Meath Forum

David Clifford/Keeping young stars

(Oldest Posts First)


this guy is a serious talent and on the afl radar. it seems now that(apparently) he has been offered a package to stay in kerry and that he may well stay.
how does this relate to meath? well we lost nash to the afl and young jones (another young midfield talent) is off to america for 2 years at least.
now you cannot stop or begrudge any person who wants to do what these young lads are doing.but... are we doing enough to try and persuade them to stay? there is good young talent coming through at underage,but my worry would be that,will they be available for the seniors in the future?
thoughts?

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 18/09/2017 15:03:58    2047506

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I don't think you can persuade a lad to stay - package or not. If they want to go, you have to let them go. The money is incidental - they are going over to Oz because they want to be full-time, professional athletes and test themselves at the top level. Naturally getting paid to do that is great, but I don't think that's what makes or breaks a young fella's decision. So, personally, I don't think there's a whole lot you can do about it.

BarneysTie (Meath) - Posts: 258 - 18/09/2017 16:55:37    2047589

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Replying To BarneysTie:  "I don't think you can persuade a lad to stay - package or not. If they want to go, you have to let them go. The money is incidental - they are going over to Oz because they want to be full-time, professional athletes and test themselves at the top level. Naturally getting paid to do that is great, but I don't think that's what makes or breaks a young fella's decision. So, personally, I don't think there's a whole lot you can do about it."
Yes I agree Nash is having a go at AFL and fair play Jones I believe is for education maybe sports related I don't know. If Clifford wants oz then away he go and rightly so

numberedjerseys (USA) - Posts: 348 - 18/09/2017 17:22:34    2047602

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A county would need to be serious All-Ireland contenders (not just making up the numbers) to have any chance of keeping young talent, if they have other options like a professional sports career.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 18/09/2017 20:52:07    2047697

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Replying To GlasagusOr:  "A county would need to be serious All-Ireland contenders (not just making up the numbers) to have any chance of keeping young talent, if they have other options like a professional sports career."
forgot to mention that a young lad on one of the dev squads told me that if he is good enough for seniors in a few years he will not play for them. that sort of thing is not good. you really do question the motivation of young lads willing to play and be a success for meath. honestly think the huge money invested from the gaa into dublin is having a huge effect on young players in meath.

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 18/09/2017 22:33:57    2047785

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Replying To ziggy320001:  "forgot to mention that a young lad on one of the dev squads told me that if he is good enough for seniors in a few years he will not play for them. that sort of thing is not good. you really do question the motivation of young lads willing to play and be a success for meath. honestly think the huge money invested from the gaa into dublin is having a huge effect on young players in meath."
Rumours going around that a few of the starting team from this year (apart from Jones) are heading away next year.
This is a very worrying thing for Andy and for Meath football in general as Meath are short enough on talent at the moment without losing more players.

subzero (Meath) - Posts: 69 - 19/09/2017 09:52:37    2047918

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Replying To ziggy320001:  "forgot to mention that a young lad on one of the dev squads told me that if he is good enough for seniors in a few years he will not play for them. that sort of thing is not good. you really do question the motivation of young lads willing to play and be a success for meath. honestly think the huge money invested from the gaa into dublin is having a huge effect on young players in meath."
Why is he bothering playing with development squads if he has no interest in playing senior?

BarneysTie (Meath) - Posts: 258 - 19/09/2017 10:38:41    2047938

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Replying To subzero:  "Rumours going around that a few of the starting team from this year (apart from Jones) are heading away next year.
This is a very worrying thing for Andy and for Meath football in general as Meath are short enough on talent at the moment without losing more players."
Any names that are heading away ?

