Meath Forum

Championship hopes and aspirations

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What you all want from the coming championship? I think reaching Leinster final giving dubs one hell of a scare and reaching last 8 is well within this teams capabilities..

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/04/2017 16:27:41    1976072

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Lets win the first round of the championship and take it from there
I'm counting nothing beyond that

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 05/04/2017 17:02:58    1976085

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It looks like a Meath and Kildare Leinster semi-final appearance but hopefully the Wee County can spoil the party. Louth have only reached one Leinster semi-final since 1998 so the odds are stacked against them.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 05/04/2017 17:13:40    1976089

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How about winning the All Ireland as our aim?

Ibbecek (Meath) - Posts: 196 - 05/04/2017 17:15:13    1976091

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Replying To OLLIE:  "It looks like a Meath and Kildare Leinster semi-final appearance but hopefully the Wee County can spoil the party. Louth have only reached one Leinster semi-final since 1998 so the odds are stacked against them."
Tough first game Ollie. And got to say I dont like the idea of Parnell park again. But sure them are the breaks. Did you notice on the fixtures list that our side (including Louth in that) of the draw is set for a Saturday eve Stan alone semi final. Is this correct ?

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/04/2017 20:25:32    1976169

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Tough first game Ollie. And got to say I dont like the idea of Parnell park again. But sure them are the breaks. Did you notice on the fixtures list that our side (including Louth in that) of the draw is set for a Saturday eve Stan alone semi final. Is this correct ?"
Louth will have to play Wicklow first Royaldunne. That match will also be played in Parnell Park. I did notice that alright about the fixture list about that the semi-final is set for for a Saturday evening as a stand alone fixture. Sure originally when the fixtures came out Meath would be playing Wicklow if they come through against Louth on a Sunday and if Louth came through on a Saturday. Now regardless who comes through Meath will be playing the winners on the Bank Holiday Sunday in June. The only thing is the that the venue will change. Meath v Wicklow in Aughrim or Meath v Louth in Parnell Park.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 05/04/2017 22:53:16    1976264

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Replying To OLLIE:  "It looks like a Meath and Kildare Leinster semi-final appearance but hopefully the Wee County can spoil the party. Louth have only reached one Leinster semi-final since 1998 so the odds are stacked against them."
louth are getting better,be interesting to see how ye get on against tipp this week.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 06/04/2017 08:26:32    1976322

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Replying To ziggy32001:  "louth are getting better,be interesting to see how ye get on against tipp this week."
Looking forward to the match on Saturday. Tipp will be up for this after Wee beat them down in Thurles a couple of weeks ago. I thought myself that wee would playing our neighbour's Armagh in the final.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 06/04/2017 10:01:48    1976358

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At the start of the year I was thinking maybe we would promoted, Why ?
Because we where never to far away the past 3 or 4 years and with the new management in place we might just get over the line.
Also I was thinking we could reach the last 8 as-well. Why ?
Because Tipp and Galway reach them last year and we did ok against Galway last year (and this year) and even tough Tipp played some excellent football last year, they are division below us, and we could do like wise with new management in place.
I think if Harry Rooney was to return we easily could reach the last 8. So take every game as it comes, But I think the last 8 will be progress I would be happy with that. Hopefully this year we start to beating teams well that we should be beating, and not rolling over against the bigger teams either.

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1263 - 06/04/2017 10:28:15    1976383

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Replying To bobkarlgees:  "At the start of the year I was thinking maybe we would promoted, Why ?
Because we where never to far away the past 3 or 4 years and with the new management in place we might just get over the line.
Also I was thinking we could reach the last 8 as-well. Why ?
Because Tipp and Galway reach them last year and we did ok against Galway last year (and this year) and even tough Tipp played some excellent football last year, they are division below us, and we could do like wise with new management in place.
I think if Harry Rooney was to return we easily could reach the last 8. So take every game as it comes, But I think the last 8 will be progress I would be happy with that. Hopefully this year we start to beating teams well that we should be beating, and not rolling over against the bigger teams either."
I agree with most of what you say, but I don't agree with your opinion on the importance of Harry Rooney. I think he is another of these players who gets better and better in people's heads, the longer he is away off the panel. Don't get me wrong, he is a good player and a fine prospect for the future. But he is still young and raw, and is far from the finished article as a county footballer. I just don't see him as being the difference between us being a top 8 team or not, at this stage of his career. To be honest, even if he was back, I am not convinced he would be a guaranteed starter on the team. Mcentee had the option of a big, high fielding midfielder for the last few rounds of the league in Adam Flanagan, and chose not to start him. Rooney is probably a better player, but probably not that much better that he would walk onto the team if he was available. And I would be willing to bet that Andy mcentee will not be going to him and begging him to come back.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 06/04/2017 11:35:37    1976422

