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Replying To county man: "Agree, people may have known Dublin were vulnerable but not against Meath. Meath may be building underage but up to now they hadn't shown anything in league or championship for years and were regularly getting walloped by the likes of Dublin. It is definitely up there for the football shock of this century." With all due respect, you havent a clue... stick to hurling...
Many in Meath were very confident and their players were too.
Dublin fans knew this was coming - if it wasnt Meath it would have been Louth that beat us this year in Leinster.
Arm chair pundits who dont go to games involving these teams, making comments based on previous years results, with no clue to what the current situation is for both teams here....
The signs were there in the league - Meath chalking up high scores and Dublin devoid of new ideas and strategy with no midfield and a make shift defence.....
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 09:21:11
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Replying To county man: "Agree, people may have known Dublin were vulnerable but not against Meath. Meath may be building underage but up to now they hadn't shown anything in league or championship for years and were regularly getting walloped by the likes of Dublin. It is definitely up there for the football shock of this century." To be honest I wouldn't see this as a shock and am not taking away from toppling the Dubs but somebody at some stage was going to do it WEE almost done it last year in the final when the Dubs had most of there household players particularly Fenton who imo was there biggest departure after Connolly. I could not believe how sloppy the Dubs were yesterday even for there standard especially on there kickouts and Meath took full advantage of that by playing into a strong breeze, as somebody said on here if Meath come out and play in the first half in putting it up to the them we could have a classic of old and that is exactly how it turned out.
francie81 (Louth) - Posts: 228 - 28/04/2025 09:34:12
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Replying To Fionn: "With all due respect, you havent a clue... stick to hurling...
Many in Meath were very confident and their players were too.
Dublin fans knew this was coming - if it wasnt Meath it would have been Louth that beat us this year in Leinster.
Arm chair pundits who dont go to games involving these teams, making comments based on previous years results, with no clue to what the current situation is for both teams here....
The signs were there in the league - Meath chalking up high scores and Dublin devoid of new ideas and strategy with no midfield and a make shift defence....." I'd disagree massively with the statement that many in Meath were confident. Especially when you look at how the league campaign tailed off, the management departures, injuries to key players (Morris, Kinlough and Flynn yesterday). The majority were hoping to keep it competitive. It was definitely a shock!!
RebelAlliance (Cork) - Posts: 33 - 28/04/2025 09:57:43
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Replying To Fionn: "With all due respect, you havent a clue... stick to hurling...
Many in Meath were very confident and their players were too.
Dublin fans knew this was coming - if it wasnt Meath it would have been Louth that beat us this year in Leinster.
Arm chair pundits who dont go to games involving these teams, making comments based on previous years results, with no clue to what the current situation is for both teams here....
The signs were there in the league - Meath chalking up high scores and Dublin devoid of new ideas and strategy with no midfield and a make shift defence....." Read my post again...I did say Dublin were vulnerable, just not against Meath.
Meath were 7/1 for a reason in a 2 horse race but as you knew better than the bookies, I presume you cleaned them out and are a rich man this morning. Congratulations.
county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1136 - 28/04/2025 10:31:12
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Replying To francie81: "To be honest I wouldn't see this as a shock and am not taking away from toppling the Dubs but somebody at some stage was going to do it WEE almost done it last year in the final when the Dubs had most of there household players particularly Fenton who imo was there biggest departure after Connolly. I could not believe how sloppy the Dubs were yesterday even for there standard especially on there kickouts and Meath took full advantage of that by playing into a strong breeze, as somebody said on here if Meath come out and play in the first half in putting it up to the them we could have a classic of old and that is exactly how it turned out." Yeah Dublin were regressing and someone was going to beat them in Leinster at some stage, but I didn't think it would be this year and not Meath. I still thought the gap was too big. They are building underage and I thought they would be back to challenging them if that continued and they got back to Division1 etc but I didn't see it happening so soon.
If Dublin had beaten Meath, I would have given Louth an outside chance of beating them as Louth have been coming over the past number of years.
It is clear that the new rules are definitely having an affect, the games are not as predictable as they use to be and that is a good thing. Cork nearly took down Kerry and the 2 pointers definitely had a part to play in that.
