Meath Forum

Meath 2026

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Replying To Holymoly#6:  "To be fair, i agree totally and the bench is in good nick, but we're still crying out for that one fella you can unleash on a danger man and tell him, "don't let him breathe." The proper glue-type marker. At the minute, Rafferty is probably our best bet, but he's busy minding the house at the back. Hard to be a shadow and hold the fort at the same time"
Ronan Ryan is probably the closest player I've seen at that level of man marking. Brazil and Wyer from Ratoath are solid at club level but not sure if they will make the step up.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 463 - 29/01/2026 14:42:00    2653918

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "Ronan Ryan is probably the closest player I've seen at that level of man marking. Brazil and Wyer from Ratoath are solid at club level but not sure if they will make the step up."
I agree. I don't think that Rafferty is at that level. McGuigan had a lot of free rein the last day and also a few other players we faced across the championship last year. I think further out he's the man for it but that close to goal I'd back Ryan to do a job. Wyer from ratoath was also solid at that job too

Royalroyal97 (Meath) - Posts: 18 - 29/01/2026 15:06:36    2653925

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Replying To Royalroyal97:  "I agree. I don't think that Rafferty is at that level. McGuigan had a lot of free rein the last day and also a few other players we faced across the championship last year. I think further out he's the man for it but that close to goal I'd back Ryan to do a job. Wyer from ratoath was also solid at that job too"
Ben Wyer is a really 'sticky' back but I believe he's unavailable anyway due to work commitments! Ronan Ryan came on - and even though it was only for a few minutes he looked very strong and one a free after been given a bit of a hospital ball!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 540 - 29/01/2026 16:07:48    2653937

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Replying To contributingtoamelee:  "Had a set back with his hamstring, probably won't see him for the rest of the league."
Anyone know the makeup of the other 10 players that complete the 36 man panel on top of the 26 named last week for the league opener? Is Jack Kinlough far away from match action?

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 906 - 29/01/2026 19:42:50    2653958

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Replying To contributingtoamelee:  "Had a set back with his hamstring, probably won't see him for the rest of the league."
Such a shame I would love to see a full strength squad for four fives games it would be hard to tell what way Brennan would go but I do think squad wise we've been blessed this year with the amount of lads available.

I was listening to Cyril Farrell speaking about his time in hurling on a podcast recently, in light of his Laochra Gael feature, and he made a really valid point. Ultimately, it's the manager's job to get the best players on the pitch when it matters most. At this stage, Jones probably falls into that category of minding his minutes. He's a freak athlete and someone you'd trust to get himself right for the summer. Because of that, I'd argue his future league involvement in followings seasons should be minimal. We need 40 mins x 5-6 summer games from jones.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 29/01/2026 21:07:56    2653962

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Replying To Royalroyal97:  "I agree. I don't think that Rafferty is at that level. McGuigan had a lot of free rein the last day and also a few other players we faced across the championship last year. I think further out he's the man for it but that close to goal I'd back Ryan to do a job. Wyer from ratoath was also solid at that job too"
Sean Rafferty didn't mark Mcguigan. He marked Niall Toner. Mcguigan played at 11

Points76 (Meath) - Posts: 58 - 30/01/2026 00:15:10    2653977

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Replying To Points76:  "Sean Rafferty didn't mark Mcguigan. He marked Niall Toner. Mcguigan played at 11"
He was on him for parts of the game and got turned a few times from him. I just think we give away goal chances and need to get stronger in our FB line and minding the middle channel better.

Royalroyal97 (Meath) - Posts: 18 - 30/01/2026 09:02:35    2653987

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Any word on the team news?

Dunshaughlin4keegan (Meath) - Posts: 23 - 30/01/2026 09:17:23    2653993

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Replying To Dunshaughlin4keegan:  "Any word on the team news?"
There does not seem to be any obligation to provide an accurate team sheet. Meath might release something but its borderline irrelevant

Coylesrighthand (Meath) - Posts: 33 - 30/01/2026 10:24:44    2654012

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Anyone know the makeup of the other 10 players that complete the 36 man panel on top of the 26 named last week for the league opener? Is Jack Kinlough far away from match action?"
No official panel so a bit of guess work. Hickey, Curtis, Gray, Kinlough and Jones are injured so that's 5. And then I'd imagine guys that played O'Byrne cup like Daithi McGowan, Diarmuid Moriarty, James McEntee, Cillian O'Sullivan, Ross Ryan, Rian McConnell, Niall Finnerty. I'd say we're probably carrying a panel bigger than 36

LeitrimRoyal99 (Meath) - Posts: 1575 - 30/01/2026 13:24:25    2654052

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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99:  "No official panel so a bit of guess work. Hickey, Curtis, Gray, Kinlough and Jones are injured so that's 5. And then I'd imagine guys that played O'Byrne cup like Daithi McGowan, Diarmuid Moriarty, James McEntee, Cillian O'Sullivan, Ross Ryan, Rian McConnell, Niall Finnerty. I'd say we're probably carrying a panel bigger than 36"
What is Gray, Curtis and Hickey injuries status?