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1458 - 19/09/2017 11:20:56    2047957

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Replying To BarneysTie:  "Why is he bothering playing with development squads if he has no interest in playing senior?"
In reply to you barneys tie , the player obviously has his sights set on bigger and better things , been included in Development squads allows them the opportunity to challenge themselves at as high a level as possible until the call comes . Why not avail of it , if its available . ?
Conor Nash was pinpointed from a young age to be a up and coming talent , he was first poached by Leinster Rugby , but still clung onto his Meath Jersey, and was encourage to do so .He was required at Minor level in his final year for the County but chose Leinster Rugby over the County . Was coaxed to play for St Pats Classical and Simonstown before heading off to the AFL . Now I'd say that was a great example of having your cake and still eating it .... Wouldn't you.

Meath_True (Meath) - Posts: 285 - 19/09/2017 11:44:45    2047977

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Replying To ziggy320001:  "forgot to mention that a young lad on one of the dev squads told me that if he is good enough for seniors in a few years he will not play for them. that sort of thing is not good. you really do question the motivation of young lads willing to play and be a success for meath. honestly think the huge money invested from the gaa into dublin is having a huge effect on young players in meath."
Of course it is. Why would any young lad be motivated to play with their county in leinster when you will inevitably get walloped by a professional Dublin outfit. Dedicate your whole life around meath just to get embarrassed in croker in from of thousands. If I was good enough in the current gaa world I would decline meath too. I'd still play for my club obviously as I'd enjoy it and I'd also play with meath underage. Underage is at least competitive where Dublin are not light years ahead.

To answer the thread. There is definitely something that can be done. And it's called money. If Clifford stays with kerry for a few years I guarantee you it's because he's getting paid. I've heard he will be getting over €100k a year for every season he stays with kerry. Obviously they have much better finances in the kingdom then we do but the reality is that's what has to happen. Pay them or they will leave.

I hope Nash enjoys a season or 2 in Australia and then returns home. He could be quite the physical specimen after 2 years as a Pro. I just hope he doesn't stay away for good.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 19/09/2017 12:22:14    2048010

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Replying To Meath_True:  "In reply to you barneys tie , the player obviously has his sights set on bigger and better things , been included in Development squads allows them the opportunity to challenge themselves at as high a level as possible until the call comes . Why not avail of it , if its available . ?
Conor Nash was pinpointed from a young age to be a up and coming talent , he was first poached by Leinster Rugby , but still clung onto his Meath Jersey, and was encourage to do so .He was required at Minor level in his final year for the County but chose Leinster Rugby over the County . Was coaxed to play for St Pats Classical and Simonstown before heading off to the AFL . Now I'd say that was a great example of having your cake and still eating it .... Wouldn't you."
MT - I only asked about the dev squad player as it wasn't clear what his reasons were for saying he wouldn't play later on. It could have been any number of reasons - eg maybe he felt the commitment required at senior level vs the potential rewards wouldn't make it worth his while.

Re Nash, I'm not sure what your point is. Are you criticising the guy for playing as many sports as he can before making a final decision to focus on one?

BarneysTie (Meath) - Posts: 258 - 19/09/2017 12:22:30    2048011

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Replying To BarneysTie:  "MT - I only asked about the dev squad player as it wasn't clear what his reasons were for saying he wouldn't play later on. It could have been any number of reasons - eg maybe he felt the commitment required at senior level vs the potential rewards wouldn't make it worth his while.

Re Nash, I'm not sure what your point is. Are you criticising the guy for playing as many sports as he can before making a final decision to focus on one?"
commitment required at senior level vs the potential rewards wouldn't make it worth his while. that was his feeling sadly you wonder if many feel like that..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 19/09/2017 14:07:27    2048073

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Replying To Jack_Goff:  "Of course it is. Why would any young lad be motivated to play with their county in leinster when you will inevitably get walloped by a professional Dublin outfit. Dedicate your whole life around meath just to get embarrassed in croker in from of thousands. If I was good enough in the current gaa world I would decline meath too. I'd still play for my club obviously as I'd enjoy it and I'd also play with meath underage. Underage is at least competitive where Dublin are not light years ahead.

To answer the thread. There is definitely something that can be done. And it's called money. If Clifford stays with kerry for a few years I guarantee you it's because he's getting paid. I've heard he will be getting over €100k a year for every season he stays with kerry. Obviously they have much better finances in the kingdom then we do but the reality is that's what has to happen. Pay them or they will leave.

