Well now that the dust has settled on a fabulous week for meath hurling what people opinion on the club scene. Group A certainly looks the tougher with kildalkey and kilmessan prob taking the top 2 spot and the last spot could be anyones but will prob come down to between trim and killyon. Group b certsinly seems more straight forward with kilrale and dunboyne to breeze through it third spot coming down to boardsmill and blackhall.
As for the first round my predictions are
Killyon v Longwood. Big derby here killyon seem to be performing better in league and should prob sneak this one by 3
Kildalkey v Trim. This should be the tie of the round but I have a feeling kildaley could win this one with a bit to spare kildalkey by 7
Kiltale v Dunderry. Damage limitation here if dunderry can keep it respectable they be happy. Kiltale by 15
Kilmessan v Navan. Kilmessan should take this one with a bit to spare. Kilmessan by 10
Blackhall v Clan na gael. Could be tight enuf but blackhall should have enough in the bag to win this one. blackhall by 6
Dunboyne v Boardsmill. This could be a tricky one for Dunboyne but they should prevail. Dunboyne by 5

Flyingd (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 28/06/2016 19:23:15    1873497

Killyon v Longwood - This will be close but I think Killyon will sneak a very low scoring game as Longwood will pack defence.
Kildalkey v Trim - Again this will be close but I think Trim by 2 or 3 as Kildalkey short a few
Kiltale v Dunderry - Kiltale easily
Kilmessan v Navan - Kilmesan with a bit to spare, Navan will struggle to pick anything up this year in the group
Blackhall v Athboy - Blackhall easily
Dunboyne v Boardsmill - Dunboyne easily. Boardsmill like Athboy and Dunderry will be battling it out for the 1 win between the 3 of them that should keep them up.

toon (Meath) - Posts: 247 - 29/06/2016 11:49:17    1873722

Killyon v Longwood - Cant see anything but a comfortable Killyon win. By at least 5 points
Kildalkey v Trim - Should be a tight game as everyone has said previously but can see trim edging it by a couple of scores. toon who are kildalkey short
Kiltale v Dunderry - Kiltale without getting out of first gear
Kilmessan v Navan - Kilmesan , Navan to go down
Blackhall v Athboy - Blackhall should have enough quality to fend off an organised athboy
Dunboyne v Boardsmill - Dunboyne should run up a big score as they normally do in group stages only to come undone later in comp. Boardsmill should have enough to pick up valuable points in other games.

Irish_downunder (Meath) - Posts: 630 - 30/06/2016 10:04:31    1874130

Was in navan last night
Kildalkey looked impressive without some of their big names they might push kiltale this year along with kilmessan
As for trim very poor
Only for toher frees they would barely be on scoreboard
Their discipline is very wavey also. They love to argue with the ref
They will struggle to qualify out of group

umpireview (Meath) - Posts: 55 - 02/07/2016 14:46:41    1875018

Was in Navan the other night..
Trim are very reliant on Toher.. Talk of Trim as a young team going places has failed to materialise.
Kildalkey will definitely make the semi final stage on the back of that win.. The competitive group will stand to them. Kilmessan and themselves are the only 2 teams that can trouble Kiltale
1 has to question the structure of the championship in Meath. Total miss matches in Kiltale's group. Championship Hurling will thrive when it's reduced to 8 teams.. (Like they did with the leagues)

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 03/07/2016 18:24:44    1875528

Wedgie (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 03/07/2016 18:56:14    1875543

I think amalgamation is the way to go to see an improvement in the current Championship structure particularly in the duel clubs that often fail to field a decent hurling team. Instead of having two average clubs competing against the top Hurling clubs you'd get one decent side made up of the best players from both clubs.

Wedgie (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 03/07/2016 19:00:36    1875546

Difficult to go down the amalgamation route with so many dual clubs
Even the hurling clubs are feeding football
Take kilmessan for instance
Dunsany skryne feed off
Not to mention summerhill feed off kiltale rathmolyon
I do agree on an 8 team championship
Some teams in senior grade would struggle in intermediate
That game on Friday night will do very little for kiltale
A more competitive championship would only improve our hurling so we too can make strides like the noisy neighbours (only joking) but surely it's a valid point

umpireview (Meath) - Posts: 55 - 03/07/2016 22:49:08    1875731

I don't think amalgamations/group teams/regional teams are the way to go, we just don't have the numbers. On top of this, the hurling area is so close in the county clubs are just too proud to give away their identity (a good thing in my opinion).

But we really need to reduce the number of teams, 8 team championships would be brilliant. Continue this down through Intermediate, Junior, Junior B. I'm not a fan of a group format in championships either. Would much prefer a double elimination format (same as Christy Ring). Two defeats and you are out. Would really help tidy up the fixtures too, could definitely run a championship like that in 10 weeks, even allowing for football fixtures too. Also would be great to get a bit of a buzz back to hurling games early in the championship. Imagine the crowd and atmosphere between two of the top teams with the loser knowing they are out. I think it would have the knock on effect of improving the standard too, which could only help the county team.

hurlingroyals (Meath) - Posts: 45 - 04/07/2016 09:04:31    1875816

I don't think there's much wrong with the current structure to be fair. It's just the way the draw played out this year means that Dunboyne and Kiltale will hammer all around the in groub B. Last year the group games were all well contested. Maybe we could look at seeding teams based on their performances the previous year. The current structure (same as the football) maximises the number of games, and therefore maximises the €'s, if my maths is correct there'll be at least 35 games in this years senior hurling championship, all stand alone fixtures with good attendances. Sacrificing €'s for the good of the small ball doesn't seem likely.

