this is a genuine question? whats going on with the u21 squad? 3 defeats? 2 of them 'hammerings' scoring one point in one game.
Im not for one second looking to blame players or management, but there is obviously a fundamental problem in meath underage?
am I missing something??

milkybar (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 17/01/2015 20:18:32    1684118

you are..

Did you see the line-ups and do you understand that they are seriously under-strength??

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 17/01/2015 20:43:06    1684126

Also there is already a thread for the U21's......

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 17/01/2015 20:43:47    1684127

Every team is seriously under-strength for the Hastings cup. Meath supporters are left to hope the returning players can perform miracles for the championship as the back up is simply not good enough.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3346 - 17/01/2015 21:03:29    1684134

GAA lover

the side did fairly well in Leinster last year,see how we do in that campaign before we judge..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 17/01/2015 21:24:28    1684140

Ah theres nothing wrong with Meath football underage. sure didnt the minor secretary or chairman say so 3 years ago when we were hammered in a minor all ireland final.

db9 (Meath) - Posts: 283 - 18/01/2015 17:13:21    1684239

Still think there is a problem with the 'conveyor belt'
The investment not only of money, but time, planning and resources are sadly lacking for meath underage. Hence very poor results at u 21. For example meath beaten today by a dublin 3rd team! And it's not the lads who play it's not managers it's the structure s or lack of that are causing us to fall so short of the mark.
And I includes ladies football in this!
We need a radical overhaul of meath underage.

milkybar (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 18/01/2015 17:31:41    1684245

milkybar

Dublin started with 7/8 players that have a reasonable chance of making their 15,Meath started with a similar number today.Saying Dublin had a 3rd team out is blind.

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 18/01/2015 17:37:31    1684248

To be fair lads we bring most of our best young lads straight to senior whether they play u21 or not. Don't think it's as important as many think and to be honest I'd say they'll have a chance in leisure against anyone but the dubs.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 18/01/2015 18:14:22    1684261

Jackgoff

Put it this way,would we prefer Rooney have played in the hastings cup on Saturday or the Dubs today...

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 18/01/2015 18:21:15    1684267

I take your jackgoff. But we're looking at problem ftom the end result not the start of the problem. Meath should be performing a lot better at all levels. And to be fair it was a dublin 3rd team, if it makes you feel better 2nd team! We need to set our sights higher, the current system does not work!!!
14 years since our last all Ireland! we're not mayo

milkybar (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 18/01/2015 18:36:20    1684278

17/01/2015 21:24:28
ziggy320001
County: Meath
Posts: 1549


the side did fairly well in Leinster last year,see how we do in that campaign before we judge..

------------------

To be fair you did fairly well in the Hasting cup last year reaching the final. Not sure what you guys were at this year but i think the Meath supporters deserve better effort than what was shown in the 3 hastings cup games this year.

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 18/01/2015 21:07:12    1684361

The u-21's should be playing in their own grade-that's what the competition is there for. There are too many u-21's being played on our senior team /squad and you will win little at senior inter county level (or indeed at club level) with a lot of 19 and 20 year olds! We do not appear to have learned very much over the past 2 years. I also think that there is too much emphasis on development squads and centre of excellence. If I am correct the two teams competing in this year All-Ireland final had no centre of excellence!

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 20/01/2015 13:16:10    1684766

Browncows , I agree about that the U21's should be playing within their own grade , allow them to develop , however after that I would have to question your point . The idea of development squads been at the crux of our current U21 issue is nonsensical , as the U17 Dev squad is last recognised age group at which a Development squad exist in Meath.
Development squads are just a label placed on Under age panels until they reach the competitive age bracket of minor . After that they are referred to as teams,
In Meath we call the extended panel at each age bracket a development squad ( till Minor) , but are we really developing them .Or is it just lip service . Spend some time in Dublin GAA circles and you will see what some counties are doing with their development squads. Go up North if you want your eyes opened . Otherwise stay on track , and smell the coffee.
The Development squad model works when done correctly , this is proven ,Unfortunately what you actually do with a Dev squad has a massive bearing on the outcome .......We do not appear to be following the recipe correctly or we are trying to cook with cheaper ingredients.

Chaisleain_Abu (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 20/01/2015 14:22:40    1684802

Harry Rooney(for example) would learn a lot more playing O'Byrne Cup against Dublin than he would playing a Hastings Cup game..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 20/01/2015 15:47:33    1684843

Chaisleain - I am very aware of what is and has been going on within the county and well aware of how development squads have progressed over the last 10 years and without much success. About smelling the coffee - silly comment enough said about that. The best player we have on the county team at present was not considered good enough by the 'experts' picking development squads - enough said about that. Most of the players on development squads will never make good county players (and not many of them will even make good club players). Most of the development occurs through the clubs and the schools where more funding should be made available. If you want to compare Dublin then perhaps you should get your facts in order. In Dublin there are paid coaches to almost every club!!!. How many are inside Meath?

Ziggy - that is a matter of opinion, however most of the good players throughout the country develop through the grades and that includes u 21. I am not sure how one compares an O'Byrne cup in January with championship football in June and July.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 20/01/2015 18:15:56    1684911

browncows

No I am saying I would rather a very good under 21 player was with the seniors and playing O'Byrne cup games,than playing in the Hastings Cup.

You will see a much stronger U21 Meath side in the Leinster.

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 20/01/2015 20:40:13    1684991

Browncows , thanks for confirming all that I had stated earlier, but in your own language , go to Dublin , see what they do , They have paid coaches galore in Dublin, my point exactly , we appear to be trying to do it on the cheap .(We don't have the cabbage, I hear you say ) ...So why blame development teams , when in truth we may only be putting labels on large panels , without following thru with resources ....We are therefore not following the model , which has proven to work from Ulster down to Dublin et al . And your comment about development teams not supplying players for the County team is a bit dis-ingenious if you look at the current County panel .Starting off with the goals keeping position right through to the forward line.
Flanagan , Rooney on Development panels , Gillespies , O Reillys , Keoghan, Wallace , Stephen Bray , Ciaran McConnell ,Newman ,Menton , McEntees have served their time on Development panels at some point, just to name a few so its you that needs to check you details/facts out.

Chaisleain_Abu (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 21/01/2015 09:04:00    1685038