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "I agree with most of what you say, but I don't agree with your opinion on the importance of Harry Rooney. I think he is another of these players who gets better and better in people's heads, the longer he is away off the panel. Don't get me wrong, he is a good player and a fine prospect for the future. But he is still young and raw, and is far from the finished article as a county footballer. I just don't see him as being the difference between us being a top 8 team or not, at this stage of his career. To be honest, even if he was back, I am not convinced he would be a guaranteed starter on the team. Mcentee had the option of a big, high fielding midfielder for the last few rounds of the league in Adam Flanagan, and chose not to start him. Rooney is probably a better player, but probably not that much better that he would walk onto the team if he was available. And I would be willing to bet that Andy mcentee will not be going to him and begging him to come back."
agree here that people are building up harry to be like gerry mac or john mcdermot in there heads. as stated he is far from the finished article but we have midfielders who can play football. harry great man for catching ball but menton and toher are better overall footballers at the moment not to say harry wouldnt improve but if he was to return he wouldnt walk into the team.

super 8's should be a realistic aim depending on the draw when or if we leave the leinster championship. and then progress on next year in division 2 and really hit the ground running for a promotion push

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 06/04/2017 11:52:19    1976431

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "I agree with most of what you say, but I don't agree with your opinion on the importance of Harry Rooney. I think he is another of these players who gets better and better in people's heads, the longer he is away off the panel. Don't get me wrong, he is a good player and a fine prospect for the future. But he is still young and raw, and is far from the finished article as a county footballer. I just don't see him as being the difference between us being a top 8 team or not, at this stage of his career. To be honest, even if he was back, I am not convinced he would be a guaranteed starter on the team. Mcentee had the option of a big, high fielding midfielder for the last few rounds of the league in Adam Flanagan, and chose not to start him. Rooney is probably a better player, but probably not that much better that he would walk onto the team if he was available. And I would be willing to bet that Andy mcentee will not be going to him and begging him to come back."
I hear what your saying I kinda agree too. But. I know Rooney is not the finished article., or the messiah. But he was still arguable our best player last year (and definitely in top 3) I particular liked his performance in the relegation battle with Loais his was pulling the strings and shouting orders.
And Also against Derry last year even tough we lost he was showing signs of leadership winning ball and trying clam things down.
Now the reason I would like him back is it just gives us more options. He could slot in midfield lets face he has severed his apprenticeship there for what 2/3 years so. He has more experience that Menton Togher and Flanagan (Flanagan been injured for so long) so for example Menton could go corner back and Keoghan could come out to the half back line. Rooney could be tried and center back etc. People will have different opinions of what should happen but, there is nothing to suggest that he would not came came on a lot under Andy.Like others did ie D Lenihan COS also Byran Mc is starting to click etc.
In a nut shell I think Rooney would make a big difference because of the experience and options he would allow us.

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1263 - 06/04/2017 13:50:55    1976498

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Replying To bobkarlgees:  "I hear what your saying I kinda agree too. But. I know Rooney is not the finished article., or the messiah. But he was still arguable our best player last year (and definitely in top 3) I particular liked his performance in the relegation battle with Loais his was pulling the strings and shouting orders.
And Also against Derry last year even tough we lost he was showing signs of leadership winning ball and trying clam things down.
Now the reason I would like him back is it just gives us more options. He could slot in midfield lets face he has severed his apprenticeship there for what 2/3 years so. He has more experience that Menton Togher and Flanagan (Flanagan been injured for so long) so for example Menton could go corner back and Keoghan could come out to the half back line. Rooney could be tried and center back etc. People will have different opinions of what should happen but, there is nothing to suggest that he would not came came on a lot under Andy.Like others did ie D Lenihan COS also Byran Mc is starting to click etc.
In a nut shell I think Rooney would make a big difference because of the experience and options he would allow us."
I disagree completely.
Firstly because Rooney doesn't really give you any extra options that you don't currently have already. He is not, and never will be, a centre half back, no matter how hard you try to force that round peg into the square hole. There are at least six players currently on the panel who would be better at centre half back than Rooney, and at least the same number who can't even get on the panel. Rooney is a midfielder or nothing. And if mcentee wanted to move Menton out of midfield, he could do so very simply by putting Flanagan in there. But he has not shown any inclination to do so.
Secondly, two years of experience is negligible in the overall scheme of things, especially when it is two years of losing. He has marginally more experience than Flanagan or Toher, and a lot less than Menton. So to try to spin it that we would have an experienced player coming in to settle things down is just plain wrong.
As I said before, I am not knocking Rooney in the slightest. He is a fine player, who hopefully will be a mainstay of this team in future years. There is no doubt that the panel would be better with him on it. But not to the degree that he would be the difference between a top 8 spot or not.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 06/04/2017 14:24:48    1976519

