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Nobody in Galway is getting carried, most of the positive posts on Galway are coming from other counties. Galway will be far better to watch than in previous years but I've no idea what to expect in terms of results. TheBishop (Galway) - Posts: 337 - 21/01/2020 17:41:33 2261381 Link 2 |
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Expect Tyrone and Kerry to make the final. Both are looking to build some depth in their squads (compared to the likes of Mayo and Dublin who will more likely be easing players back). MadgeKing (Cavan) - Posts: 493 - 21/01/2020 18:45:12 2261397 Link 2 |
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Mayo could make another final and maybe Meath could join them, first season foals gallop maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1287 - 21/01/2020 19:24:26 2261407 Link 1 |
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Lovely idea. But I'd settle for survival, this I think will be one of the youngest Meath teams ever to take to the field on Sunday with all the injuries etc. Both graham Reilly and Micky burke are no longer involved, that brings the average age down considerably . It's all or nothing, anyone give me 3 wins at this stage and I'd take their hand off. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 21/01/2020 19:48:03 2261415 Link 0 |
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Its a bit rich to claim Meath were missing these players, they neither played in league or championship. None were available for one reason or another (every team in Ireland could reel off a list like yours) I will give you Harnan because of his injury and was the only one who made a championship appearance. We played a near full strength team for most of our Div Two games and took full advantage of this benefit. Constantly saying we have loads of top class talent coming through is a waste of time. Hopefully the returning players and new additions make a real impact and do their talking on the field. Retention of Div One status is a priority this year to give some of these lads experience playing top teams. Sunday will give some indication of where we are. seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2257 - 21/01/2020 20:01:36 2261419 Link 6 |
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Madges eternal love of Monaghan! lol
Monaghan Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 456 - 21/01/2020 20:42:35 2261431 Link 1 |
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Maybe Meath weren't missing but the where not available. So you might just be splitting hairs I think furlong is making a point it's fair enough not maybe might know these players. Having some these players back might help hugely. Especially if Conlon could partner menton in midfeild a hugely problematic area of the pitch for Meath last year.
bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1291 - 21/01/2020 22:07:17 2261453 Link 3 |
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Thanks for the comments Bobkarlgees. You are right Meath had 7 or 8 players unavailable and missing last year. And this was an issue for a few years, players unvailable and missing. Meath had 12 players unavailable last year and 14 in 2018. This year how many players have not returned to the panel ? Zero. Also yes Donegal were missing several players that is true. But who was our main rival for promotion? Kildare. Everyone was tipping kildare and Donegal for promotion. kildare were missing their best forward last year eg Dan Flynn but we also were missing our best forward last year eg Donal lenihan. The big game that really decided promotion was kildare v Meath in Navan was a real six pointer Meath victory was a huge win in sealing promotion. Regards the comments that all our div 2 teams were missing several players and hadnt no way near a championship team in the league. Lets look closer at the evidence of this. Out of the 15 kildare players who started v Meath , 13 out of the starting 15 kildare players who started v Meath , 13 out of the 15 players who started v Meath , 13 started v Dublin in the championship for kildare. The kildare team that started v Meath in the league had only 2 players didnt start for kildare in leinster championship v Dublin later on the year. kildare pretty much had their championship team playing us in Navan. It was very strong kildare team.that played us in Navan. And they were our main rival for promotion. Our second main rival was Fermanangh. Fermanagh had a great league and were top of div 2 well at times during the campaign after beating Donegal and kildare in the league last year. On the last day the last promotion spot was between Meath kildare and Fermanagh . All 3 could have been promoted. Meath beat Fermanagh to seal promotion on the last day . On the Fermanagh team that played Meath in the league? 13 out of the 15 Fermanagh players that started v Meath in the league , 13 out of the 15 started for Fermanagh v Donegal in the Ulster championship. Fermanagh had a very strong team pretty much their championship team when we played in the massive last game in Navan that sealed our promotion , as only Fermanagh 2 players on that day didnt start v Donegsl , didnt start for Fermanagh in their biggest championship game of the year v Donegal. The two teams who could have pipped us for promotion when we played both in the league had very close to their starting 15 , only 2 were missing that didnt play in kildare and Fermanagh biggest championship games. Take Clare. We played Clare in our biggest championship game of the year to qualify for the super 8. We played them in the league also. When we played them in the league of the 15 Clare players who started v Meath , 13 of them started v Meath for Clare in the championship. Only 2 different players started for Clare in the championship to the team that started v Meath in the league. Nearly a full strenght team in Ennis played Meath in the league. Ennis is one of the toughest place to go also. Yes Donegal had several players missing. They had allot that is definate. But the other teams Meath were playing in the league had very strong teams very close to their championship especially the team who could have beaten us for promotion on the last day. Kildare and Fermangh could have won promotion ahead of us the last day. Both had very strong teams when we played them. Very close to their champiinsgip. 