Meath Forum

Underage Reality check

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Just thought I'd share this, our championship performance 2017,,,,,,,,,,see below?

P W D L Points
Meath U21 1 0 0 0 0
Meath U18 2 0 0 2 0

If we don't recognise the problem, how can we fix it?

Are we in Denial?

RoyalDiehard (Meath) - Posts: 48 - 22/05/2017 10:51:54    1989212

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there is talent there no doubt,but it seems that the confidence is not there. i know at that age players are young,but we seem to lack power compared to alot of other underage sides.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 22/05/2017 11:26:52    1989244

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For the record last year meath footballers beat Dublin at u14 u15 u16 and am i right in saying u18.in my opinion if you are beating Dublin at any age level you cant be doing much wrong. Ps i watch a lot of meath underage teams and we have 2 excellent teams in the u15s and u16s coming thru this year

bobjaffacake (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 22/05/2017 19:56:31    1989555

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Replying To bobjaffacake:  "For the record last year meath footballers beat Dublin at u14 u15 u16 and am i right in saying u18.in my opinion if you are beating Dublin at any age level you cant be doing much wrong. Ps i watch a lot of meath underage teams and we have 2 excellent teams in the u15s and u16s coming thru this year"
so do i sir,although not this year so far. the gerry reilly will be interesting. we need to do it at u17 and level though..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 22/05/2017 20:35:14    1989568

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Genuine question here. When did meath last beat kildare at u21 or minor? I cant remember it happening since at least 2008

11jm11 (Kildare) - Posts: 365 - 22/05/2017 22:20:00    1989616

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Replying To 11jm11:  "Genuine question here. When did meath last beat kildare at u21 or minor? I cant remember it happening since at least 2008"
can't remember,kildare have been miles ahead of us at both levels for a while now.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 23/05/2017 08:09:57    1989677

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Personally I think our last two minor teams have actually been pretty decent.
There was nothing between ourselves and Kildare last year. Score the penalty in extra time and they were in an All Ireland quarter final and would have won Leinster.
This year, I am of the opinion that the management made mistakes in our two championship games. The changes in the second half of the Dublin were what caused the collapse. And the tactics when playing with the wind against Laois were confusing. Persisting with short kickouts and short hand passes instead of quick ball into the forward line was what ultimately cost us.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 23/05/2017 10:38:46    1989713

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Replying To 11jm11:  "Genuine question here. When did meath last beat kildare at u21 or minor? I cant remember it happening since at least 2008"
Just to point something out! 2 years ago - a league was run between teams in Meath and Kildare at under 16 level. Meath were represented by Dunboyne and Ratoath who contested the County Under 16 league and championship final that year. Dunboyne had the pick of a couple of Kilbride lads and Ratoath had the pick of a couple of Curraha lads. Both of them were well beaten by teams from Naas and Newbridge. Maybe the club scene at underage level in Meath isn't as strong as people think!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 473 - 23/05/2017 13:47:59    1989811

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "Just to point something out! 2 years ago - a league was run between teams in Meath and Kildare at under 16 level. Meath were represented by Dunboyne and Ratoath who contested the County Under 16 league and championship final that year. Dunboyne had the pick of a couple of Kilbride lads and Ratoath had the pick of a couple of Curraha lads. Both of them were well beaten by teams from Naas and Newbridge. Maybe the club scene at underage level in Meath isn't as strong as people think!"
Represented by 2 clubs doesn't mean we weak under age can't see how you can put that to blame for not doin well at underage.we are playing catch up in the physical and mental work done by Dublin kildare think the u16 team that's coming thru now will b the team to break thru In Leinster.more than Dunboyne ratoath players in Meath.the mix Barry Callaghan had last year did well.

Reco (Meath) - Posts: 419 - 23/05/2017 14:58:38    1989835

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I've no idea whether how next years, or any years team will do, but every year for the last 5 years it's been said that that years U16s are the real deal, a crack squad of winners who have won every blitz going and will reach at the very least an All Ireland minor semi final the following year. Strangely enough this has never come to pass.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1642 - 23/05/2017 20:56:00    1989997

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "I've no idea whether how next years, or any years team will do, but every year for the last 5 years it's been said that that years U16s are the real deal, a crack squad of winners who have won every blitz going and will reach at the very least an All Ireland minor semi final the following year. Strangely enough this has never come to pass."
saw the meath under 16 recently and are quite decent side and play as a team. Our under 15 are not that strong of a bunch as other years and will need other new players involved in order to compete and then they should improve .