And it is also good for football that Leinster will have a new winner this year.
county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1136 - 28/04/2025 10:55:55
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Fair play to Meath. After their coaching team split up, I would have thought their season would have imploded.
They went after Dublin in a way they haven't done for 15 years. They went after 2 pointers with the wind behind them and once they got a good lead, their believe grew.
On the other side, the Dubs just thought they were eventually going to get it done but they were so bad in the first half they gave Meath the energy to keep going and fair play, the Meath lads held on and delivered when they had to.
The fact that it was a neutral venue, rather then a Dublin home venue also took away Dublin's usual 3-4 point advantage in these matches.
All in all, a great day for Leinster football
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1343 - 28/04/2025 10:57:49
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Replying To RebelAlliance: "I'd disagree massively with the statement that many in Meath were confident. Especially when you look at how the league campaign tailed off, the management departures, injuries to key players (Morris, Kinlough and Flynn yesterday). The majority were hoping to keep it competitive. It was definitely a shock!!" Football shock of the century, it was called - I think not...
And only a shock to some.
The signs were there as recent as the Dublin v Wickow game.
Dublin were not playing well this year.
And Dubs were missing 5 players yesterday, along with the 5 retirees.
We have no midfield and only 2 regular defenders in our back 6.
And it was John Smalls 1st, yes 1st, game of the season.....
I know plenty of Meath folk who were expecting to win and couldnt believe the odds on offer.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 11:05:36
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "Fair play to Meath. After their coaching team split up, I would have thought their season would have imploded.
They went after Dublin in a way they haven't done for 15 years. They went after 2 pointers with the wind behind them and once they got a good lead, their believe grew.
On the other side, the Dubs just thought they were eventually going to get it done but they were so bad in the first half they gave Meath the energy to keep going and fair play, the Meath lads held on and delivered when they had to.
The fact that it was a neutral venue, rather then a Dublin home venue also took away Dublin's usual 3-4 point advantage in these matches.
All in all, a great day for Leinster football" Meath are clearly coaching their teams on 2 pointers - their minor and u20 teams are proficient at it also....
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 11:07:39
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Replying To Fionn: "With all due respect, you havent a clue... stick to hurling...
Many in Meath were very confident and their players were too.
Dublin fans knew this was coming - if it wasnt Meath it would have been Louth that beat us this year in Leinster.
Arm chair pundits who dont go to games involving these teams, making comments based on previous years results, with no clue to what the current situation is for both teams here....
The signs were there in the league - Meath chalking up high scores and Dublin devoid of new ideas and strategy with no midfield and a make shift defence....." I'd disagree massively with the statement that many in Meath were confident. Especially when you look at how the league campaign tailed off, the management departures, injuries to key players (Morris, Kinlough and Flynn yesterday). The majority were hoping to keep it competitive. It was definitely a shock!!
RebelAlliance (Cork) - Posts: 33 - 28/04/2025 11:09:40
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Replying To Fionn: "Football shock of the century, it was called - I think not...
And only a shock to some.
The signs were there as recent as the Dublin v Wickow game.
Dublin were not playing well this year.
And Dubs were missing 5 players yesterday, along with the 5 retirees.
We have no midfield and only 2 regular defenders in our back 6.
And it was John Smalls 1st, yes 1st, game of the season.....
I know plenty of Meath folk who were expecting to win and couldnt believe the odds on offer." Only one journalist said that and has been rightfully derided, but to not call it a shock is disingenuous.
The majority of Meath people were definitely surprised, you only have to look at the lack of chatter on here in the build up and the attendance itself.
RebelAlliance (Cork) - Posts: 33 - 28/04/2025 11:11:54
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Replying To county man: "Yeah Dublin were regressing and someone was going to beat them in Leinster at some stage, but I didn't think it would be this year and not Meath. I still thought the gap was too big. They are building underage and I thought they would be back to challenging them if that continued and they got back to Division1 etc but I didn't see it happening so soon.
If Dublin had beaten Meath, I would have given Louth an outside chance of beating them as Louth have been coming over the past number of years.
