Just want to kick start an interesting debate here. With the club championships back in full swing and with sunny summer football fast approaching I want to know everyone's opinion. Personally without a doubt Clonard has to be the worst club ground in the county, the best though is not so straight forward. There are really some excellent club grounds around with good dressing rooms, parking, view, pitch etc. The likes of Trim would be up there. St Pats in Stamullen, top notch, St Michaels is nice also and seems to always have a good atmosphere. What's your opinion?

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 21/04/2015 19:02:08    1716152

Kildalkey is by far the best place for hurling, unbelievable atmosphere up there when championship games played there

hill16royal (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 21/04/2015 20:06:20    1716172

Without doubt Clonard is the worst pitch, closely followed by Ardcath.

St. Pat's is probably the best pitch and setup. Ashbourne is nice obviously but the surface on the Pat's pitch is as good as you'll get.

clubm (Meath) - Posts: 87 - 21/04/2015 20:59:06    1716199

Skryne must be included in the discussion as well. Fantastic view from the balcony and tea readily served. Clonard easily the worst, how it hasn't been developed I do not know. They might need a bit of leadership at committee level? Ashbourne is majestic as well.

mclovin96 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 21/04/2015 21:26:21    1716209

Wouldn't really rate kildalkey to be honest. Dressing rooms and pitch are a long way off the best in the county, however good the atmosphere might be. Don't like seeing the likes of Trim/Ashbourne/Ratoath/pats getting a mention on a thread like this either, however good there facilities are it is not fair to compare their mega money structures to somewhere like skryne, longwood, kiltale where a lot of money and hard work from the local community built what they have, compared to being handed millions for re-zoned land.

Skryne the best for me
Clonard by far the worst

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 22/04/2015 11:53:10    1716331

Wouldn't really rate kildalkey to be honest. Dressing rooms and pitch are a long way off the best in the county, however good the atmosphere might be. Don't like seeing the likes of Trim/Ashbourne/Ratoath/pats getting a mention on a thread like this either, however good there facilities are it is not fair to compare their mega money structures to somewhere like skryne, longwood, kiltale where a lot of money and hard work from the local community built what they have, compared to being handed millions for re-zoned land.

Skryne the best for me
Clonard by far the worst

Let me assure you of one thing, Ratoath did not get millions for rezoned land, Ratoath had no land to sell or have rezoned and did not sell one square inch of the lands they bought in the 90's despite incredible pressure being applied by certain people to do so. The facilities that exist there took a lot of hard money from the community and loans, loans which the community are still helping Ratoath to pay off. Perhaps you should get your facts straight before you make such sweeping nonsensical statements like what you have here.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 22/04/2015 12:58:42    1716374

Ashbourne is a good set-up but I was there for the opening round SFC game between Dunboyne and D/B and the pitch was in very bad shape. Very surprising.
Probably a bit unfair singling clubs out, I'm sure they are doing their best to make improvements as and when is possible.

Speaking purely about surfaces, I always liked playing in Skryne, Walterstown and Dunshaughlin as the pitches were always immaculately turned out. Kilberry another one which was usually decent. Simonstown (only played on it a couple of times) was like a rock & always felt way too big - the legs were slowing up a bit then though so maybe that was the issue!

SmallHouse (Meath) - Posts: 291 - 22/04/2015 15:07:50    1716418

Walterstown another modern facility with several pitches alongside all weather 5 a side pitches. All redeveloped through the hard work of members and not through boom time sales. Great surface also on the main pitch

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 22/04/2015 15:50:24    1716432

Trim
Ratoath
Ashbourne
Dunshauglin

All lovely pitches, looking forward to when Dunshaughlin gets their buildings finished. Skryne also a nice pitch although not sure about "nicest" in the county!! St. Pats as well is vety nice.

Dunsany can't say I like playing their (when the pitch is playable) castletown im not a big fan of either, on a big hill and stand feels more like an old barn or cow shed!!!

bigstrongman (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 22/04/2015 16:11:26    1716441

Apologies Richieq, wasn't too sure about ratoath when I was typing that. They fit the boom town mold perfectly though.

Agree, Walterstowns facilities are top notch, great atmosphere there for playing and watching games.

As regards playing surfaces dunshaughlin, rathmoylain, wolf tones pitch stand in my mind as being immaculate.

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 22/04/2015 16:27:47    1716450

If your talking about surfaces you have to give Meath Hill, Kilmainhamwood and Moynalty a mention. Meath Hill one of the best surfaces in meath, like a carpet to play on during the summer

michaelhawe69 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 8 - 22/04/2015 17:23:03    1716472

Best groundsman in the county? Wide open I must say, the fabled Nobber caretaker is definitely in with a shout, not to mention "the man with the pipe" from the brews hill club.

mclovin96 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 22/04/2015 17:38:11    1716483

Agreed with the surface in Meath Hill, top notch.

If we ignore facilities, I think St. Mary's pitch is worth a mention.

clubm (Meath) - Posts: 87 - 22/04/2015 17:41:36    1716486

Good man Michael, remembering all the north meath clubs where it is definitely the community that has created them.Meath Hill I agree is a fantastic pitch, unique dressing room structure with the stairs coming down. Kilmainhamwoods pitch is massive, supposedly bigger then Croke Park. Decent dressing rooms and all weather. Moynalty's pitch is decent also. Good parking, good concrete bank and surfaces going all around the pitch

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 22/04/2015 17:42:02    1716487

kildalkey for hurling. st pats for football
ardcath is bad but clonard is terrible.

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 22/04/2015 17:44:17    1716490

ard-cat more like. Jokes aside could there not be a provision of floodlights some time soon? Are they being deprived of co.board funding?

mclovin96 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 22/04/2015 18:37:18    1716515

Worst ground in the county Pairc Tailteann. It's an absolute disgrace looks like a plowed field as for the dressing rooms and showers. There's better milking parlors in Kildalkey.

latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 520 - 22/04/2015 18:40:30    1716520

mclovin96 great shouts there, but you left out other major contenders, such as Bective and Trim. Although Trim is miles ahead in regards to facilities and the overall aesthetic aspects, Bective's grounds offer that nostalgic feeling which brings you back to a simpler time. Not to mention the main pitch's incredible drainage. Rathkenny pitch in with shout too?

undercover (Meath) - Posts: 3 - 22/04/2015 18:45:27    1716522

Undercover, Rathkenny's pitch would definitely give you the nostalgic feeling of playing on a bobbly mess from back in the 1970's, as well having to tog out on the floor because the dressing rooms could barely hold 12 lads. The only reason the pitch would have good drainage is because of the slope from the far goals down to the clubhouse. Don't know how they got so many senior games in the last few years. Must have had someone in the County Board?

michaelhawe69 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 8 - 22/04/2015 19:56:17    1716542

Overall ashbourne has the best facilities for holding championship matches. Taking into account the stand, the parking and the bar. However the pitch has been in a bad way recently but Ive heard they are re-surfacing them.

Trim closely second. Pitch always in great condition and stand also very good for to watch a match

3rd is between skryne and St pats. maybe it's the lack of championship games St pats get, but I just feel skryne create a great championship atmosphere. So it's skryne for me in 3rd

pat_custard (Meath) - Posts: 125 - 22/04/2015 21:18:28    1716567