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 23/05/2017 22:19:59    1990033

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Replying To Bear10:  "saw the meath under 16 recently and are quite decent side and play as a team. Our under 15 are not that strong of a bunch as other years and will need other new players involved in order to compete and then they should improve ."
yes but most of our sides have done well in the younger age groups and then at minor we fail to deliver..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/05/2017 08:12:37    1990090

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Replying To ziggy32001:  "yes but most of our sides have done well in the younger age groups and then at minor we fail to deliver.."
Agreed we need to win a minor leinster title in the next couple of years. I think we are losing a lot of our stronger underage players to other codes especially with soccer underage season on in the summer now . But that is the way it is and our coaches need to work harder to develop our young gaelic footballers and hurlers. What I have noticed on a lot of these underage panels over the last few years is the coaches tend to go for the larger more physical player especially at under 13/14/15 level rather than than the more skillful player in order to win games at these ages Maybe our focus on being so competitive at these ages should not be as important as losing some players.
These development coaches are doing a decent job giving up all there time and efforts in fairness and hopefully things will improve in the future

Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 26/05/2017 17:32:14    1991089

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Replying To Bear10:  "Agreed we need to win a minor leinster title in the next couple of years. I think we are losing a lot of our stronger underage players to other codes especially with soccer underage season on in the summer now . But that is the way it is and our coaches need to work harder to develop our young gaelic footballers and hurlers. What I have noticed on a lot of these underage panels over the last few years is the coaches tend to go for the larger more physical player especially at under 13/14/15 level rather than than the more skillful player in order to win games at these ages Maybe our focus on being so competitive at these ages should not be as important as losing some players.
These development coaches are doing a decent job giving up all there time and efforts in fairness and hopefully things will improve in the future"
At 13/14/15 the impression is that there's a large variance in player sizes and height , that's down to the developmental age that the players are at, as they pass through their U15/U16 age bracket the growth spurt tends to slow down and size and height begin to level out to the norms . I do not think that Dev Coaches target bigger players . There's no point in going for a player with no skill , though I do know of a number of Coaches that have stated that you can always teach a big player how to play ( well) , but getting a small skilled player to grow is a harder job .

Meath_True (Meath) - Posts: 285 - 31/05/2017 11:35:26    1992573

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anyone know if the u17's are taking part in a leinster?

or when the gerry reilly is?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 13/06/2017 13:36:02    1999073

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Replying To ziggy32001:  "anyone know if the u17's are taking part in a leinster?

or when the gerry reilly is?"
I think the U17s are out against Dublin at the end of the month . the Gerry Reilly should be also gaining impetus around the same time .

Meath_True (Meath) - Posts: 285 - 13/06/2017 16:38:50    1999195

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Replying To Meath_True:  "I think the U17s are out against Dublin at the end of the month . the Gerry Reilly should be also gaining impetus around the same time ."
I've watched a lot of games at both these years at club level and have noticed some outstanding players. I would think the u16s are probably the strongest year I've seen. I presume both teams are very strong, is this the case ?? Are they good enough to win the competitions they're entered in ?

royaljackeen (Meath) - Posts: 37 - 13/06/2017 19:51:19    1999291

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Replying To Meath_True:  "I think the U17s are out against Dublin at the end of the month . the Gerry Reilly should be also gaining impetus around the same time ."
tomorrow night,not seen much of them this year,but some of the minor lads can play..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 27/06/2017 18:28:05    2006444

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "Just to point something out! 2 years ago - a league was run between teams in Meath and Kildare at under 16 level. Meath were represented by Dunboyne and Ratoath who contested the County Under 16 league and championship final that year. Dunboyne had the pick of a couple of Kilbride lads and Ratoath had the pick of a couple of Curraha lads. Both of them were well beaten by teams from Naas and Newbridge. Maybe the club scene at underage level in Meath isn't as strong as people think!"
Dunboyne never had the pick of Kilbride lads. Your point still stands though having played against Naas, Sarsfields and Carberry they are all seriously good teams, even better than I Dublin club team I've played with the exception of Ballyboden

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1454 - 28/06/2017 09:43:53    2006672

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Replying To Meath_True:  "At 13/14/15 the impression is that there's a large variance in player sizes and height , that's down to the developmental age that the players are at, as they pass through their U15/U16 age bracket the growth spurt tends to slow down and size and height begin to level out to the norms . I do not think that Dev Coaches target bigger players . There's no point in going for a player with no skill , though I do know of a number of Coaches that have stated that you can always teach a big player how to play ( well) , but getting a small skilled player to grow is a harder job ."
Your points are valid, at underage level the club should be thinking that the ultimate goal is to keep players interested and get as many to senior level as possible. Unfortunately many clubs, and I include my local club of this, they don't think of the bigger picture they play the best team all the time and alienate the rest so they get frustrated siting on the line all the time and jack it in. So any chance of a nabbing a late developer is gone because they have left and started playing some other sport instead. Nemo Rangers in Cork is the best example of giving all players a chance, they win next to nothing at underage but look at the success they have at senior level, most local clubs haven't the brains to think of the bigger picture, I call it short term gain long term pain.

AthboyCelt (Meath) - Posts: 147 - 28/06/2017 10:11:30    2006691

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