Meath Forum

Meath Clubs In Leinster

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Brilliant for Dunshauglin and Castletown, both have a favourites chance of bringing home Leinster glory - and I would expect Dunshaughlin to be challenging for the All Ireland. Who knows what Castletown can do.

So so frustrating watching Ratoath, game was there to be won and just some silly turnovers, faffing around with the ball, and shambolic defending for the goals. Gave themselves a mountain to climb, to be fair they almost did - but huge opportunity missed.

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 206 - 19/11/2022 20:32:29    2448196

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Replying To Ratoath Royal:  "Very disappointing. Didn't perform apart from Dáithí McGowan who was phenomenal. Way too open in defence that let the Downs through way too easily. Probably performed for around 10-15 minutes of the game. And yet, we should still have at least taken it to extra time.
Lost the game with our faffing about with the ball in defence and gifting the Downs too many scores."
In fairness the ref was worth maybe 7 but definitely 5 points to the downs. Ratoath conceded 2sloppy goals yet we're only beat by a point. Most of them had to play well.
Agreed the passing around in front of their own goal was going to catch them out sometime. But was not really the reason tonight.

Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 518 - 19/11/2022 20:51:29    2448197

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Replying To Ashrules:  "Ratoath were far and away the best team . Unfortunately for them conceding 2 goals. But would still have beat them easily only for the ridiculously one sided referee. Gave very soft frees to the downs and ignored hard fouls on Ratoath players. Even gave a free the wrong way to save them in extra time. And was leaving a player with 2 yellow cards on the field until it was pointed out."
I would say your comment is ridiculously one sided

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1018 - 20/11/2022 07:29:25    2448200

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Ratoath should have won. Short sickouts killed them. It was clear that they could win ball in the middle. Not sure why they were so reliant on the short one's in the 2nd half.
Anyway, the major positive from a Meath point of view is that Daithi McGowan could be a star in the making for us.

Selwyn (Meath) - Posts: 352 - 20/11/2022 10:27:01    2448203

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "I would say your comment is ridiculously one sided"
Agree with you.

In reality there's probably not a whole lot between both sides, Ratoath left an awful lot out there but I though the Downs were good value for their win. Madness to say one team is clearly better than the other.

The Downs put Ratoath to the sword when it mattered, they did fall over the line in the end but Ratoath can only blame themselves.

Best of luck in the Final, you see how much it meant to everyone at the end

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 206 - 20/11/2022 13:36:52    2448215

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Gutted for Ratoath , great template for any Meath club to follow at present. To think they were Junior 10 years ago.

They deserve a well earned break now especially the dual players which most of them are, been a long year.

The Downs were deserving winners on their overall performance, dominated the game and managed the game better at the critical times with especially the 3rd quarter and that 2nd goal.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1049 - 20/11/2022 14:08:38    2448218

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Replying To thelutch:  "Gutted for Ratoath , great template for any Meath club to follow at present. To think they were Junior 10 years ago.

They deserve a well earned break now especially the dual players which most of them are, been a long year.

The Downs were deserving winners on their overall performance, dominated the game and managed the game better at the critical times with especially the 3rd quarter and that 2nd goal."
Yes the template being increase the population of your village from 1000 to 7000.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 935 - 20/11/2022 16:21:25    2448230

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The Ratoath short kickout tactic was hard to watch yesterday. It was death by 1000 cuts, especially with 4/5 ball winners around the middle. The stats will tell (I'm sure!) that they won most of their short kickouts directly - but probably won't identify that they indirectly conceded a high % of their scores from them.

Short kickouts work in certain occasions, but rarely can a club team maintain the stamina that is required to make hay from their implementation. The sheer workrate to get the ball to the opposition 65 against a high press - is mentally and physically draining. And the net impact is an inability to get quicker ball into scoring forwards like McMahon.

Ratoath are certainly not alone in deploying this strategy but they've probably been exposed due to their profile and the fact that Shane Duffy is no longer there to give a long outlet. They need to mix it up. Ironically Flynn and McGowan won every Downs KO in the final 15mins when they kicked long but Ratoath refused to deploy that strategy. It's time many club teams put the stats to one side and look at the practical outcome of short kickouts

GenderNeutral (Meath) - Posts: 112 - 20/11/2022 19:56:28    2448245

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I can see why short kickouts are used in certain circumstances, but in the pouring rain with the ball like a bar of soap, it was suicidal the way the short kickouts went. And the fact that we were lording it in midfield when the ball went long made it even more baffling that the tactic was persisted with.

