Meath Forum

Tailteann Cup

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Replying To hyperache:  "Tipperary and Waterford is a good opportunity to build momentum, we shouldn't be slipping up in either game. The neutral game against Down, likely to be in Clones or Breffni Pk I'd imagine should be the group winner decider.

Down going to Thurles is no gimme either, they won there by 3 in the opening round of the league so not a certainty they go there an win. But they looked very strong against albeit a feeble Donegal side, so Meath will certainly need a massive improvement from what we've seen thus far to win that game."
The Down game could be in Armagh either (Id prefer there than Clones) as was our league game with them in 2021

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6345 - 03/05/2023 13:18:54    2475394

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Replying To Jinxie:  "The Down game could be in Armagh either (Id prefer there than Clones) as was our league game with them in 2021"
I fully expect Meath to win these 3 games with Down presenting the biggest challenge. Yes we will have to improve to win all 3. That is what we are about now anyway ...improvement ! What cup we are playing for is just incidental anyway. We are where we are ,and those with the honour of representing Meath have to rise to the challenge . Management i assume have done a soul searching as needed. If not then we have a really big problem. Colm O Rourkes statement "we are where we deserve to be " fits nicely. Thats says everything . No excuses. ! Everything should be in place to deliver on improvement . To me at least means reaching the final in this.. Not prepared to accept anything less . I totally support all concerned in their efforts to show real improvement. I still believe COR will leave no stone unturned to bring us back to where we SHOULD be .a lot better than where we have been for the last 20 years We have all the ingredients .....admission about our current status....poor......we have accepted that from the manager.....who is well capable of learning......Now time to deliver ...not on winning all ireland this year of course ,but on delivering big improvement in the next 6 matches.BEST of luck to all in MAKING our own luck.

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1228 - 03/05/2023 14:46:20    2475433

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Replying To Meathfor@life:  "Ah yes because there's so much to be positive about this team"
My I suggest you change your profile name because it certainly doesn't match your comments

mmc (Meath) - Posts: 268 - 03/05/2023 15:04:59    2475438

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Replying To nobull456:  "I fully expect Meath to win these 3 games with Down presenting the biggest challenge. Yes we will have to improve to win all 3. That is what we are about now anyway ...improvement ! What cup we are playing for is just incidental anyway. We are where we are ,and those with the honour of representing Meath have to rise to the challenge . Management i assume have done a soul searching as needed. If not then we have a really big problem. Colm O Rourkes statement "we are where we deserve to be " fits nicely. Thats says everything . No excuses. ! Everything should be in place to deliver on improvement . To me at least means reaching the final in this.. Not prepared to accept anything less . I totally support all concerned in their efforts to show real improvement. I still believe COR will leave no stone unturned to bring us back to where we SHOULD be .a lot better than where we have been for the last 20 years We have all the ingredients .....admission about our current status....poor......we have accepted that from the manager.....who is well capable of learning......Now time to deliver ...not on winning all ireland this year of course ,but on delivering big improvement in the next 6 matches.BEST of luck to all in MAKING our own luck."
Down will be the biggest test, still hopeful of three wins. As you say biggest step is admitting where we stand and taking it from there. Leave the past and people stuck in it behind. Meath have a chance to change things for the better and looking back has done us little good. Last time we won a minor competition supplied the building blocks for the great times that followed. When COR got the job he gave ( me anyway) impression that he had someone else lined up to add to coaching ticket, however, for what ever reason it never came to pass. So might see an addition during summer. Glad to see him backing his players and not looking to lay the blame at their door and loyality is a two way street so expect players to give it their all and see where it takes us.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2152 - 03/05/2023 16:10:51    2475466

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Replying To seadog54:  "Down will be the biggest test, still hopeful of three wins. As you say biggest step is admitting where we stand and taking it from there. Leave the past and people stuck in it behind. Meath have a chance to change things for the better and looking back has done us little good. Last time we won a minor competition supplied the building blocks for the great times that followed. When COR got the job he gave ( me anyway) impression that he had someone else lined up to add to coaching ticket, however, for what ever reason it never came to pass. So might see an addition during summer. Glad to see him backing his players and not looking to lay the blame at their door and loyality is a two way street so expect players to give it their all and see where it takes us."
Well seadog, you say he his backing his players and not laying blame at them, I'd ask why?Why not?COR in my opinion needs to take responsibility and the team need to take responsibility as well.Lets be honest it's been a poor year.We started off believing we could get to division 1 or at least fight for it and ended up scraping survival in Divison 2.We had the easier side of the draw in Leinster and bang gone at the first hurdle.COR (again in my opinion)should come out and say it's not good enough to be in the TC.We should be better but instead says we are were we are and Meath people need to realise we dont have a great team anymore.That to me says we had no belief really in ourselves.Its not been arrogant but we should strive for much better and that comes and starts from the top.Not blaming it all on COR either the players need to take a look at themselves lafs kicking the ball over the sidelines under no pressure,silly potshots from stupid angles,standing yards off their men, silly lose passes etc.We should be thinking we are better than the TC abnd aiming alot higher.Thats not knocking the TC but its believing we can be better.Yes we are in the TC now and must embrace it and really should aim to win it.I personally think if we dont get to at least a semi final/final serious questions need to asked.Thats if we take it seriously.We are playing in a higher grade than everyone bar Limerick and that should stand to us Yes he needs time of course but this TC campain will really show COR and the team where they are at?There can be no hiding now behind ah that team is better than us if what many on here view is our level then we have to produce the goods and no excuses.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 258 - 03/05/2023 17:48:07    2475504

