Ok can't wait any longer. I just want our campaign to start. Its been a long while since leaving croke park soaked to skin after watching the lowest point in my long long time supporting the royal against Armagh. Yes it was worse than against dubs as we knew what theyd bring our game plan was non existent (if we had any in first place) there was no pride , no heart, and no clue from the sideline. I said after that game that id find it very hard to get enthusiasm again for championship football, but ive put that to one side i am willing to give mod and the players the benefit of doubt for this year. Ive seen some encouraging signs that we may have improvement, but until Dublin (which if we don't get to immediate clear out is needed) we wont really know where we are. But going out at putting a big committed performance against Wicklow will set the scene for what i hope is a long long summer. Unless we do something big this year then mod will have to go of that there is no doubt. But i think we can do something and come in under radar and surprise many not just a few.

Hon the Royal.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/05/2015 12:56:32    1725448

I'm really looking forward to it aswell, no matter how despondent I feel after Meath's exit the previous year I generally feel excited again as soon as the O'Byrne cup starts but the championship, that's a different level of excitement, that's christmas morning for a child excitement and I can't wait for it either. MOD is under more pressure than any other year to get a performance out of the team that's for sure but I'd like to see the players rally together and have a proper go at reaching the AI QFs this year.

Now to deal with the Wicklow game, this will be our 3rd meeting in 3 years (4 championships) and to be fair we've seen Wicklow off after a good fight on both occasions but Wicklow are on a lower ebb this year than they were in 12 or 13, whereas we're roughly the same. So being perfectly honest I am expecting us to beat them in Navan, that's not being disrespectful but it's just how I see the game going, also I'm hoping that we can get through the championship relatively injury free.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 19/05/2015 14:24:32    1725530

Ahh yes htaem i am the same , a kid on Christmas morning:).

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/05/2015 15:14:20    1725584

id say it will be close for 45 mins then we might pull away. meath by 5 points. could be fairly bruising encounter though, hopefully no injuries. my predicttion MEATH 1-13 WICKLOW 0-11

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 687 - 19/05/2015 15:17:01    1725589

This will be all one way traffic in PT. Meath to win handy, not being disrespectful to Wicklow, but there is a gulf in class between both these teams this year. This could be very similar to last Saturday's outcome in Dr. Cullen Park. Meath despite the dissapointment of missing out on promotion are showing serious signs of improvement. Once MOD has full squad to pick from and he gets it right on the line Meath will stroll to Leinster Final and then we will find out if they are ready to mix it with the big guns again...

Greenwood (Meath) - Posts: 210 - 19/05/2015 16:44:45    1725687

Greenwood while not been either complacent or disrespectful, i tend to agree with you.
As a matter of interest what would peoples team be?? Ill post mine later on, but get to get back to work or ill be unemployed:).

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/05/2015 17:08:23    1725702

Ya can debate all ya want but if everyone fit I'd imagine the team picks itself....
POR
D Tobin, C McGill, D Keoghan
B Power, K Reilly, B Menton
A Flanagan. C Gillespie
Biggy. P Harnan A Tormey
S Bray. SOR. M Newman

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 888 - 19/05/2015 18:58:11    1725771

I'll have a go at the team RD, this is of course a very rough guess because we don't know who will be fit and also I occasionally forget some players that are currently injured, but anyway here goes:

1. POR
2. Keogan
3. McGill
4. Tobin
5. Burke
6. K Reilly
7. Menton
8. Gillepse
9. Flanagan/Rooney (I'd go with Rooney personally if fit, but Flanagan good also)
10. G Reilly
11. Harnan
12. Tormey
13. E Wallace
14. S Bray
15. M O'Sullivan/O'Rourke

Again hopefully most of these players will be available to us for the whole championship and I think MOD may prefer to keep Newman in reserve even if he is passed fit, better off not risking him unless we have to.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 19/05/2015 19:04:59    1725773

Htaem
My team would not be to far from yours would have either Dalton or Power in for Burke and think Newman might make it in. That said it's too early to attempt to guess the starting 15 will need to get club championship games done this weekend and hope all come through injury free.

Greenwood (Meath) - Posts: 210 - 19/05/2015 20:54:36    1725826

Who's gonna be on frees?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 19/05/2015 21:42:03    1725851

My team assuming all are fit

1. POR
2. Keoghan
3. McGill
4. D Tobin
5. Burke
6. K Reilly
7. Menton
8. Gillespie
9. Rooney
10. G Reilly
11. Harnan
12. Tormey
13. E Wallace
14. S Bray
15. M Newman (if fit. If not osullivan)

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 20/05/2015 08:41:26    1725875

Does it really matter what team is sent out against Wicklow-were they not the bottom of Div4. Royal perhaps you should be discussing the weekend championship matches.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 20/05/2015 09:25:40    1725897

RD

You said "Unless we do something big this year O'Dowd will have to go"

What is your definition of something big?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 20/05/2015 09:32:29    1725900

O'Sullivan lads? really??

Anyway..

POR
Keoghan
McGill
Dalton
Tobin/Power
Reilly
Menton
Rooney
Gillespie
Tormey
Harnan
Reilly
Bray
SOR
Wallace

Don't think Newman will be available,if so,I would start him ahead of SOR

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 20/05/2015 09:37:07    1725904

I'm not a huge fan of O'Sullivan myself ziggy but MOD seems to be giving him plenty of chances, I'd have him well down the pecking order but he may start, wait and see. Now I don't want to be too harsh on the lad either, I just think he needs to do a lot more from play.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 20/05/2015 10:05:37    1725922

Ziggy ,my definition of something big is progression, by that I mean win the Delaney cup or failing that go past the next round that has plagued us go too long .if he didn't succeed I too would put his position up in the air

royalpainter (Meath) - Posts: 874 - 20/05/2015 10:16:21    1725928

Colm and Eamon Brady have left the Meath set up.

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 20/05/2015 10:36:10    1725939

Very strange time of year to see changes in the management team IF the recent post is true that Colm Brady has left ?

Royal_Rover (Meath) - Posts: 72 - 20/05/2015 11:27:32    1725969

According to Martin O'Halloran Colm wished to step away at the end of last year but agreed to stay on until the end of the League. Ciaran McDonagh has now taken over in that role. O'Halloran said Brady had to step away due to increasing work commitments.

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 20/05/2015 11:46:40    1725981

Its all well and good having the team you would play down here but reality is that the decision lies with Micko and so anybody who is leaving Micky Burke out of the team is being unrealistic. Say what you want about him but he's an ever present in the team these last 3 years. He also happens to be a veteran in that backline. Micko has serious faith in him as he is the go to man for man marking the oppositions best player and he's decent on the ball too.

urizen (Meath) - Posts: 115 - 20/05/2015 12:53:18    1726022