2 players less then their championship team actually. When Fermanagh played Donegal in Ulster championship 13 out of 15 that started v Donegal , those 13 started v Meath, only 2 changes. When kildare played Dublin in the leinster championship 13 out of 15 who started v Dublin , those 13 started v Meath, only 2 changes to the Dublin game. Meath lost players not just Harnan was injured. Kane started all the Byrne cup match and first 2 games of the league and was brillant he broke his arm and missed the rest of league and championship. He hasnt played for Meath in near a year. Shane Walsh played in the championship. He was on the panel all year long but couldnt play til July. He missed the whole league. If he was availavle he would have been starting. He is our best full forward in Meath. And will start very game for Meath in the league this year if fit. Andy played Campion , Devine in the league. If Walsh was avaiable he would have played him. Devine also missed allot of the league with injury. And again Joey Wallace, Eamon Wallace , Donal lenihan , Paddy kennelly , Brian Conlon , Ronan Jones , Alan Forde were all missing. 6 are back this year. But as I said kildare , Fermanagh the two teams who could pipped us for promotion on the last day. Had pretty much their championship team when they played us in the league , both had only 2 changes to the Meath game , to their game v Donegal and Dublin in the chamionship respectivdly. Donegal were missing lots of players this is factual. That is definatley true. Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 22/01/2020 00:14:09 2261475 Link 5 |
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Conlon is a huge boost. A big problem for Meath in recent years is big men around the middle. The loss of Conor Gillespie , then Shane O Rourke and then Conor Nash to Aussie rules really left us with lack of big men and midfielders. As I said we had to play a half back at midfield last year and had only 3 midfield options all year long. Andy has brought in allot big strong footballers and midfielders to the panel this year. The addition of Brian Conlon is very positive. He was outstanding v Donegal at 19 in midfield in championship in 2017. Jones back in March is great also. He hasnt played since 2017 when he was my man of the match v louth at midfield in championship. Jones is 23 , B Conlon 22. Then you have Paddy kennelly 25 , Thomas Murtagh 21 and Daithi McGowan 19 all new midfielders on the panel. This will help. This Meath team.has lacked a couple of big men around the centre for years. And maybe in the next few years Cian McBride and Conor Nash might be back from Auzzie rules, both are two serious midfielders also. But I feel the return of Brian Conlon and Ronan Jones in March are two massive pluses. Leaving Menton to one side , I think both are the two best midfielders in the county currently and both are relatively young. Many midfielders dont peak til 26 27. You get the odd great like Jack O Se or Sean Cavanagh or Brian Fenton who are the greats at 21. But it can take time to develop into a quality midfielder. Our best midfielfer of the last 25 years , John McDermont was 6 years on the panel before he really stood out. He played in 1991. But until All Ireland semi final in 1996 people were saying Meath were weak at midfield. It wasnt til.his mid or late 20s in 1996 , 1997, 1998 and 1999 he became a legend and ended up being voted at midfield on Meath gaa team of the Millenimun. And regards judging Meath after sunday , at the end of this year we will have good idea what level Meath are at. For allot of these players this year and next year are massive years in their career. But I think we will have a much better idea at the end of the season where we are at. If we have 8 or 9 players injured on Sunday well then its not true reflection where we are at. By the end of the summer will be a good indication. Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 22/01/2020 01:12:49 2261480 Link 6 |
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Agree. Dont know where all the optimism is coming from. There is issues with the team PJ has named, notably in defence. I think Monaghan game is 50 50 and I believe whoever loses will be in a relegation fight.. Galwaymaster9 (Galway) - Posts: 475 - 22/01/2020 09:22:36 2261490 Link 0 |
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Just a small thing 'ex Galway Footballer Oisin O Brien' he might have got few minutes in FBD but dont think he would count as an ex county player..he was decent for his club caherlistrane but wouldnt see him have any effect at county level
tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 693 - 22/01/2020 09:41:55 2261495 Link 0 |
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Yeah i think it was more underage he played for Galway. But in fairness to the lad he was brilliant for Navan O'Mahonys all last year. Definitely worth his place on the panel. Meathmaverick (Meath) - Posts: 107 - 22/01/2020 10:23:34 2261508 Link 0 |
