Browncows, I could be wrong but I don't think Finn has played at CB this year. Has he not been in the half back line?
With Reilly retires and Menton not availavle, McGill is the best choice we have in that position based on both his performances for Meath and Ratoath last season.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1412 - 21/01/2016 19:06:30    1818375

Fair point in a way, hopefully MOD and selectors are looking ahead to Armagh game. One of the most important games of the year. Not a must win but close to it.

What's the story on Donnacha Tobin? Someone mentioned he was on bench last Sunday, didn't notice.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 21/01/2016 19:27:36    1818381

Winning on Sunday would be a confidence boost for game against Armagh ( think its a must win). Agree with Brian cant see any logic in holding back naming team.

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2227 - 21/01/2016 19:35:02    1818387

Oldsam

Yeah I was sitting a couple of rows behind the bench.He was with the rest of the team,maybe he will get a run out on Sunday.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 21/01/2016 21:23:08    1818397

Ratoath Royal - I call a centre half back a CB and a full back a FB. The best of luck to your club and also to Curragh this week-end and of course the country- just hope all give their best without any injuries.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 22/01/2016 12:24:32    1818464

The team I'd like to see on Sunday.

Paddy O'Rourke
Nicky Judge
Donal Keogan
James O'Reilly
Cathal Finn
Mickey Burke
Alan Douglas
Harry Rooney
Pauric Harnan (left field I know but we need to find an option or two here - and he regularly plays the role for his club)
Graham Reilly
Cillian O'Sullivan
Sean Tobin
Donal Lenihan if not fit then Ruairi O'Coilean with him going to the half forwards and Tobin going to the corner.
Dalton McDonagh
Mickey Newman

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 22/01/2016 12:43:59    1818470

I think Ratoath Royal is getting confused with the auld foreign sport across the pond. Tut tut.

RoyalClass (Meath) - Posts: 790 - 22/01/2016 13:06:51    1818482

I actually think we will lose every single league game this year bar one and people will be calling for Mick O' Dowd's immediate resignation. Fermanagh and Laois are the only fixtures where we have a remote chance of a win. Just look at the article published today on Stefan Campbell he believes Armagh will gain promotion and will be up for it big time.

Jimin10 (Meath) - Posts: 783 - 22/01/2016 13:13:10    1818485

that is a crazy statement jimin so wat if armagh are up for it who are armagh they not that much better than us for god sake.wat about if we are up for it you saying we cant beat them of course we can mad thing to say maybe your just winding us up

thecraw1 (Meath) - Posts: 106 - 22/01/2016 13:57:07    1818500

interesting call putting harnan into midfield there jack, could be a time to try him. I believe unless he's injured he's in the first 15 somewhere (wouldn't be my personal choice) as MOD seems to like his energy and movement.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1994 - 22/01/2016 14:03:07    1818503

Armagh will have to be up for it otherwise they might as well not travel to Navan..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 22/01/2016 14:15:32    1818506

Brian - it's not my preference as to where he plays, think he's effective as the hard working half forward who does a lot of the donkey work.

It's more to do with my opinion that playing Graham Reilly at midfield robs our forward line of their best scorer. With Adam Flanagan, Conor Gillespie and Cian O'Brien currently unavailable and Andrew Tormey left out of my above 15 as I feel he should be granted a few weeks off Harnan is an option worth exploring in the middle of the field.

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 22/01/2016 14:31:24    1818512

I hope I am completely wrong in my prediction but I fear that the appetite or the ability to back it up will be lacking and the same consistent errors will be seen. Meath do not play well against ulster opposition in both league and championship in 2014 we tamely lost to Armagh and didn't have it in us to beat Tyrone last year. The precedent was set v Cavan way back in 2005! Only in 2007 v Tyrone was there a brief interregnum. There is nothing to say that Fermanagh, supposedly the weakest Ulster side in the division, won't be contesting another all ire q/f this year.

Jimin10 (Meath) - Posts: 783 - 22/01/2016 14:40:29    1818517

Jimin, they won in Newry last season and drew in Donegal the season before that. While I agree they generally struggle against Northern team's physicality and blanket defenses, having a can-do attitude goes a long way. Outside of D1, many of the bigger named (Northern) counties are put on a pedestal based on the distant past. Nothing to fear, but nothing will be achieved easy either.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 22/01/2016 15:25:34    1818538

Jimin, they won in Newry last season and drew in Donegal the season before that. While I agree they generally struggle against Northern team's physicality and blanket defenses, having a can-do attitude goes a long way. Outside of D1, many of the bigger named (Northern) counties are put on a pedestal based on the distant past. Nothing to fear, but nothing will be achieved easy either.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts:1079 - 22/01/2016 15:25:34 1818538

That match against Donegal, Meath should have won and they would of been promoted instead of Donegal.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 22/01/2016 16:05:04    1818551

I don't think I was the only one confused. McGill has never played at centre half back for Meath so I doubt anyone was intimating he was our best option there. I agree that Finn has been quite impressive so far.

Pity I have to miss this but club always comes first.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1412 - 22/01/2016 18:18:48    1818583

Ollie indeed you are correct, that was the blown chance, what O'Rourke was thinking I will never know, just drive it across field out over other line.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 22/01/2016 20:07:56    1818594

Any word on the Meath team for tomorrow? The team was announced the day before the Carlow game and I reckoned at the time that it was a welcome development . I do think that it should be announced in advance as it's a final albeit the O'Byrne Cup.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 23/01/2016 13:59:50    1818632

I see Padraic Harnan is lining out a 11,hope that doesn't continue..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 23/01/2016 15:37:24    1818637

Thing what would concern me going into the Armagh game,is the fact that we will likely have 3 or 4 newcomers in the defence..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 23/01/2016 15:42:19    1818638