We've been in 4 of the last 5 Leinster finals winning 1 of them. Big difference compared to 2000 - 2009.

We've a better young squad than people think. The amount of injuries we had this year was unreal.

Cain Ward could come back if he was committed enough. Flying with the club and no reason he couldn't become part of MOD's plans.

Came very close to Division 1 promotion this year and next year I reckon we'll finally get it.

It's going to be hard to get motivated to support the Royals in Leinster next year but in reality there's only 2 or 3 teams in the country that would come within an asses roar of the Dubs the way they are. So best we get behind the team for the league more than usual and take it seriously.

It's our most realistic chance of silverware and promotion to Div 1 will make a huge difference.

That's it for this year, now back to the club championship!!

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 19/08/2014 17:18:10    1638969

I think the problem with all them 'positives' Jack is that they're all nearly stories, we did get to 4 of the last 5 Leinster finals but we only won one and that one was highly contentious to say the least.

As for Cian Ward, well you never say never but I'm not convinced, he just never found any sort of consistency in a Meath jersey and there's no reason to believe that, that will change if he's brought back, better to look to the future.

As for Meath next year, I think if everybody is back fit then we really should push hard for promotion, especially with 4 home games (which I think we'll have). Leinster next year is probably a write off again, I'm not sure our lads will have the heads to take on the Dubs again after losing 3 in a row with the margins growing from 3 to 7 to 16, no progress there!!!

I wouldn't like to see too many Royals being overly positive about Meath football at the minute because we're a big county, we've had a lot of success in the not so distant past and I just don't want Meath fans to be happy with our lot at the minute. If the county board can get the funds together and put extensive new underage structures in place then hopefully we will start winning Sam again in the next decade or so but if things are allowed to stagnate then a positive outlook isn't likely.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 19/08/2014 19:28:51    1639034

In terms of our senior team, its hard to be positive, i fear we will stagbte big time if MOD does not change his back room team asap. Players like paddy gilsenan, mark collins, tobin, keogan, menton, need to be developed and improved , not led astray by the flash harrys in the set up. With proper management we could improve, but we need better and more scientific training etc. I have been informed by an insider that the video work that we currently use for example is stone age stuff compared to what bantys crew were using.

rossie72 (Roscommon) - Posts: 63 - 19/08/2014 21:31:09    1639106

Was at the u16 finals in Pairc Tailteann last night. Duleek v Kells, Skryne v Cilles. Great talent on show. Make you very positive for the future.

seasiderblues (Meath) - Posts: 343 - 20/08/2014 08:57:08    1639136

we need to get a reality check we are really far behind in terms of under age structures etc and until we sort that the gap wont be closed

royalking2011 (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 22/08/2014 12:34:52    1640412

How do you propose we get the funds to pay for roughly 100 underage development coaches? I think we currently employ between 1 and 5. It seems as if the GAA has no problem providing 1.5 million a year to Dublin for this or the sports council grant set up by Bertie many years ago.

Sadly the GAA see Dublin as their cash cow and their attempt to strengthen them has backfired and resulted in an un competitive province. We realistically have no chance of catching them unless funds are distributed equally. Don't hold your breath on that.

My post is more about were not too bad compared to the rest and see know reason why we can't get to Div 1 next year and cement ourselves as a top 6 or 7 team. That's real progress and if Dublin ever come back to the pack we'll be there waiting for them.

Nobody could challenge Kilkenny in their dominance and the problem with Dublin is they have the resources to stay at Kilkenny levels for a much longer time. I hope meath supporters realize that and start viewing the league as the competition we should be supporting the most. Even Dublin are beatable in the league and it's what we should be focusing on.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 22/08/2014 17:21:16    1640602

Jack Goff

How do you know that Dublin get 1.5mill a year from the GAA? They have a lot of sponsorship money,but surely the GAA don't give them that much?

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 22/08/2014 19:52:32    1640688

Jack I like your 1st post tahnks be to God there is someone out there without the doom and gloom. Reckon the 1-5 mill you on about is AIG money really Nautrally with Dubs winning the League and All Ireland they get a bit more of the payout than us but hardly that much. They have 64 coaches I hear We have 52 clubs if we had 10 Coaches (football) it would be a great start. I believe we are an Intermediate team playing in a Senior Championship in Leinster but we are the best Intermediate side as we are well behind the Dubs as are KIldare and Laois and then you have the Junior Sides like Carlow and Wicklow

At the moment the complaints in Offally is that too much spent on OConnor Pairc and Football and Hurling is cash strapped. It appears that Meath is going down the same route with plans on Dunganny and Pairc Tailteann.

