While it was encouraging to get the win yesterday and get another game into the squad next Sunday ahead of our League campaign there are still a lot of worrying traits that appear to be carried over from last year (and previous years). I wont get into the kickout debate but it certainly needs a lot of work, I was glad to see Harnan make an appearance yesterday, I'm not sure of his best position (neither is MOD) but he does have size and strength, he won several possessions in last 10 minutes yesterday and was strong enough to break the tackle and win a free, we need him and Rooney and a few others to demonstrate that this team is not going to be physically bossed around the pitch, it was great to see Rooney burst through a few times yesterday. This team will be under pressure in the physicality stakes in the Ulster dominated Division 2 this year, we can all be guaranteed that Ciaran McKeever is just going to be waiting for Biggy with a big frontal charge in the 1st 5 minutes of the first match so we need to be prepared and ready for these type of games. We have plenty of pace and skill in the squad but it is the lack of pure power that really worries me especially without long term absentees in Gillespie ,Flanagan and Menton

Royal_Rover (Meath) - Posts: 73 - 18/01/2016 13:16:32    1817355

POR's kickouts appear to be more influenced by the scoreboard than anything else. So when Meath are in front he will take kickouts at a very leisurely pace. If they are behind and chasing a game (late on), only then will he speed things up. Ultimately they should be taken at whatever speed is most likely to retain possession. Be highly adaptable. That's before we even go into the delivery of kickouts themselves. Outfield players also have to give him options, because if they don't, costly mistakes will continue to happen. It is no good spreading out or wing backs/forwards hugging the sidelines if they are static and man marked. They need to leave space and make runs into same.

Thought Darragh Smyth did well yesterday playing #4 like with NOM. Corner back has been a problem area for us for a few seasons (playing other half-backs there hasn't worked) so maybe MOD should leave him to it in the league and see how things develop. He likes to get about the pitch when the opportunity allows but is mobile enough/has the legs to track/get back into position.

While the midfield options have been worst hit in recent times, in time things will improve. The squad has been freshened up and there is a more positive vibe about the medium to longer term future. Meath will still have our toughest year for some time to come, but they will learn far more playing in a tough D2 this year than a weak one last year. Not to mention better prepared for the championship later on. Donal Lenihan played a role yesterday not dissimilar to what Stephen Bray did down the years - dropping deep (very mobile) so the go-to player in the forward line. Bryan McMahon is also badly needed up there too so they can convert more possession into scores with a more natural scoring forward line.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 18/01/2016 13:22:12    1817357

Harnan could be another option at midfield in my opinion.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 18/01/2016 13:30:05    1817361

While the league will be tough regardless of who's involved, I'm not buying into this thing about all the Ulster teams. Fair enough, they will bring a stronger physical presence than what we're used to in Leinster but we haven't a bad team ourselves. I'm not saying to be naive and try and take them on physicallly but play to our own strengths. We have a skillful, pacey team so let's use this to our advantage. Sometimes I feel we don't back ourselves enough.

MarkMyWords (Meath) - Posts: 526 - 18/01/2016 13:49:19    1817367

Will the Ratoath players be available for the Armagh game?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts:4344 - 18/01/2016 12:57:44 1817345

Depends how they get on next Sunday Ziggy, All Ireland final is pencilled in for February 6th in Croker so if Ratoath are in it I doubt we will see those players against Armagh but loose to St Marys and they will be about alright I'd say

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3763 - 18/01/2016 14:25:22    1817384

Lets enjoy a bit of craic next sunday and see can we get a win in this comp. When was last time we won it?? 11/10

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 18/01/2016 14:51:04    1817396

Midfield is a very difficult position to play in, its technical difficult to gauge the speed and height of the ball etc ( I know everyone knows this just pointing it out) some people are natural ie Gillispie took to have very good spatial awareness when in the air and is good at catching and delivering in the air. Also you need build up working relation with the other midfield partner to be affective. .You need at least a solid year playing there to be judged really. With regard G Reilly I think he has the ability but maybe not the temperament and work ethic to be affective. I would leave him there for another while and see he is very good at attacking but defending his poor. This will be exploited by teams.