I hope Nash enjoys a season or 2 in Australia and then returns home. He could be quite the physical specimen after 2 years as a Pro. I just hope he doesn't stay away for good."
The reality here if Nash does come back its rugby he will play.Leinster on his radar too.by using oval ball he will have honed his handling skills.look at tommy Walsh from Kerry prob better Gaa player than Nash and he is forgotten about now.never was the same after he came back. Got hard to readjust.

Reco (Meath) - Posts: 419 - 19/09/2017 16:52:46    2048174

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Replying To ziggy320001:  "forgot to mention that a young lad on one of the dev squads told me that if he is good enough for seniors in a few years he will not play for them. that sort of thing is not good. you really do question the motivation of young lads willing to play and be a success for meath. honestly think the huge money invested from the gaa into dublin is having a huge effect on young players in meath."
I think it is having a more adverse effect on Meath than any other county.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/09/2017 18:37:40    2048219

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Replying To subzero:  "Rumours going around that a few of the starting team from this year (apart from Jones) are heading away next year.
This is a very worrying thing for Andy and for Meath football in general as Meath are short enough on talent at the moment without losing more players."
You have said this before. So it's time to sh€t or get off the pot.
Name these players. Or is it I suspect all in your head.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/09/2017 18:39:50    2048222

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How do mayo do it? They have been nothing short of inspirational year after year. Players keep coming back for more every year despite the losses. They blood in new players every year. They don't complain about resources. They don't complain about defeats...

It just beggars belief what has happened to Meath football over the last 15 years. Yes, there seems to be some progress in juvenile but until we start seeing some silverware I find it hard to see us making progress.

Have we gone completely soft?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 19/09/2017 21:15:02    2048291

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Replying To subzero:  "Rumours going around that a few of the starting team from this year (apart from Jones) are heading away next year.
This is a very worrying thing for Andy and for Meath football in general as Meath are short enough on talent at the moment without losing more players."
Which players?

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 888 - 22/09/2017 08:51:52    2049234

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Replying To royaldunne:  "You have said this before. So it's time to sh€t or get off the pot.
Name these players. Or is it I suspect all in your head."
Harnan and O Coileann.

subzero (Meath) - Posts: 69 - 22/09/2017 12:26:33    2049303

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A couple of points on this - more questions really!

Do you think that Meaths proximity to Dublin is an issue? A lot of the younger lads on the Senior panel go to college with lads on the Dublin panel. They can't help but notice the difference in terms of teh gear the Dubs lads get, the facilities that they have access to etc. While Dunganny has been a big improvement it will take sometime before the benefits of it really come through.

Are the counties bordering Dublin more impacted than the likes of Kerry and Mayo by the draw of soccer in particular and rugby too. My club loses a lot of promising young lads to soccer teams all over Dublin - the dream of pro soccer! A cousin of mine in Kerry claims they never lose lads to soccer. (Is there soccer in Kerry!)

At underage level, the facility at Dunganny has been a big bonus. The lads on the development squad feel like they are part of something special. The difference at senior level is more pronounced. Let's be honest Dublin are the closest thing to a professional team that you can get! Meath are along way off that yet! I think Andy McEntee will make inroads into that - but the gulf is huge at the moment. Kerry is similar to Dublin. They have great resources and a history that seems to ensure that every child in Kerry wants to play football for the county. They have a great underage structure. Meath has a chance to bridge some of the gap - they have a good sponsor in Devenish and some good underage teams coming through. The ambition should be to instil in every young lad the passion to play for Meath and then try and keep them and work them through the system. It is going to be hard for sure!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 475 - 22/09/2017 13:00:11    2049314

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Replying To subzero:  "Harnan and O Coileann."
Well if they won't put in the hard work that's needed in this day and age then that's up to them. Can't force anybody to play

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 22/09/2017 15:17:32    2049366

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