Biggest problem is that Clubs spend between 150 to 300 a week or 600 to 1200 a month on Managers of their 1st teams most with a chance of winning shag all even if you go mid way on those figures a month over the clubs that is close to Half a millon a year. Clubs need to train up their own club people and cut out this waste of money

Turbines offered 75k a year Clubs waste 500,000 a year... seems like a no brainer to me

glenny (Meath) - Posts: 1108 - 23/08/2014 09:27:30    1640746

Glenny

Yet your post paints a poor picture! :D

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 23/08/2014 12:20:25    1640796

Jack_Goff

As matter of interest how do you know that the Gaa gives Dublin 1.5m a year and if that's the case what's the break down for the other 11 counties in Leinster? I presume the Dubs do get a bit more than the rest from sponsorship but that's only a presumption.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 23/08/2014 13:08:53    1640817

No they dont.......... I keep saying it be 2020 at the earlist before we can win anything again....

glenny (Meath) - Posts: 1108 - 23/08/2014 13:21:45    1640821

The GAA give Dublin almost as much as the other 31 counties combined and it is well over 1m. AIG their sponsors gives them substantial funds but I'm not sure of THE exact amount. The Irish Sports Council also gives them funding but again I'm not sure of the amount. I came across a figure of 1.2m but that may have been GAA plus Sports Council, however I stand to be corrected. Mind you I have no problem with them getting good funding and I wish them the best of luck in that regard. I read somewhere that most of their present team are in part-time jobs.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 23/08/2014 14:08:37    1640837

I forgot to add that the article I read stated that the GAA gave out around 2.5m in funding for counties. I would also like to say that it is good to see the GAA becoming the no.1 sport in Dublin and that is not just thru funding but the remarkable work being carried out by the various people in clubs around the city and county Jim Galvin included. Galvin is an excellent example (other counties should copy) of someone who started at, or near the bottom,came up thru the ranks, minors, u21's etc. and he never seems to get ruffled on the side line.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 23/08/2014 14:33:51    1640843

browncows

Why would he get ruffled,when Dublin are (as they would say) battering everyone. :)

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 24/08/2014 11:04:22    1641025

That's true Ziggy320001, it is always easy to look and be relaxed when your team is hammering all around you, however he keep seated on most occasions away from the side line. That differs slightly from Cody who has managed his team to many All-Ireland who does the occassional war dance on the side line.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 24/08/2014 12:06:30    1641040

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 5672

1640817
Jack_Goff

As matter of interest how do you know that the Gaa gives Dublin 1.5m a year and if that's the case what's the break down for the other 11 counties in Leinster? I presume the Dubs do get a bit more than the rest from sponsorship but that's only a presumption.

All the information is available online. Here's a link to a blog some guy wrote on the topic. Some interesting numbers in there and it's obvious that we will never compete with Dublin again unless the allocation of funds is changed.

https://veryintobloggingveryintonewmedia.wordpress.com/

"Dublin's revenue from the GAA's operating Payments to Clubs, Counties and Provinces in 2012 was €2,029,093. The total of these payments made to all counties was 10,789,770. So Dublin have received almost one-fifth of the GAA's outlay to go alongside their near €1,000,000 a year sponsorship deal."

"Most of the €2,029,093 Dublin got was for Games Development. €1,588,001 the exact figure. Let's compare that to what whole provinces got for Games Development in 2012. Ulster got €1,216,815. Connacht got €770,071. Munster got €1,126,414 and rest of Leinster outside of Dublin got a paltry €115,469. I had to double check that figure it was so laughably small compared to Dublin."

On top of that the sports council looks after them nicely. They have a massive population but if the Dubs want this unfair funding compared to other counties they need to split in two if the GAA is to have any chance of being competitive.

However even if the GAA was to distribute equal finds to all counties starting from today it would take years for most teams to come close to the dubs again. the progress they've made with the last 10 years investment is huge and they could probably sustain their current level through sponsorship and their own money alone.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 24/08/2014 12:10:43    1641042

At a total loss to understand some posters on this subject. In the Boylan years we did not have a full team of highly talented players either. We had limited resources in every way. What we DID have in abundance was ATTITUDE, SPIRIT,NEVER SAY DIE,TEAMWORK,PRIDE IN THE JERSEY,etc. What has that to do with resources??....nothing! It has everything to do with MANAGEMENT and coaching. Sadly these key elements are missing in a majority of this team, with some exceptions of course.! This poster suggests it is back to a blank sheet now. Fundamental questions have to be asked to avoid us becoming another Offaly! I hope the CB grab the nettle now ,and concentrate on WHAT is done with a panel of players rather than WHO does it !!

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1224 - 24/08/2014 12:54:59    1641058

nobull meath had a huge resource advantage in our good years compared to others. Sean Boylan had such a professional set up whether it was healing injuries, getting the team fit or having them eat the right food. We were way ahead of other teams in that respect and it was before dublin employed 100 full time coaches so we didn't need to compete in that aspect.

But yes you're right we had an incredible bunch of players but they didn't win so much with talent alone.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 24/08/2014 18:12:36    1641251

Just watched Kerry v Mayo ...Meath are way behind both these teams also. Maybe we are about 16th place at present. Both teams to day demonstrated ATTITUDE in abundance,and will to win etc. The "EXCUSE" lack of sufficient sponsorship and resources is the main reason for us going backwards seems very hollow. Yes it would have some impact, but it only serves to mask the real problem outlined in my last post...Kerry and Mayo are not too flush with resources. Looking at them playing to day it was not a major factor.. CB take note,and bite the bullet by asking serious questions to those charged with the responsibility for fitness,teamwork, attitude etc. In summary WHY did we fail so miserably under these very basic headings ??

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1224 - 24/08/2014 19:37:04    1641345

nobull

I agree with you to be fair.Fitness,teamwork and attitude need to be improved BIG TIME.

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 24/08/2014 21:02:59    1641412