The team chosen by you, the hoganstand.com/meath posters, to take on Offaly in the first round of the championship is:

1. Brendan Murphy
2. Chris O' Connor
3. Kevin Reilly
4. Eoghan Harrington
5. Seamus Kenny
6. Cormac McGuinness
7. Mickey Burke
8. Nigel Crawford
9. Brian Meade
10. Peader Byrne
11. Joe Sheridan
12. Ollie Lewis
13. Stephen Bray
14. Jamie Queeney
15. Cian Ward

So what are people's thoughts on the team? How closely will it resemble the actual team picked by Eamon and the selectors?

P.S. I would like to thank everyone for their participation and co-operation in this thread.

kennys_rath (Meath) - Posts: 80 - 11/03/2010 10:12:44    584971

Fair play to you kennys_rath.

That team looks to be fairly accurate with the exception of the goalkeepers postion. I can't really see Brendan Murphy starting in the Championship. Even though there is a great debate on who is the better player, EOB looks to be keeping faith with Paddy O' Rourke and that is explainable given their respective ages and other circumstances. He now looks to be third choice behind David Lyons as well.

In defence, Chris O'Connor will be doing well to hold onto his spot when Davy Dalton comes back and there is also fierce competition for the wing half back positions.

The forwards selected would do damage to any team in the country and that is our undoubted strength. Whether Ollie Lewis starts is another matter. I can see Eamon moving Stephen Bray out to accomodate Brian Farrell in his team. Also with Brian Sheridan putting in some great performances for DCU and our u-21s of late and Shane O'Rourke on the road to recovery, there is sure to be even more competition for places.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 2024 - 11/03/2010 11:07:16    585031

I would have very few complaints with that team taking the field against Offaly. Looking at the starting team and the names not on it, we would also have a very talented and vastly experienced subtitutes bench to call upon if necessary. People like Anthony Moyles, Caoimhin King, Shane McAnarney and Brian Farrell have years of inter-county experience in the green and gold behind them. Then younger players who could come in and do a job such as Brian Sheridan, Shane O'Rourke, Graham Reilly and Davy Dalton. Out of all the players not selected in that team, Brian Sheridan is the one who I feel could make the most difference but a great option to have on the bench.

royal_green (Meath) - Posts: 96 - 11/03/2010 11:20:06    585050

I think this team could very much resemble the team to take on Offaly next May. However I do think that the goalie will be either Paddy or Davy Lyons. Also, as I said before what is the position in relation to Kevin Reilly. Is he back training or even playing with NOM. The mid field pairing will vey much depend on whether the "mark" is retained. If it is then Mark Ward is a cert, if not then Brian Meade will get the nod. Not overly convinced about Ollie Lewis yet as I only saw him once. I believe he played better on other occasions and could get a start. If not then the forwards can be rearranged to accommodate David Bray who is playing very well and had overall a very good year last year. This man will improve and should make a permanent place for himself this year. Hope I didn't pick too many holes in your team as I wold not be disappointed to see them take the field as selected.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 11/03/2010 11:41:00    585083

Well done kennysrath & thanks 4 d work put in!
Decent team alright. Looking back @ the 1st couple of names on the team sheet, I'd say there might have been a little mood shift since then as a result of games played, but still a good team.
It also leaves a good strong bench for a change. Possibly the strongest Meath panel in a few years, so no excuses EOB....

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 11/03/2010 11:42:52    585086

now theres a surprise, more or less the same team as last year, except for lewis and queeney, only places up for grabs for me anyway, would be brian meades if mark ward keeps playing the way he is at the minute, but i fully expect EOB to find a place for meade somewhere

The.Rock (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 11/03/2010 12:53:05    585182

and i expect lyons to keep his place to

The.Rock (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 11/03/2010 12:53:47    585185

Apart from the keeper (where I would have P. o'Rourke) I would fully agree with this team and would be hopeful that this is what EOB will pick - once all players are available for selection.

Many thanks for the time and effort KennysRath!

theblindassasin (Meath) - Posts: 915 - 11/03/2010 12:56:48    585189

I expect O Rourke will get the nod in goals. Would like to See B Sheridan getting a fair run in the team. I reckon he could start wing forward, Good effort kennys rath !

paudi (Meath) - Posts: 681 - 11/03/2010 14:24:39    585309

Yes i would be very happy with that team.Some of those players selected on that team though could be under pressure to start namely,Brendan Murphy,Chris O'Connor,Peader Byrne, Kevin Riely and Ollie Lewis.I would not be surprised if Steven Bray is wasted on the wing again this year to acommadate his brother in the corner.I really hope Riely is fit for the chapionship as he is solid enough under the high ball and has championship expierence at full back( 2005,2006 and one game in 2009.)He played well with a back injury against Dublin last year and he tightened up the full back line considerably in the second half of that game

12Royal (Meath) - Posts: 987 - 11/03/2010 17:43:42    585610

I'd have no problem letting that team play Offaly. Its not a whole lot different to the team that managed to beat Mayo, Limerick, Roscommon, Westmeath and Waterford last year, in terms of type of players and tactics that will be employed, so why wouldn't it beat Offaly?

But it will not beat a Tyrone or a Kerry which is the level we should be aiming for, particularly after last year's heroics. Surely with Cork managing to beat both Tyrone and Kerry last year, it should be blatantly obvious how to put these teams under pressure. Fill the positions from five to twelve with big men who are hard running footballers. Players who are comfortable on the ball but also ones who are prepared to graft a little. Kenny, Burke, Byrne and Lewis are all hard workers but none of them are that comfortable on the ball, either passing into the full-forwards or in front of the posts. This is why I think we should be leaning towards players like Anthony Moyles, Graham Reilly and Paddy Smyth. Starting with David Bray would seem criminal to me too.

Having said everything I've said, it does look like the team in the opening post will strongly resemble EOB's final team. In my opinion, however, it will not be good enough to challenge the top tier of teams but it probably would have the beating of a Dublin or a Kildare.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 13/03/2010 20:15:13    587359