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RESPONSES TO WHERE WE ARE NOW ! To me for COR to say "we are where we deserve to be " is an honest and accurate view from the manager. Even against the background of our poor standards for the last 20 years at least. We were playing in the Tailteann cup before it was born lets be honest. We will not go anywhere without big improvement . Rome was not built in a day .I do believe we will get that improvement under Colm .NOBODY is happy with our current status including Colm . I fully expect to now see a much stronger backroom team to ASSIST players in developing to their potential. I do believe players who dont take responsibility for the push to improve standards will be de selected and rightly so regardless. The 20 year old chickens have come home to roost. Their will be no room for roosters now. Dont know anthing about what COR is adjusting to up the standards .His admission of recognition of our poor status and thus no progress will do for NOW. I do believe that staus of poor will change ,quickly and even say the the Tailteann cup will serve as a useful vehicle for development from where we are at. I admit i never thought i would say that ! Colm said 2 years and thats ok. We wont have to hunt him out if the desired improvement is not reached then ,and rightly so He will go himself . Meanwhile no doubt as he would know he will continue to get "feedback" from supporters . We all know we want to see better times,and we will attempt to be fully supportive by way of offering constructive feedback for his efforts I give him 100% support for his 2 years. Of course he will make mistakes but my banker is that COR will learn from mistakes quicker than anybody else Then of course we also have to remember only a few months ago no other suitable person was available or wanted the job

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1228 - 04/05/2023 17:38:21    2475762

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Replying To Proudroyal:  "Well seadog, you say he his backing his players and not laying blame at them, I'd ask why?Why not?COR in my opinion needs to take responsibility and the team need to take responsibility as well.Lets be honest it's been a poor year.We started off believing we could get to division 1 or at least fight for it and ended up scraping survival in Divison 2.We had the easier side of the draw in Leinster and bang gone at the first hurdle.COR (again in my opinion)should come out and say it's not good enough to be in the TC.We should be better but instead says we are were we are and Meath people need to realise we dont have a great team anymore.That to me says we had no belief really in ourselves.Its not been arrogant but we should strive for much better and that comes and starts from the top.Not blaming it all on COR either the players need to take a look at themselves lafs kicking the ball over the sidelines under no pressure,silly potshots from stupid angles,standing yards off their men, silly lose passes etc.We should be thinking we are better than the TC abnd aiming alot higher.Thats not knocking the TC but its believing we can be better.Yes we are in the TC now and must embrace it and really should aim to win it.I personally think if we dont get to at least a semi final/final serious questions need to asked.Thats if we take it seriously.We are playing in a higher grade than everyone bar Limerick and that should stand to us Yes he needs time of course but this TC campain will really show COR and the team where they are at?There can be no hiding now behind ah that team is better than us if what many on here view is our level then we have to produce the goods and no excuses."
Agree with some of your post, however, we keep saying its a young inexperienced panel that require some time playing together before we see results, so woild be counter productive to start laying blame at their feet at this stage, especially in public. Behind the scene it would appear a different story is playing out, some players sent back to clubs and others rewarded for effort. Players are aware if effort is put in there is a pathway back as seen with return of James Mac. Few if any expected a return to Div One, would have been some achievement when you look back at what was on display last year. Thinking we are better than othets is partly reason we find ourselves in TC. Before you can move forward you have to be honest and admit shortcomings and at long last we realise this. We have beem playing at a higher grade, but mainly scraping by and I would be slow to dismiss any team at this stage. I dont agree management are hiding behind anything, just telling it as it is and some find the truth hard to swallow. I think we will do well in TC and hopefully go all the way, but its far from certain at this stage.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2152 - 05/05/2023 13:17:39    2475900