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 906 - 30/01/2026 16:15:16    2654071

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Replying To LeitrimRoyal99:  "No official panel so a bit of guess work. Hickey, Curtis, Gray, Kinlough and Jones are injured so that's 5. And then I'd imagine guys that played O'Byrne cup like Daithi McGowan, Diarmuid Moriarty, James McEntee, Cillian O'Sullivan, Ross Ryan, Rian McConnell, Niall Finnerty. I'd say we're probably carrying a panel bigger than 36"
Would Liam Kelly get a look in? Playing Sigerson with UCD

MeathAbroad (Meath) - Posts: 174 - 30/01/2026 18:48:44    2654086

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We are going well. No need to be criticising players. Everyone has their own opinion on certain players performances but that's no good for anyone's confidence. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on here, rightly so. But do think the forum can be a bad thing for lads confidence wise and certain posters should calm down abit.

We made an all ireland semi final last year. Did anyone think that would happen when robbie was first coming in, No. Robbie has the team in a good way and lads are playing well. He has installed belief and trust into these lads partially younger lads who needed it. We just bet derry. A team who won a div1 NFL in 2024 and hopefully we can get behind the players install more belief and trust into our team and a win in cavan Sunday!

Points76 (Meath) - Posts: 58 - 30/01/2026 19:10:41    2654088

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Replying To Holymoly#6:  "To be fair, i agree totally and the bench is in good nick, but we're still crying out for that one fella you can unleash on a danger man and tell him, "don't let him breathe." The proper glue-type marker. At the minute, Rafferty is probably our best bet, but he's busy minding the house at the back. Hard to be a shadow and hold the fort at the same time"
Just seen a few messages on this and have to say I agree to an extent but I thought O'Halloran done extremely well the last day. I think a bit of depth to do a man mark job is 100% needed. Just seen someone mention Wyer and Brazil but is there any word on other so called "man markers" that performed admirably in championship who's names where brought up before McCarrick, Ennis, Quinn, Brennan to name a few

paddyfong (Meath) - Posts: 5 - 31/01/2026 11:52:37    2654125

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Looking forward to this one, hopefully we play well and get the W.
Quick question, when did we last beat Cavan in Breffni Park?, I know it's a long time ago but not sure what year it was.

GreenMan1987 (Meath) - Posts: 121 - 01/02/2026 13:19:15    2654289

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Replying To GreenMan1987:  "Looking forward to this one, hopefully we play well and get the W.
Quick question, when did we last beat Cavan in Breffni Park?, I know it's a long time ago but not sure what year it was."
Feb1965. Could say we are overdue a win there looking on the positive side.

KingofTara (Meath) - Posts: 22 - 01/02/2026 14:34:13    2654298

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Scratching my head watching that first half performance, comfortably the better team for 95% of it but so so wasteful. 2/3 goal chances squandered, kept Cavan in it with some woeful shooting.

Should be about 10 ahead but instead go in level. Massive improvement needed. Cavan have been really poor too.

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 114 - 01/02/2026 16:22:38    2654329

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A really solid, hard fought win in a heated derby.

Probably left at least one goal and 4/5 points out there as well. The ref gave Cavan an awful lot, but in fairness the Meath tackling around the D was heavy and they left a lot in the tackle, and to Cavan's credit, they were always in the hunt.

Apprently (could be wrong), but Meath havent any type of record in winning in Cavan going back 60/70 years so this is a good day. When Cavan went a point up in the last minute, the boys showed real steel to get the last 3 scores.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 616 - 01/02/2026 17:50:21    2654359

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A serious amount of grit in this team. Reminds me of the glory days the level of fight and just about on the right side of bite/nastiness.

Huge composure to go up and get the two pointer after the rarest of errors from DK.

Flynn and Menton again outstanding.

RR (Meath) - Posts: 190 - 01/02/2026 17:59:08    2654363

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Jesus we nearly threw that away. We could only have had ourselves to blame had we not won that. Should have been 7 or 8 up at half time with the number of missed opportunities. Should have put the game to bed after the penalty but let Cavan back in it once again. The equaliser near the end in particular was a comedy of errors, dispossessing the Cavan forwards twice only to hand them the ball back.

Nonetheless, great to get the win in Breffni. We always seemed to surrender easily there in previous years. Some of the attacking play was outstanding. Think it was Caulfield that pointed after two beautiful kick passes in the lead up. We just need to work on finishing the goal chances. Defence remains a worry as we were way too open for much of the game.

But two wins is not to be sniffed at in such a competitive league. Two week break now before we've the chance to end a poor run of results against Louth.

Early days yet, but 2026 could be the most competitive Leinster championship in a generation the way things are going so far.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1456 - 01/02/2026 18:06:53    2654367

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