While the referee did make some strange, inconsistent decisions, I don't think there can be any blame for the loss put on him. Had we performed on the day, we would have won. As it happens, we probably performed for a third of the game and lost by a point.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 21/11/2022 09:44:11    2448271

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Replying To Ashrules:  "Ratoath were far and away the best team . Unfortunately for them conceding 2 goals. But would still have beat them easily only for the ridiculously one sided referee. Gave very soft frees to the downs and ignored hard fouls on Ratoath players. Even gave a free the wrong way to save them in extra time. And was leaving a player with 2 yellow cards on the field until it was pointed out."
Absolute codswallop.

1. They were nowhere near being "far and away the best team" 2 very even teams but the downs marginally better due to having the smarter players.

2. There was no ridiculously one sided refereeing on show. some questionable decisions at times but for both teams and overall he had a decent game .

3. Leaving a player with 2 yellows on the field until it was pointed out. He gave him the 2nd yellow then probably 10/15 seconds later he gave him the red. The game didn't even restart so did not effect the game or the result at all.

Your take on the game is outrageously biased one sided and bitter.

Hard luck to Ratoath . I was really rooting for them there at the end because it was brilliant to have a meath club in Leinster senior club final but the downs just had the smarter more intelligent players who overall used the ball better and created better chances for themselves . Ratoath will be disappointed with some crucial unforced errors that also cost them scores .

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 870 - 21/11/2022 10:07:48    2448274

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Replying To BigJoe14:  "Yes the template being increase the population of your village from 1000 to 7000."
I'm reminded of a poster a while ago claiming that Ratoath didn't actually have many people move to it, implying that at some point in the 90s every woman in Ratoath decided to have about 6 children each...

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1646 - 21/11/2022 10:38:57    2448285

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Replying To Blackspot09:  "Absolute codswallop.

1. They were nowhere near being "far and away the best team" 2 very even teams but the downs marginally better due to having the smarter players.

2. There was no ridiculously one sided refereeing on show. some questionable decisions at times but for both teams and overall he had a decent game .

3. Leaving a player with 2 yellows on the field until it was pointed out. He gave him the 2nd yellow then probably 10/15 seconds later he gave him the red. The game didn't even restart so did not effect the game or the result at all.

Your take on the game is outrageously biased one sided and bitter.

Hard luck to Ratoath . I was really rooting for them there at the end because it was brilliant to have a meath club in Leinster senior club final but the downs just had the smarter more intelligent players who overall used the ball better and created better chances for themselves . Ratoath will be disappointed with some crucial unforced errors that also cost them scores ."
Thank goodness for common sense, which of course is not that common. Some ludicrous commentary on the game and referee previously. My initial response obviously didn't make it past the Admins. Ratoath are a decent outfit but just never got going until it was too late. Let's be honest, The Downs were 6 up halfway through the second half and squandered chances to put the result beyond doubt. Fair play to Ratoath for the comeback and were probably going to win if it went to extra time. So Kilmacud Crokes await who surprisingly demolished Port and have their sights on the All Ireland I suggest.

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1131 - 21/11/2022 10:46:27    2448286

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Replying To BigSur:  "Thank goodness for common sense, which of course is not that common. Some ludicrous commentary on the game and referee previously. My initial response obviously didn't make it past the Admins. Ratoath are a decent outfit but just never got going until it was too late. Let's be honest, The Downs were 6 up halfway through the second half and squandered chances to put the result beyond doubt. Fair play to Ratoath for the comeback and were probably going to win if it went to extra time. So Kilmacud Crokes await who surprisingly demolished Port and have their sights on the All Ireland I suggest."
Please, please don't you build up Kilmacud to much to the detriment of The Downs. I have the feeling that the Westmeath champions will not be going to Croke Park just to make up the numbers for a Crokes team on their way to an All Ireland.
Come on the underdogs.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1066 - 21/11/2022 12:15:01    2448304

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Replying To Blackspot09:  "Absolute codswallop.

1. They were nowhere near being "far and away the best team" 2 very even teams but the downs marginally better due to having the smarter players.

2. There was no ridiculously one sided refereeing on show. some questionable decisions at times but for both teams and overall he had a decent game .

3. Leaving a player with 2 yellows on the field until it was pointed out. He gave him the 2nd yellow then probably 10/15 seconds later he gave him the red. The game didn't even restart so did not effect the game or the result at all.

Your take on the game is outrageously biased one sided and bitter.

