Ashbourne didn't make the final because of poor decisions by there forwards and not the ref. Where were these same forwards that tore Seneschalstown apart in the semi or was it just a case of getting easy frees and Cian was on his game. As I said in an earlier post the Ref would probably have a major bearing on what Cian Wards contribution to the final might have been.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 31/10/2012 10:29:14    1290516

the wind had a big factor on cian wards day in the 2nd half he missed id say 4 frees, they were very difficult staright into the gale force wind

sam1996 (Meath) - Posts: 436 - 31/10/2012 10:37:14    1290519

"that was the same forward line that destroyed senchelstown in the semi final so why would they have changed it...."

Why would they have changed it...?
That 'forward line' did not "destroy Seneschalstown", aside from Cian Ward who scored 10 points (6f), only one of the other starting forwards scored (one point) and the sub who replaced Fiachra Ward scored (one point), the remaining scores (1-1) came from further back the field. When you're over reliant on scores to come from frees or your backs contribute more to the scoreline than your forwards, then you have to change something....

A lot was said in the run up to the game about the scoring threat Cian Ward posed from dead balls, there was no mention of any scoring threat from any of the other forwards because after the Seneschallstown game it was obvious to many that none existed.
There were 53 frees awarded in that game (thats almost one a minute), Cian Ward converted two and missed four of those, he scored three other points from play and yet again the only other two scores came from further back the field, yet no changes were made up front.
Plan A clearly didn't work but unfortunately for the Tones fans there was no Plan B....

Ex_Pat (USA) - Posts: 186 - 31/10/2012 12:00:59    1290577

Well done to the omahonys ön a fantastic Championship. The club will now kick ön surely and Win the next few. The club is now back Where it belongs the best in the county,the facilities are first Class and there is än ocean of talent coming they. The u/21s are defending champions this year and next years minor team will walk the Championship , there is a real energy around the club the rest beware.

parneller (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 31/10/2012 12:29:49    1290597

parneller

Great to see such enthusiasm. Just remember there are 17 other clubs snapping at your heels now. I thought last year that having climbed the mountain that Summerhill would stay for a few years. You just never know these things. Best of luck in the Leinster championship. Your record there is not great despite all the times NOM have had a go at it. What's the problem when you represent Meath.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 31/10/2012 16:35:39    1290773

parneller
Good man parneller! The same was said by O'mahonys when they beat Summerhill in the final a few years ago and looked what happened. We will see how good they are now when they compete in Leinster.

Maestro (Meath) - Posts: 590 - 31/10/2012 17:09:46    1290792

I would fancy the omahonys wills have enough to beat emmet og sunday week, but they will most likely then run into portlaoise away in the semi- final and the dont come much tougher than that. Remember they were missing kevin reilly and mark ward all year and only got David bray back recently, three county footballers that when fully fit will only help concrete our position as the best team in the county next year. Anything after this years leinster semi-final will be a real bonus. Come ön the hoops

parneller (Meath) - Posts: 32 - 31/10/2012 20:09:40    1290862

Parneller
You had Kevin Reilly and Mark Ward playing last year when Summerhill knocked you of the championship.

Maestro (Meath) - Posts: 590 - 01/11/2012 18:38:12    1291350

Maestro

It is clear to see you are very anti O'mahonys..after watching them play this year on numerous occasions I can see why parneller has serious optimism about this team. I would have never been a fan of them but this year I have to take my hat off to them. The point about kevin reilly and mark ward is a valid one but remember this team has changed dramatically in their style of play over the last 12 months. The senchelstown game was a prime example where they didn't give away frees and get involved in fights which like previous years and made brian sheridan look like a hero by kicking 7 or 8 frees a game, again it can be said again in the ashbourne and tones game. I feel this team could push on now.

Joeshow12 (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 01/11/2012 19:54:46    1291397

What have I said to show I was anti O'mahonys? A few people getting a little excited and ahead of themselves. We all heard the same stories four years ago that you were going to dominate and push on the next few years but it never happened.

Maestro (Meath) - Posts: 590 - 01/11/2012 20:33:07    1291418

i prefer to see the results than the hype.. during the 90s NOM won all round them from juvenile to u-21 hurling....folk thought they would win a decade of senior hurling championships..IT NEVER HAPPENED!.. whilst always good to have strong underage structures in place, certain events can effect results at end of the year, im sure next yr, Donaghmore, Tones, Summerhill etc will be biting to get back on track!

sob (Meath) - Posts: 492 - 02/11/2012 13:53:23    1291629

I know it's somewhat off topic but it's true that Navan's failure to succeed in hurling in the last decade is just baffling, in the programme for last years senior final some players had SIX U21 hurling titles listed. I know football is king in navan, but you'd have thought they would at least have been some sort of force in meath hurling. That bunch of U21s seems to be over their peak now with most in their late 20s/early 30s.

Stories of teams not realising underage potential are ten a penny though. Limericks 3 in a row of All Ireland U21 titles had many calling them a new force, but they have won 1 munster hurling game snce 2001. And Dunderry too, winning 3 successive U21 football championships around 2000, but now still firmly stuck in the intermediate since 2005. If I was a Navan man I'd be weary of sayng they will dominate for years to come.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1692 - 02/11/2012 16:22:26    1291735

Best of luck to all involved with NOM tomorrow, Think they've a good shot

ClassApart (Meath) - Posts: 1200 - 10/11/2012 21:58:26    1295839

Good luck to Navan(from an Ashbourne lad),but I have a feeling they may get beat

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/11/2012 13:46:52    1295909

Best of luck to O'Mahonys today. It would be nice to see a team from the county do well in Leinster.

jackhackett (Meath) - Posts: 773 - 11/11/2012 14:26:18    1295923

10 points down at the minute lads to a Longford team? Meath football in a bad way

Blackwater (Kildare) - Posts: 102 - 11/11/2012 15:25:55    1295947

Agree Blackwater dreadful.. simply inexcusable

Juggernaut (USA) - Posts: 110 - 11/11/2012 16:11:24    1295982

I think the mentality of "It's only a Longford/Offaly etc. team, we wll beat them" is the biggest problem Meath as a county and Its clubs need o sort out. Lads today think that since a set of Meath players 2 generations ago regularly beat these teams that they have a God given right to be doing it aswell.

Most people I spoke to seemed to take it as a given that Navan would win, I can't help but think they had one eye on portlaoise already. The end result is a 2-13 to 0-8 beating and Meaths awful record at Senior Club champoinship continuing wth no sign of improving.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1692 - 11/11/2012 16:19:09    1295990

There seems to be a bit of a gap between D2 & D3 teams. Did not think that it would be reflected in club football

Jack L (None) - Posts: 3182 - 11/11/2012 16:26:10    1295996

Meath club football is in a serious bad state at the moment and the reason for that is the way that they have it structured.Sean Boylan wanted the structure of the League part of the championship changed,because of so many meaningless games and that was 8 or nine years ago.Is it any wonder that Meath teams are being hammered each year.The last time that we put up a decent performance was in 2006 when the Tones were beaten by a star studded UCD team by a goal and that was after having a man sent off with nearly 15 minutes left.

jake1 (Meath) - Posts: 268 - 11/11/2012 16:33:36    1296007