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1284 - 18/01/2016 14:51:50    1817397

When I say tough/tougher, I don't just mean in the pure physical sense (which of course it will be), but also playing teams with blanket defenses (who smother them). We do not have enough players who can pick off long range scores (in limited space or under pressure) and pace only works when you have space to run and not be easily dispossessed in the tackle.

I'd like to see Meath set up with four very mobile scoring forwards - Reilly (free role), Newman, McMahon, Lenihan, Wallace (4 out of 5) and hopefully with space in front of them (OK, maybe not against blanket defenses). Then have two real grafters as the other half-forwards (like Kenny was) not only to attack but defend (track back) and help out the midfield pairing and half-back line. Whether that is Tormey, COS, McEntee or others (2 out of 3) with say Rooney, Harnan, Tobin (2 out of 3) centrefield. We are starting to have a few decent options in the half-back line (wing backs at least) and playing Keoghan #2, the team has a bit more shape about it. Get a team that is use to playing together not always chopping and changing. And instead of been so focused on just the starting 15, we think of it as a 20 man game, where we need direct/similar replacements every bit as good/strong and playing to a particular system so we can finish games strongly. We also need to be much more ruthless when on top and not feel ah sure we have the lead, we're comfortable as is and it'll be OK - then run out of steam and have to try and defend a lead in the final quarter.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 18/01/2016 15:01:34    1817402

I forgot Sean Tobin as another forward option, meant Donnacha (Tobin) as the midfield option or else Harnan with Rooney.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 18/01/2016 15:03:51    1817404

If we have full panel to choose from for the league I would go with
POR
Keogan
McGill
D Smyth (Following man out)
Finn
Power/Burke
Tobin
Rooney
Cian O Brien
J McEntee
O Sullivan
Reilly
E Wallace
Newman (Better in FF Line)
Lenihan

With either Wallace or Lenihan dropping deeper

Meathgaa5 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 18/01/2016 15:59:09    1817420

Meathgaa I really think paddy needs to be looked at come league, perhaps McHugh is better option? Also id go with burke as he has done little wrong.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 18/01/2016 16:14:10    1817427

Interesting that the guy Graham Reilly was marking got intot the Hoganstand team of the week..

Two Meath players got in,they were Smyth and Finn.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 18/01/2016 17:32:02    1817445

Lets enjoy a bit of craic next sunday and see can we get a win in this comp. When was last time we won it?? 11/10

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts:8455 - 18/01/2016 14:51:04 1817396

2006 as far as I know Royaldunne.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 18/01/2016 17:48:04    1817454

glasagusor i thought conor downey played well yesterday you said we need someone like sheamie kenny i think downey could be the man he will improve with every game now some people might say he is to small but then again kenny was not very big either but was one of our best players for a decade or more i think he should get a chance in the league

thecraw1 (Meath) - Posts: 106 - 18/01/2016 17:51:49    1817455

Ziggy wouldn't pay much attention to js team of week. If it weren't for graham Reilly yesterday Louth would be playing Longford. That's a fact.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 18/01/2016 18:05:33    1817457

Thanks for that Ollie, hard luck yesterday thought for a time you were going to do it but some bad missed shots cost in end.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 18/01/2016 18:12:58    1817458

I think Ollie is right,we beat Offaly in Eamonn Barrys year.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 18/01/2016 18:13:57    1817459

Actually ziggy I could be wrong but I think Rooney was the one marking him, maybe not but I thought so.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 18/01/2016 18:15:08    1817460

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Byrne_Cup

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 18/01/2016 19:19:05    1817483

You may be right RD,I thought that was the guy marking Graham..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 18/01/2016 20:34:32    1817500