Meath Forum

Championship 2026

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Replying To redser123:  "Fair point, you could argue Derry peaked in 2022/23 and haven't got anywhere near those levels since. I see them more similar to westmeath than cork. Not an amazing bunch of forwards but really strong in defence and midfield. Hope I'm wrong but I just can't see us getting the job done away in Derry."
Think there's some discontent in the camp - manager sounded a bit baffled after Armagh game in terms of their scoring ability and supporters seem a bit unsure of the manager. Think we can get a win if he hit the ground running and keep the foot down but would tilt in Derry's favour if it turns into a dogfight. The lads should take confidence from having beaten them in the league.

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 183 - 02/06/2026 16:45:25    2677383

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Replying To Royalmc:  "Agree 100% only teams that should have a home draw at this stage is the provincial winners if they won their last game which Westmeath and Armagh have .
Westmeath haven't lost a game and get drawn away to Galway Armagh the same and will end up playing in a club pitch in Monaghan .
The next round is the same open draw home advantage if Meath were to win they could draw the likes of Mayo in castlebar or Cork again and end up back in Cork again . All games in all rounds should be at neutral venues except provincial winners ."
IF ? Plenty of those......mostly of NO value. But one IF could win it for us. The annoying part is the dogs in the street know that IF our defence .and that includes the defensive coach has learned anything from the last 4 games .then we CAN win If we dont learn then forget it. we deserve to be beaten. Surely the basics of defending like tight marking , making life difficult for the shooter .....block his shot attempt etc ANYONE that is following this Meath team must know sort out the defence and anything is possible THIS team with the proper remedial training for defenders COULD win Sam THIS year. APART from poor defending we are not far off on our good day
We have match winners via 2 point shooters in abundance .Players capable of direct attacking football at speed which defenders hate..... Midfield will be ok even against Glass we can capitalise on breaking ball.
YES a big IF to improve defence ,but that is MENTAL preparation to defend and can be switched on ,UNLIKE attackers have to consider time,space and options and need confidence in abundance...We have the attackers at the right standard for the job. The defenders getting into the single minded zone of defending and no surrender even when the ball has to be repossesed can make the difference between winning and loosing This is a massive challenge for this Meath team but with our potential and as some would say our backs to the wall . coupled with the never say die attitude i go for a Meath win by 4

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 1310 - 02/06/2026 17:23:40    2677396

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Replying To gwanyagudthing:  "Think there's some discontent in the camp - manager sounded a bit baffled after Armagh game in terms of their scoring ability and supporters seem a bit unsure of the manager. Think we can get a win if he hit the ground running and keep the foot down but would tilt in Derry's favour if it turns into a dogfight. The lads should take confidence from having beaten them in the league."
Yes this is a good strategy, if we put doubt in Derry's mind early on they could collapse as we've seen dressing room issues there before and they could cave. A tight game, and they will be favored as home advantage could tip the scales. I do believe we can beat them but Robbie and some of our big players like Morris and Costello need to get the finger out and start playing Championship football if we are to get a win. We know they can. If we lose, possibly Keogie and Mentos last ever game for us so surely the lads around them won't want that after all they've done for Meath.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 154 - 02/06/2026 18:44:15    2677434

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Any developments on the squa?

Unless regression we would assume that Flynn and kinsella are fine now. Were a little light at midfield bench options if O'Neill is still injured. And do we just assume jones although could be named will not make the squad.

ryan/lavin/ohalloran toss of a coin between them. Ryan maybe a little more pragmatic, lavin the most athletic, ohalloran probably he better ball skills.

Our league against Derry ironically is one of the few times they controlled the majority of a game, slow start but took over and saw it out.

The team largely picks its self and last week showed even the reshuffle doesn't really matter. They all played in their usual spots.

I'd like to see. Brennan, lavin,Rafferty,Ryan(ohalloran wouldn't be bad for a sub with legs ), Coffey,keoghan, caufield, menton, Flynn, costello, kinsella, Jack O'Connor,morris, frayne, Conlon. Mcbride, c O'Connor, O'Neill(maybe), hickey, ohalloran, lynch all to come in.

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 95 - 03/06/2026 06:13:15    2677491

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Replying To royalcounty1:  "Any developments on the squa?

Unless regression we would assume that Flynn and kinsella are fine now. Were a little light at midfield bench options if O'Neill is still injured. And do we just assume jones although could be named will not make the squad.

ryan/lavin/ohalloran toss of a coin between them. Ryan maybe a little more pragmatic, lavin the most athletic, ohalloran probably he better ball skills.

Our league against Derry ironically is one of the few times they controlled the majority of a game, slow start but took over and saw it out.

The team largely picks its self and last week showed even the reshuffle doesn't really matter. They all played in their usual spots.

I'd like to see. Brennan, lavin,Rafferty,Ryan(ohalloran wouldn't be bad for a sub with legs ), Coffey,keoghan, caufield, menton, Flynn, costello, kinsella, Jack O'Connor,morris, frayne, Conlon. Mcbride, c O'Connor, O'Neill(maybe), hickey, ohalloran, lynch all to come in."
O'Neill played in the Gaeltacht final the other day.