As expected in the first round of games at the weekend. Very disappointed with Trim against a Kildalkey team short big names, lot of hurling to be played still, wouldn't be writing them off.

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 04/07/2016 11:07:56    1875907

There's no doubt the championship needs to be changed. In fairness there is/was a plan to alter the system but its required straight away. there are too many teams not to the standard be it ability or poor preparation or dual issue. A Senior A and Senior B system comprising of 7 teams could be the way forward. Senior A: Kiltale Dunboyne, Kilmessan ,Kildalkey, Killyon,Trim, Longwood all playing each other once with 1v4 and 2v3 semifinal, bottom 2 in relegation play off.
Senior B: BHG, Dunderry, NOM, Boardsmill, Clann Na nGael, Na Fianna, Rathmoylon Same format as above.
Intermediate: Wolfe Tones, Ratoath, Drumree, Kells/Moylagh Don/Ash, Dunboyne & Kildalkey Same format as above
JHC altered to suit.
I think such a system will have teams playing at their competitive level thus improving the quality of matches and avoiding the type of hammerings being given to the weaker teams. No good for the like of dunderry to take a hiding from kiltale and nothing gained by kiltale either. After the heroics of the christy ring I think its time to strike for hurling and improve our competitions with the greater goal of improving the standards overall.

leftnright (Meath) - Posts: 30 - 04/07/2016 11:16:56    1875914

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 04/07/2016 14:50:30    1876119

goosey (Meath) - Posts: 60 - 04/07/2016 16:14:21    1876188

Irish_downunder (Meath) - Posts: 630 - 04/07/2016 16:19:39    1876194

Hurling Champ Round 2 Perdictions:
Kiltale v Dunboyne: Kiltale will be just too strong, will take a good team to stop them. Kiltale by 9pts.
Dunderry v Blackhall: two very poor teams. Morris, Whitty and Meyler should see BHG through. Blackhall by 4pts.
Boardsmill v Clann na nGael: another two teams that are not Senior level, Boardsmill to shade it just. Boardsmill by 1pt.
Kilmessan v Longwood: Looking forward to this game, Longwood have to repeat performance v Killyon and they could ask Kilmessan questions, expect Kilmessan big name players like Clynch, Marsh and Reilly to pull them through. Kilmessan by 4pts.
Kildalkey v Killyon: Killyon poor v Longwood and will come out firing in this Derby clash, Kildalkey were comfortable v Trim and look like only team to stop Kiltale. Gannon and Keoghan are good players and will test them but Kildalkey will just have too much for them if Doran, Conneely and Kearney get good supply. Kildalkey by 3pts.
Trim v Navan O'Mahonys: Trim poor first day out and big players like Toher, Douglas and Heffernan never showed up. Navan did ok v Kilmessan considering conceding 3 first half goals. If they start will then Trim might struggle. Expect a Trim backlash tho. Trim by 3pts.

Redsalltheway (Meath) - Posts: 116 - 11/07/2016 17:29:25    1881143

When Kiltale beat Dunboyne, they are guranteed a county semi final at the end of september. The pick of Athboy Boardsmill and Blackhall would struggle to beat them. It must be hard for kiltale Management to motivate their players early on in the year when they know they are in a semi final.
The battle for 3rd spot in this group really heats up this weekend. You would imagine, whoever finishes third, will still struggle against 2nd place in the tougher group.

The tougher group has some interesting battles. Longwood shouldn't be written off against Kilmessan, but you would imagine Kilmessan will come through.
Trim's disappointing display in the 1st rounnd shouldn't stop them from getting over a plucky Navan side. Navan are missing scoring forwards which Trim are certainly not lacking. Killyon and Kildalkey is the tie of the round. Kildalkey easily dispatched Trim. Killyon struggled against Longwood. This local derby will be a close game for long periods but you would have to feel Kildalkey will pull through eventually.

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 12/07/2016 15:30:12    1881914

Round 2
Kiltale v Dunboyne: Could be closer than people think. Dunboyne should be really up for this one, great chance to catch kiltale on the hop. If Kiltale play to their potential only one winner though.
Dunderry v Blackhall: Irrelevant
Boardsmill v Clann na nGael: Irrelevant
Kilmessan v Longwood: Kilmessan will have enough to win this. Longwood showing signs of getting back to their 2013 form with great first round win performance v a strong Kilyon side. Lynch and Anthony Healey are two big losses. If they can be in contention come knockouts and get them two back they could have a big say this year.
Kildalkey v Killyon: Must win for Kilyon. makings of a great game. never much in it when these two meet. Kildalkey by 2.
Trim v Navan O'Mahonys: trim need to get the finger out. Nothing but a convincing win will do.

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 13/07/2016 09:34:28    1882329

sam1996 (Meath) - Posts: 436 - 13/07/2016 10:23:10    1882367

how are dunderry the most competitive rural dual club? or even close?
have you forgot moynalvey / kiltale? by far the most competitive dual club
since when was competitive been beating by 30 points in hurling and been stuck in intermediate football ?
its great underage work is been done but that does not give you a right to be a senior club untill these kids arrive

needs to be 4 teams removed from the senior grade asap oe at least 2, 1 group of 8 teams would improve the standard no end
its going on too long now, really awfull teams getting beat by 30 points is no good for anybody
or if people insist on leaving it the same then seed the draw
makes no sense have such unfair groups

hurlit (Meath) - Posts: 415 - 13/07/2016 11:05:05    1882399

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 13/07/2016 11:25:13    1882414