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Replying To seadog54:  "Agree with some of your post, however, we keep saying its a young inexperienced panel that require some time playing together before we see results, so woild be counter productive to start laying blame at their feet at this stage, especially in public. Behind the scene it would appear a different story is playing out, some players sent back to clubs and others rewarded for effort. Players are aware if effort is put in there is a pathway back as seen with return of James Mac. Few if any expected a return to Div One, would have been some achievement when you look back at what was on display last year. Thinking we are better than othets is partly reason we find ourselves in TC. Before you can move forward you have to be honest and admit shortcomings and at long last we realise this. We have beem playing at a higher grade, but mainly scraping by and I would be slow to dismiss any team at this stage. I dont agree management are hiding behind anything, just telling it as it is and some find the truth hard to swallow. I think we will do well in TC and hopefully go all the way, but its far from certain at this stage."
Yes it is a young side and of course they need time to develop but you cant wrapped them up in cotton wool either and shield them from criticism and I mean constructive criticism not running lads down but give them a few home truths.Our performances have been poor apart from the Cork game,parts of the Clare and Louth games the rest has been very sub standard.I take your point that maybe its happening behind closed doors and not in public, certainly hope it is.Maybe COR should've come our and took full blame(in public) for it hence take the pressure off the young lads like some managers do.I think by saying we are were we are while honest actually made more headlines and put more pressure on.Yes few expected to get up to division 1 but after beating Cork away and Clare at home most people (well me anyway )were thinking if we could beat Louth at home and Limerick away we go in v Dublin with a chance of promotion in a bouncing Navan.I think that game would have been different and not over after 10 mins.Thinking we are better than others is not the same as believing we are better than others.what I mean is believing means hard work,togetherness, smart thinking,taking the right options,etc while thinking it means we turn up and say we are Meath we will beat these.I suppose what I'm saying is we should be (players)more confident in themselves and believing they are as good if not better than the opponents.I know that's not easy to fix after some beatings we took and certainly not blaming COR as this mentality has been going on for 10 years or so.But it has to come from the top,Its the management team job to big the players up but the players have to back that up by hard work etc. its in all successful teams hard work, belief and luck.Yes, if I'm honest I find it hard to swallow we are in the TC as I believe we can do much better than we have shown.I believe we have some very good players but just lack confidence and arent showing their true worth.Hopefully as you say we can get a run in the TC and we get a few wins,get confidence and lads can see they can play alot better than they have been.We shouldn't be doom and gloom about things.We have fine young footballers in this county as good as most counties but it's about them having the confidence to show it.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 258 - 06/05/2023 09:06:24    2476018

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Replying To Jinxie:  "We wont win nothing.... So you reckon we will win it?.. ;-)"
Hehe

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/05/2023 12:05:02    2476051

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Replying To ASaminthehand:  "If we don't beat Tipperary (and I'm half Tipp myself!!) and Waterford then things are worse that I thought!!"
It's 50/50.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/05/2023 12:06:52    2476053

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Replying To Jinxie:  "Kinda same boat myself. Probably around semi final level is where I'd see us sit at the minute.
Whether a few wins on the way to a semi final would bring confidence on enough to go any further is another question..."
Highly unlikely I would think. We should be winning it but at the moment confidence is so low , and player buy in is non existent. Maybe that has changed since Offaly game.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/05/2023 14:09:38    2476083

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Listening to Cora Staunton on newstalk today she was talking about Sligo and how playing in Sam will bring them on. She mentioned Meath situation and how they'd love to be playing in it instead of this. Hard to disagree with her

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/05/2023 15:26:51    2476103

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Replying To royaldunne:  "Highly unlikely I would think. We should be winning it but at the moment confidence is so low , and player buy in is non existent. Maybe that has changed since Offaly game."
This whole thing of player buy in? What does that actually mean!!!
I can't blame the players - they have all committed so much and continue to train 4 times a week! They follow diet and nutrition plans etc…
So I don't believe buy in from that perspective is an issue!
If you mean buy in to what the management team are bringing to the show - that's a different thing!
The commitment from the players is amazing as amateur lads - personally I couldn't do it - especially if I felt the management were on a different page!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 482 - 06/05/2023 16:12:40    2476109

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "This whole thing of player buy in? What does that actually mean!!!
I can't blame the players - they have all committed so much and continue to train 4 times a week! They follow diet and nutrition plans etc…
So I don't believe buy in from that perspective is an issue!
If you mean buy in to what the management team are bringing to the show - that's a different thing!
The commitment from the players is amazing as amateur lads - personally I couldn't do it - especially if I felt the management were on a different page!"
Pay no heed to RD, he just comes here now to peddle his agenda.....no-one wants to be where we are now, and we can all see whats happening with our own eyes, but he's getting tiresome at this stage.