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It looks like every team will be under-strength in the opening weeks. Off the top of my head I believe we are missing McBrearty, McGrath, Eoghan Ban, McMenamin, O'Baoíll, Jason McGee, Gillespie and quite possibly Langan, Mogan, Morrison, MCGettigan and McCole depending on how the Sigerson games go tonight. It's likely Murphy and McGee could be rested and McLoone, McGlynn and MacNiallais are no longer there either. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10468 - 22/01/2020 10:24:18 2261509 Link 0 |
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Fair enough Tommy132. He didnt make breakthrough with Galway seniors. But he did play underage for Galway. He was a minor for Galway at the end of 00s. He has played in FBD in the last few seasons for Galway. But didnt break into the league or championship panel full time. So he has played for Galway at underage and senior. So he was a county player. Just never fully established himself on the panel. But I know what you mean. I understand I get ur point. Hes not really out and out county player in that he never played senior for Galway in league or championship. So fair point. He moved to Navan played with O Mahoney and and had an excellent club championship. Hes got a great eye for goal. He wouldnt start for Meath. But you can see what Andy is going to use him for . Is as an impact sub. Hes 27 so we would have a good bit of experience. He came on in every game in Byrne cup and scored a point in every game. I can see him been used in that role. To come off the bench in last ten mins. But saying that he could be dropped from the match day panel for the league. So he might be just be used in Byrne cup. In that he would be well down the list of forwards and especially when players come back from injury. But I like him as a player. As I said hes got a good eye for goal. I think he can be useful coming of the bench. And with forwards Newman and Devine injured and question marks over Sullivan and McMahon and even Campion and lenihan have had injuries recently. If all those are injured on Sunday he will be on the bench. But when players comeback I do think he will struggle to stay on match day panel. If he makes a big impact as impact sub then that cud change. But my general point he is another addition in improving the depth of the Meath panel. In the super 8 v Donegal and v Mayo both Mayo and Donegals benchs made a big impact v Meath in the last ten mins. Meaths subs didnt. I definately think McEntee has tried to address this over the winter. And when Meath get some more players back from injury for me the Meath panel is substantially stronger now then it was last August..Time will tell. But with 12 new players called onto the panel ( 7 returness) and no one left the panel it has to increase competition between players and panel depth. We dont how good some of the young players or returnees can become. But in general sense I feel these players are improving the panel.and team. Brian Menton / Brian Conlon midfield look stonger then last years midfield and Jones returing in March would be my first choice midfielder. And Shane Walsh and Donal lenihan in the full forward , even with the loss of Newman , for me makes our full forward line stronger then last year, with Joey Wallace also to come in. We will find out by end of the summer how it all turnsout. Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1067 - 22/01/2020 10:55:34 2261519 Link 5 |
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Some people will be surprised how monaghan will do in the league. We know how to get results and have a lot of experienced players. I expect us to get results in Galway Tyrone Dublin and Meath. monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 528 - 22/01/2020 11:41:54 2261528 Link 1 |
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I'm feeling very negative about Tyrone entering the league but I'd be extra surprised if Monaghan have a good campaign. While I think they could possibly stay up, it will be touch and go for them.
OGarmaile (Tyrone) - Posts: 248 - 22/01/2020 12:31:50 2261534 Link 0 |
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He also very unfortunate with injuries, he did the ligaments in the same knee twice and maybe the other knee also..the change of clubs and new environment might have given him a boost and hopefully he does well. By the sounds of it from your posts, Meath will improve again on from last year and they weren't far off it last year, more counties competing the better..Cork also should be right up there tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 693 - 22/01/2020 13:06:56 2261538 Link 0 |
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Looking at this purely from a Meath point of view it's great to be back in Division 1, first time since 2006 and first time in a standalone Division 1 since 1997 (ie no Div1a and Div1b). The Gaa reintroduced the 4 straight Divisions back in 2008 and we've spent our entire time in Division 2 bar one season = 2013 which was spent in Division 3. Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 22/01/2020 19:57:05 2261647 Link 2 |
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What's wrong with Eoghan Ban? How long is he out for?
The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2105 - 22/01/2020 22:57:10 2261684 Link 0 |
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Dublin v Kerry.............................Kerry OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 22/01/2020 23:40:30 2261696 Link 0 |