Meath U14 Development Team have successful trip to Football Invitational in Newry
July 28, 2014Due to holidays and other commitments the Meath panel was weakened and so 48 Meath players along with the Management team were tasked with maintaining the momentum that has taking hold of these Meath footballers this year.
This scene is becoming quite familiar for Meath U14 Manager, Greg Carry and his Management team of Joe Treanor, Paul Nestor, and David Courtney, as this was the management team's second successful foray into Ulster football. The management team were quite confident that the Meath players in situ could continue their progressive march into the realms of inter-county development football.
A lot of praise and thanks for this invitational must go to Ger Coonery , of Carryduff GAC and the current East-Down juvenile Secretary for the invitation to play the two Down selections in the well-appointed grounds . The Meath panel on the day were in awe of the facilities as this was the first time that many of these players would have played in a regional stadium of this standard .And boy did they enjoy it.
Even though the Meath Team was slightly weakened due to holidays et al. The management team believed that the players they had selected were up for the task, and were strong enough to fulfil the four game schedule.
The format of the games were to be as follows:
Each half consisted of 20 minutes with a half time break of 10 minutes, per game. The full game consisted of forty minutes. There were meant to be four games played over a four hour period. At half time in each match the full complement of players from each team was swapped out and 15 players from each counties second team took to the field for the second half of the match. The combined results over the full game decided the winners of the match.
As is apparent when Northern teams meet Leinster teams an initial phase of getting to know you is encountered and these juvenile matches are no different. The Down selections, the Down Ógs and Down Gaels, tore into the Meath Green & Gold's from the start and were three goals up by half time, moving the ball rapidly and with menace each time they gained possession, and tackling strong but fair when required. Even though this score line looked bad at half time for the visitors, the Meath selection was only adrift due to some bad chance selection, and some near misses. The Meath Green & Gold squad came back in a disciplined and controlled way in the second half and turned around the first half deficit to win by four points, indeed stopping the Down selection from scoring in the second half altogether.
Game 1: Full time Scoreline
Down 3-0
Meath 2-7
As the evening moved on and the Meath selections adapted to the Down style of football the superior fitness and stamina began to take over and the winning margin began to increase. The obvious signs of weariness in the Down selection were apparent to all present.
Game 2: Full time Score
Down 0-9
Meath 2-10
During the scheduled 30 minute break between the second and third game, the Management teams from both sides met to discuss the options on curtailing the schedule, due to injuries and tiredness on both sides. It was decided by the two Management teams to reduce the four game schedules to three games. For the benefit of the players still playing.
The above mentioned decision was taken just in time as the superior fitness of the Meath squads took over totally and the games started to lose its competitiveness. As the third game full time score reflects.
Game 3: Full time Score
Down 0-2
Meath 7-10
At the end of the Match the Meath and Down selections all shook hands and expressed positively, how beneficial it has been for both teams to play .The visitors thanked the Down management, and Newry Shamrocks GAC for their hospitality on the day , and stated that they hoped to meet them once again on the footballing stage. With that the successful Meath team departed Parc Esler for the road trip back to Navan.
The following Meath players ( Green & Gold Selections) and Mentors travelled to the excellent Co. Down grounds of , Parc Esler in Newry on Sunday 27th of July to compete in the Inter-County U14 invitational against Down.
Carnaross - Patrick Smith, Patrick McDermott
Nobber - Jordan Morris
Castletown - Chris Dean, Paul Bellew
Gael Colmcille - Conal Courtney
Drum/Meath Hill Jack McMahon
Drum/Meath Hill Patrick Matthews
Gael Colmcille Adam Muldoon
Oldcastle Dylan Garrigan.
Simonstown Michael Gavin, Adam Ryan
Syddan Padraic Dillion,Ryan Summersby
Round Towers Ciaron Morgan ,Michael McNamee
St Olivers Joshua Lynch
Don/Ashbourne Carl Nulty,Joe Magee
Ratoath Cian Rogers
Dunboyne Gavin Finnerty, Sean Ryan, Eoin Martin
Dunshaughlin Niall Hurley,Wesley Goodwin
Kilbride Ronan O Leary
Ratoath Nathan Dunne,Rory Crawford
Skyrne Colm Doherty
St Pats Dillon Foster
Slane Ruairi Searle
Seneschalstown Dillon Keating
St Colmcilles Con Gordon Lee Brown
St Vincents Jack Byrne
Walterstown Stephen Davis
Curraha Jack O Connor
St Colmcille Lee Brown
Ballinabrackey,Sean Bannon
Bective Jack Clarke
Boardsmill Luke O Toole
Clann na nGael Ryan McManus
Na Fianna Shane Walsh,Oran Smullan
Navan O Mahonys Evan Power,Sean Fennessy
St Cuthberts Kevin Barry
Trim Aaron Lynch
Management team: Greg Carry, U14 Manager( Joint) , Paul Nestor, David Courtney , Joe Treanor, (Regional Selectors) .
Training for the Meath U14 Development panel will resume on 20th of August in Dunganny at 7.10 PM Sharp . Tweet