There's no way he won't play with three midfielders he's been doing it all year and with Derry playing with glass at half forward RB will probably stick to it

Royal.1 (Meath) - Posts: 48 - 03/06/2026 12:37:51    2677577

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Replying To Royal.1:  "O'Neill played in the Gaeltacht final the other day.

There's no way he won't play with three midfielders he's been doing it all year and with Derry playing with glass at half forward RB will probably stick to it"
Yeah fair, my thinking is Jack oconnor should start and is needed for 35 mins only and his only job is to do a biggy reilly on it and linger on the wing between the 65 and arc and his job is to carry at pace at goal or go for the two pointers. But yeah I agree likely the 3 midfielders would start.

O'Neill done the warm up against cork and was named to start and then didn't play at all and then a week later plays a club final? I find the chopping and changing mad. Now I'm no expert and player health first obviously but would his niggle not have held up for 15 mins when Jack Flynn clearly was blowing hard when he came on ?

royalcounty1 (Meath) - Posts: 95 - 03/06/2026 13:22:56    2677601

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Replying To royalcounty1:  "Yeah fair, my thinking is Jack oconnor should start and is needed for 35 mins only and his only job is to do a biggy reilly on it and linger on the wing between the 65 and arc and his job is to carry at pace at goal or go for the two pointers. But yeah I agree likely the 3 midfielders would start.

O'Neill done the warm up against cork and was named to start and then didn't play at all and then a week later plays a club final? I find the chopping and changing mad. Now I'm no expert and player health first obviously but would his niggle not have held up for 15 mins when Jack Flynn clearly was blowing hard when he came on ?"
O'Neill always gives it 100%, I'd be giving him minutes in every game when he's fit. Think Killian Smyth will also get minutes if he's fit.

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 183 - 03/06/2026 13:49:53    2677613

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Were Kinsella and Flynn injured in training or the challenge matches leading up to the Cork game and what were the injuries? Kinsella played well at times but was clearly not fully fit. Flynn had an impact but not up to his usual level.
Expecting both to be much sharper this time if no issues and fully tra8ning before Derry. A few minor adjustments as well.
Perhaps Flynn for O'Connor, O'Halloran for Ryan and maybe one more. Jones from bench if fit?

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 1017 - 03/06/2026 14:12:57    2677616

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Replying To winatallcost:  "Were Kinsella and Flynn injured in training or the challenge matches leading up to the Cork game and what were the injuries? Kinsella played well at times but was clearly not fully fit. Flynn had an impact but not up to his usual level.
Expecting both to be much sharper this time if no issues and fully tra8ning before Derry. A few minor adjustments as well.
Perhaps Flynn for O'Connor, O'Halloran for Ryan and maybe one more. Jones from bench if fit?"
The Jones thing is a head scratcher, I think he's just crocked at this stage. He seems to be just about ready for the next game the whole season but hasn't played in any game. Curious on Flynn and Kinsella's injuries as well, hoping they didn't aggravate anything. Both seemed off, especially Flynn. We knew we had another game coming up no matter what so if Flynn had a bad knock was crazy to risk him. And he still couldn't make an impact with the injury he had. Team selection and injury status seem to be heavily guarded secrets though.

NYRoyal (USA) - Posts: 154 - 03/06/2026 15:55:56    2677675

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Replying To NYRoyal:  "The Jones thing is a head scratcher, I think he's just crocked at this stage. He seems to be just about ready for the next game the whole season but hasn't played in any game. Curious on Flynn and Kinsella's injuries as well, hoping they didn't aggravate anything. Both seemed off, especially Flynn. We knew we had another game coming up no matter what so if Flynn had a bad knock was crazy to risk him. And he still couldn't make an impact with the injury he had. Team selection and injury status seem to be heavily guarded secrets though."
He's been cursed with injuries right throughout his Meath career but wouldn't rule him out if he could get a run of a couple of months. Look at the likes of Damien Comer for Galway, still a key player.

gwanyagudthing (Meath) - Posts: 183 - 03/06/2026 16:16:27    2677685

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Replying To NYRoyal:  "The Jones thing is a head scratcher, I think he's just crocked at this stage. He seems to be just about ready for the next game the whole season but hasn't played in any game. Curious on Flynn and Kinsella's injuries as well, hoping they didn't aggravate anything. Both seemed off, especially Flynn. We knew we had another game coming up no matter what so if Flynn had a bad knock was crazy to risk him. And he still couldn't make an impact with the injury he had. Team selection and injury status seem to be heavily guarded secrets though."
Yes but the positive out of the Cork game despite defeat is that there didn't seem to be any new injuries Information and media coming from team and management seems to have fallen off a cliff since the Westmeath defeat. Wonder is there something behind that or is it just a case of keeping the heads down.
Injury or fitness updates on team also non existing. Really need a major response from alot of our key players against Derry. Morris and Costello really need to get going. Rafferty needs to show some semblence of his last years self. Hopefully big games from Kinsella and Flynn and Banty and Frayne maintain form. Backs to tighten up and harden up and goalkeeper needs to make best decisions for team on kickouts.

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 1017 - 03/06/2026 20:01:27    2677742

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