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Replying To anfearbeag:  "I disagree completely.
Firstly because Rooney doesn't really give you any extra options that you don't currently have already. He is not, and never will be, a centre half back, no matter how hard you try to force that round peg into the square hole. There are at least six players currently on the panel who would be better at centre half back than Rooney, and at least the same number who can't even get on the panel. Rooney is a midfielder or nothing. And if mcentee wanted to move Menton out of midfield, he could do so very simply by putting Flanagan in there. But he has not shown any inclination to do so.
Secondly, two years of experience is negligible in the overall scheme of things, especially when it is two years of losing. He has marginally more experience than Flanagan or Toher, and a lot less than Menton. So to try to spin it that we would have an experienced player coming in to settle things down is just plain wrong.
As I said before, I am not knocking Rooney in the slightest. He is a fine player, who hopefully will be a mainstay of this team in future years. There is no doubt that the panel would be better with him on it. But not to the degree that he would be the difference between a top 8 spot or not."
Firstly I think your very wrong about experience. I think you underestimate how hard it is to play midfield. There are very few players that slot in to role seamlessly it take time and experience, which Rooney has. I think if we had Rooney for the start of the league. we could very well be promoted now. He is a way better option than Togher or Cian Obrein. sure Togher only starting to play for Meath footballers this year.! (Flanagan either not up to it eyes of not fit enough in the eyes of Andy). I knew we where going to struggle without Rooney this year and that's been case.

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1263 - 06/04/2017 17:03:25    1976593

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More than capable of reaching the Leinster final

Meathmen (Meath) - Posts: 73 - 06/04/2017 19:02:01    1976635

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I think we really need to aim for a last 8 spot, I don't think it's an unreasonable target, very difficult but by no means impossible. Don't forget that this year we played 2 of last year's AI quarter-finalists (Galway and Clare) and we beat both of them, not an exact science of course but an indication of what we can do rather than what we can't do.

Reach a Leinster final is another thing we can do (albeit another very difficult task) but sadly what we and no other team in Leinster can do is beat Dublin at present. Call me naive but I always believed we could beat Dublin and that confidence wasn't knocked out of me until after the 2014 Leinster final but it's all about building and getting better. If we meet this year then it won't happen, not a chance, but we must improve and start to close the gap.

As for our first game, I would expect to be playing Louth and I'd expect a higher quality game than last year's, given that both teams have improved. I'll be away that weekend so unfortunately I'll miss it but one thing I won't miss is Parnell Park, it's hard to get to, hard to get a drink and hard to see the game.....what a dump!!!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 06/04/2017 19:38:35    1976650

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Should be even more fun getting in to Parnell Park this time. Neither set of fans had much optimism going into the championship last year and I think PP was still three-quarters full. Should be a bigger crowd this time.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 06/04/2017 22:37:10    1976718

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Do you think we'll see any changes in the panel from the league to the championship?
Anyone in (or out) or is this it for now?

Wedgie (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 07/04/2017 08:27:14    1976765

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Replying To Ratoath Royal:  "Should be even more fun getting in to Parnell Park this time. Neither set of fans had much optimism going into the championship last year and I think PP was still three-quarters full. Should be a bigger crowd this time."
It was a complete sell out last year, people arriving with no tickets were left disappointed.
It is no place for a match. A absolute kip

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/04/2017 09:12:48    1976774

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Replying To bobkarlgees:  "I hear what your saying I kinda agree too. But. I know Rooney is not the finished article., or the messiah. But he was still arguable our best player last year (and definitely in top 3) I particular liked his performance in the relegation battle with Loais his was pulling the strings and shouting orders.
And Also against Derry last year even tough we lost he was showing signs of leadership winning ball and trying clam things down.
Now the reason I would like him back is it just gives us more options. He could slot in midfield lets face he has severed his apprenticeship there for what 2/3 years so. He has more experience that Menton Togher and Flanagan (Flanagan been injured for so long) so for example Menton could go corner back and Keoghan could come out to the half back line. Rooney could be tried and center back etc. People will have different opinions of what should happen but, there is nothing to suggest that he would not came came on a lot under Andy.Like others did ie D Lenihan COS also Byran Mc is starting to click etc.
In a nut shell I think Rooney would make a big difference because of the experience and options he would allow us."
menton is far better out the field,fine were he is.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 07/04/2017 13:06:50    1976856

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