Hard luck to Ratoath . I was really rooting for them there at the end because it was brilliant to have a meath club in Leinster senior club final but the downs just had the smarter more intelligent players who overall used the ball better and created better chances for themselves . Ratoath will be disappointed with some crucial unforced errors that also cost them scores ."
Yes - agree with you there!
Ratoath played in fits and starts - much as they did against Rhode and Summerhill - they certainly didn't play at their best! There is still more in this side and I think they will be hard to beat next year and will gain more experience to challenge Leinster again. They are the best Senior team in Meath at the moment - winning 3 out of the last 4 Keegans and most of the team still have decent mileage in them while some of their younger players, Flynn, McGowan, Wyer are gaining experience and improving all the time. Joe Wallace was a big loss for them and they have also had some lads go travelling this year - although a number of clubs suffer this! Hard to knock them!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 479 - 21/11/2022 12:43:51    2448312

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Replying To BigJoe14:  "Yes the template being increase the population of your village from 1000 to 7000."
They are not the only ton to have had a population explosion - Colmcilles have a population of about 11,000 according to the census and Ashbourne have about 12,500 but neither have won a Keegan.

Ratoath have done great work with their juvenile set up - and I know Cilles and Ashbourne are now doing huge work and I honestly think in the next few years you will see these winning Keegan's!

Population plays a big part of course - but there are 30,000 people in Navan so not just about that! (NOM and Simonstown!)

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 479 - 21/11/2022 12:48:32    2448315

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Replying To BigJoe14:  "Yes the template being increase the population of your village from 1000 to 7000."
Yes, because absolutely nothing else has gone into getting Ratoath where they are in both football and hurling.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 21/11/2022 13:28:33    2448321

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Replying To Blackspot09:  "Absolute codswallop.

1. They were nowhere near being "far and away the best team" 2 very even teams but the downs marginally better due to having the smarter players.

2. There was no ridiculously one sided refereeing on show. some questionable decisions at times but for both teams and overall he had a decent game .

3. Leaving a player with 2 yellows on the field until it was pointed out. He gave him the 2nd yellow then probably 10/15 seconds later he gave him the red. The game didn't even restart so did not effect the game or the result at all.

Your take on the game is outrageously biased one sided and bitter.

Hard luck to Ratoath . I was really rooting for them there at the end because it was brilliant to have a meath club in Leinster senior club final but the downs just had the smarter more intelligent players who overall used the ball better and created better chances for themselves . Ratoath will be disappointed with some crucial unforced errors that also cost them scores ."
hard luck on Ratoath, overall game turned on small errors on a difficult surface , but Downs second goal was a cracker, but came from another error , but hard to argue with the Downs coming out just n the right side
PS...deighted personally for Lar Wal, and will be shouting for them now big time l

Thelongwoodslasher (Meath) - Posts: 385 - 21/11/2022 16:45:28    2448351

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Replying To Ratoath Royal:  "Yes, because absolutely nothing else has gone into getting Ratoath where they are in both football and hurling."
I agree and lets not forget that Ratoath got the the SHC final also.

stillaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 224 - 21/11/2022 17:53:31    2448356

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Replying To Thelongwoodslasher:  "hard luck on Ratoath, overall game turned on small errors on a difficult surface , but Downs second goal was a cracker, but came from another error , but hard to argue with the Downs coming out just n the right side
PS...deighted personally for Lar Wal, and will be shouting for them now big time l"
Agree on all of this . Delighted for Lar Wall and hopefully they win but i can't see them getting near Crokes unfortunately

Blackspot09 (Meath) - Posts: 870 - 21/11/2022 18:27:20    2448358

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Replying To Blackspot09:  "Absolute codswallop.

1. They were nowhere near being "far and away the best team" 2 very even teams but the downs marginally better due to having the smarter players.

2. There was no ridiculously one sided refereeing on show. some questionable decisions at times but for both teams and overall he had a decent game .

3. Leaving a player with 2 yellows on the field until it was pointed out. He gave him the 2nd yellow then probably 10/15 seconds later he gave him the red. The game didn't even restart so did not effect the game or the result at all.

Your take on the game is outrageously biased one sided and bitter.

Hard luck to Ratoath . I was really rooting for them there at the end because it was brilliant to have a meath club in Leinster senior club final but the downs just had the smarter more intelligent players who overall used the ball better and created better chances for themselves . Ratoath will be disappointed with some crucial unforced errors that also cost them scores ."
Look at the recording of the game and get someone who understands football to explain it to you.

Ratoath scored 17 pts to 12 but got caught for 2 goals against the run of play.
Referee allowed Downs to overcarry ridiculously and gave them frees when they needed them for absolutely no reason in my opinion. He would not have produced the second yellow if he was aware there was already one on the player, actually apologised to the player when having no choice.
Ratoaths performance was off the scale and the GPS will show that. Were further ahead of the Downs performance than either Summerhill or Rhode Matches.

Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 518 - 22/11/2022 13:32:44    2448421

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