Fair play to Meath.

I really thought we were going to be put to the slaughter by Tyrone-the game had the potential to be a horror show for Meath, but the lads stood up and fought for every ball. Pity we didn't get the win in the end. Hope Banty & co stick with the under 21 half backline for the championship. Brayzer will give us the pace we need in attack.

I'd be under no illusion that a massive improvement is required come championship.

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1838 - 11/04/2011 19:42:51    909209

Well done to All the Meath players yesterday. on the plus side- an encouraging performance to end the league on, Graham Reillys scores, a total of 17 Meath scores from 11 scorers, a great effort from all the players and subs for 70 minutes +,- in the face of significant adversity- against a top Ulster team who have ambitions of being in the shake up later in the Championship - and who also very recently taught kildare a lesson.
So now its the League over for another year. We should forget it and prepare our players individually for June 5th- nothing else for now.
This team and players need work in many areas but an emphasis on improving mental strength will pay a disproportionate and significant dividend. (i.e. think the attitude and will to win of a Gerry McEntee). A never say die attitude, some tactical nous and a little less naievety will go a long way with this squad. I know our backs would, on form, be eaten alive today by say for example Galvin, OSullivan, OSullivan, Cooper, Donaghy, Sheehan but with a decent dose of steely resolve coupled with controlled fearless collective tactical effort we could certainly make life difficult for a forward line of this quality in the future. Our forwards do not yet play as a unit nor do they YET consistently play with sufficient intelligence BUT with a bit more confidence and proper direction the forward unit could acquire a lethal winning edge. There is much work to be done with them and little time left at this stage and a lot of it will be on the hoof this year. Nevertheless after yesterday, we caught a glimpse of how they could compete when necessary. Imagine what they could be like as a team with this work done. Exciting times ahead with many possibilities hopefully .

spillanesmeat (Meath) - Posts: 103 - 11/04/2011 20:55:25    909291

Does anyone else agree that Meath simply did not play football but instead, i assume under instruction just lofted high balls in on top of Joe and Paddy with nobody chasing in anticipation of a knock down (and just as well cos both were determined to catch the ball and go for their own score). Joe going for goal from thirty yards in the opening minutes and twice refusing to lay off to inrushing team mates who were through on goal. Shane o Rourke looking for Paddy every time.....we have a group of individuals not a team. Hat off to Gilsenan who when introduced showed for the ball played low and won his ball and passed to his team mates. What i seen yesterday is not the type of football i would pay to watch or the type that will beat any team worth their salt as Kildare are....

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1508 - 11/04/2011 21:02:56    909304

Cant agree with you there analyst, personally I thought some of the build up play and lay offs were quite good yesterday, if Meath hadn't played like a team yesterday they would have been destroyed by a very decent Tyrone team.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3760 - 11/04/2011 21:58:35    909399

Agree with Richie there..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 12/04/2011 10:59:27    909525

Analyst, I'd prefer to see us put the ball in first time to the forwards instead of the incessant handpassing we were doing in the earlier rounds which was killing us. Most people are of the opinion we have no pace in our forwards so the only way to counteract this in my opinion is to let the ball in first time and don't let give the defender time to defend. OK you won't win every ball but with our big men we can win our fair share. We scored 17 points last sunday mainly from play and we also had more than 10 wides and kicked 4 balls into the keepers hands in the first half alone so we are creating the chances. If we sharpen up our shooting we may be capable of an All Ireland qtr final again this year. The team has looked increasingly sharper and fitter over the past few games. The lads were training 5 nights a week during Feb/Mar and from speaking to one particular they were tired on match days hence such poor performances. This is a management issue I know but the player said to me that if there wasn't the closed season in December then he felt that the preparatory work would have been done and they could have concentrated more on ball work in the Feb/Mar period.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1207 - 12/04/2011 11:03:20    909535

Does anyone else agree that Meath simply did not play football but instead, i assume under instruction just lofted high balls in on top of Joe and Paddy with nobody chasing in anticipation of a knock down (and just as well cos both were determined to catch the ball and go for their own score).


Analyst, were you actually at the game? As far as i can remember, shane o'rourkes 1st point came from a knock down from paddy o'rourke, paddy did the same to knock the ball down to an oncoming joe for his 1st point and paddys first point came from a ball into space from back the field. i'd call that good teamwork, connecting passes and good awareness of surrounding players, hardly selfish play? To score 17points against tyrone was a great result and the type of football we should be aiming for in every game.

rosscross (Meath) - Posts: 206 - 12/04/2011 11:16:52    909555

What the full-forwards need to learn now, is that you do not always have to shoot for scores at the earliest opportunity. Better to take a bit longer if necessary and convert a greater number of chances. It's not about how quickly you score but how often. Stop playing as individuals and learn to pass the ball around amongst each other (as a collective unit) until more clear cut openings develop. It is as much about changing their mindsets as improving skillsets. A little more movement, patience and composure in the forward line would work wonders. The players need to be encouraged to take on their man and have a little more belief and confidence in their own abilities, so they do not want to get rid of the ball as soon as possible. Granted a lack of pace and laziness is partly responsible for certain players one-dimensional pattern of play. We have missed Stephen Bray as he is our classiest full-forward. It was good to see Paddy Gilsenan win some ball in the more purist style of play. The others need to learn to mix it up and broaden their horizons. Only for Graham Reilly grasping the nettle, showing real initiative and responsibility in front of goal we were goosed.

I'd like to see Meath play their traditional direct kick and catch game (less handpassing in our own half) but with the ability to mix it up as well (in our opponents half). We will need both aspects to our play when we face top teams in the championship. So training should now focus not just on fitness and stamina, but on plenty of ball work, so players develop a more intelligent footballing brain. Playmakers who are prepared to demand possession, hold it, send diagonal balls into space, use the full width of the pitch until someone finds themself with plenty of time and space to cause havoc. With players who are willing to make runs so the man on the ball has options.

GlasagusOr (Meath) - Posts: 1348 - 12/04/2011 12:01:34    909617

Paddy G was good the last time we played Tyrone. Should he start? What about King?

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1838 - 21/07/2013 21:07:51    1437974