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 892 - 06/05/2023 16:48:46    2476116

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "This whole thing of player buy in? What does that actually mean!!!
I can't blame the players - they have all committed so much and continue to train 4 times a week! They follow diet and nutrition plans etc…
So I don't believe buy in from that perspective is an issue!
If you mean buy in to what the management team are bringing to the show - that's a different thing!
The commitment from the players is amazing as amateur lads - personally I couldn't do it - especially if I felt the management were on a different page!"
Sorry yes should have made that clear. It's what the manager is bringing to the table that I don't believe they are buying into.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/05/2023 18:16:50    2476127

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Replying To southmeathgael:  "Pay no heed to RD, he just comes here now to peddle his agenda.....no-one wants to be where we are now, and we can all see whats happening with our own eyes, but he's getting tiresome at this stage."
Royalbull just pointed out what I was saying. Not one player is buying what management are selling. And that's why we are where we are. But I don't hold the players responsible. I hold the persons in charge. And those who put them there.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 06/05/2023 18:18:41    2476129

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Replying To Royalblufill:  "This whole thing of player buy in? What does that actually mean!!!
I can't blame the players - they have all committed so much and continue to train 4 times a week! They follow diet and nutrition plans etc…
So I don't believe buy in from that perspective is an issue!
If you mean buy in to what the management team are bringing to the show - that's a different thing!
The commitment from the players is amazing as amateur lads - personally I couldn't do it - especially if I felt the management were on a different page!"
Do yourself a favour, don't read his posts and don't interact with him. Just skip past his posts. Much more enjoyable forum that way.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1320 - 06/05/2023 21:19:48    2476191

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Replying To Crinigan:  "Do yourself a favour, don't read his posts and don't interact with him. Just skip past his posts. Much more enjoyable forum that way."
Yeah I did that with u. And it's much more enjoyable. I prefer to converse with those who know what they talking about.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/05/2023 10:19:58    2476290

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out of interest, what would you guys consider a successful run in the Tailteann Cup?

For me, I think a last 4 finish would be progress at the moment. Ideally win it - but if not then at least clear the group and win one knockout game.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 589 - 07/05/2023 10:59:41    2476292

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We're in the wrong competition…. But we won't beat teams in the wrong competition….
We have the players… but they're mismanaged

Honestly RD tells us all how we're going to get out of this… you've all the questions but never provide a reasonable or even substandard proposal or solution… and you laugh and ridicule those that do put forward some kind of solutions… you're just like the county board… if we say we're Meath long enough surely it'll just right itself… and then complain when it doesn't… and throw your arms in the air…

Agh we'll get in Eamonn Fitzmaurice…. That'll solve it…. No it won't for a myriad of reasons… 1) he along with many others aren't interested in the Meath job 2) he and plenty of others know Meath is a nothing county that's soft, doesn't fight and lack basic skills 3) the team has no leaders even amongst those you claim are the leaders.. bar Donal keoghan there's not one of our so called leaders I'd go to war for including those not there.. 4) the team lacks any kind of intelligence and has dating back years, can't handle pressure, can't make proper in game decisions, can't make changes in game when needed 5) team lacks the basic strength and conditioning required for the modern game for several years… why would any man with a young family want to travel 8-10 hours multiple times a week to oversee that…

You tell us the players aren't to blame and they're not buying what's being sold by management… but yet they all loved Andy… well I hate to burst your wee bubble the players weren't buying or selling what Andy sold in 21 and 22 either… so the root of it is the players.. they're the ones going out there and playing.. and losing matches and that's the plain truth… btw not a fact… that's my opinion… and opinions are not a fact… no matter how many time you tell yourself your opinions are facts… or are you Rafa Benitez

No manager of any standing would be interested in taking that over… look at the candidates for the role after Andy… Bernard Flynn was it… and then O'Rourke was suddenly appointed… there was no lineup of stellar lads with inter county experience looking to take it on. Malachy O'Rourke, Jim Gavin, Jimmy McGuinness, Banty, James Mccartan, Paul Clarke, Paul Curran, Davy Byrne, Davy Burke all out there and not interested or not considered good enough for Meath…

As soon as O'Rourke was appointed you were whinging… yet you didn't want Flynn either… so come on RD realistically who was going to the right appointment for you now the Fitzmaurice myth is burst…

Many on here know the path back is going to be long and hard walked, some realised it before the season and spoke about it … to be ridiculed by you… those of us who said we might be better suited to a TC this year are simply acknowledging now that we made a fair and reasoned assessment whilst you're still throwing your hands in the air… but best of luck to you

This is our reality now with Meath, we're not a top 16 team in the country and need to work on rebuilding things from here, that starts in Pairc Tailteann v Tipperary next weekend

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1955 - 07/05/2023 12:06:08    2476322

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