000 is as good a goal as any corner forward would be proud of

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 27/04/2016 10:33:09    1849986