It is clear that the new rules are definitely having an affect, the games are not as predictable as they use to be and that is a good thing. Cork nearly took down Kerry and the 2 pointers definitely had a part to play in that.
And it is also good for football that Leinster will have a new winner this year." Why would Meath beating Dublin be considered as one of the shocks of the century, but you then think Louth would have had an outside chance of beating Dublin in a Leinster final (if Dublin had beaten Meath) ?
That makes no sense... do you think Louth will hammer Meath in the Leinster final so.??
Did you not see the Louth v Meath game in the league.
I think Meath are a better team than Louth. If I am proved wrong about that in the Final so be it.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 11:22:17
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Replying To RebelAlliance: "Only one journalist said that and has been rightfully derided, but to not call it a shock is disingenuous.
The majority of Meath people were definitely surprised, you only have to look at the lack of chatter on here in the build up and the attendance itself." When is the last time you could say that more Meath players would get on the Dublin team than vice versa....
We are nearly at that stage now.....
And the Dubs dont have the talent coming through underage that Meath have either.
A definite changing of the guard.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 11:31:04
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Fair play to Meath. Wonderful stuff.
But would it be fair to point out that the provincial championships don't really mean anything under this new system, and have just become glorified O'Byrne and McKenna Cups?
What did Dublin really lose by losing yesterday? Nothing.
In the past, they'd either have been eliminated or forced into the back door.
This is basically preseason before the real action starts in a few weeks.
ps. FWIW, I think the GAA should revert to the back door knock out system. No groups, no super eights etc.
CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 844 - 28/04/2025 11:59:45
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "Fair play to Meath. After their coaching team split up, I would have thought their season would have imploded.
They went after Dublin in a way they haven't done for 15 years. They went after 2 pointers with the wind behind them and once they got a good lead, their believe grew.
On the other side, the Dubs just thought they were eventually going to get it done but they were so bad in the first half they gave Meath the energy to keep going and fair play, the Meath lads held on and delivered when they had to.
The fact that it was a neutral venue, rather then a Dublin home venue also took away Dublin's usual 3-4 point advantage in these matches.
All in all, a great day for Leinster football" Begs the question why this wasn't done years ago. I personally think the Leinster council / GAA have a lot to answer for not facilitating games in provincial grounds around the province.
Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 343 - 28/04/2025 12:12:35
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Replying To CARPS: "Fair play to Meath. Wonderful stuff.
But would it be fair to point out that the provincial championships don't really mean anything under this new system, and have just become glorified O'Byrne and McKenna Cups?
What did Dublin really lose by losing yesterday? Nothing.
In the past, they'd either have been eliminated or forced into the back door.
This is basically preseason before the real action starts in a few weeks.
ps. FWIW, I think the GAA should revert to the back door knock out system. No groups, no super eights etc." Yes, I would go for a knockout competition also to be honest.
Makes it more exciting.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 12:26:45
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Replying To Cbar: "Begs the question why this wasn't done years ago. I personally think the Leinster council / GAA have a lot to answer for not facilitating games in provincial grounds around the province." It should have been done years ago.
But some of the attendances of a few years ago, would have meant huge financial drop in gate receipts if games were not in Croke Park.
More recently that had not been the case though with attendances in Croker being so low.
No excuse going forward. Use provincial grounds more...!
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 12:30:41
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Replying To RebelAlliance: "Only one journalist said that and has been rightfully derided, but to not call it a shock is disingenuous.
The majority of Meath people were definitely surprised, you only have to look at the lack of chatter on here in the build up and the attendance itself." Obviously we were underdogs yesterday but not in the same way as a few years ago.
I had a similar conversation with many Meath people before the game.
We knew we were not playing the all time great Dublin team of a few years ago, we knew we had a real chance yesterday.
GreenMan1987 (Meath) - Posts: 66 - 28/04/2025 12:56:19
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Replying To GreenMan1987: "Obviously we were underdogs yesterday but not in the same way as a few years ago.
I had a similar conversation with many Meath people before the game.
We knew we were not playing the all time great Dublin team of a few years ago, we knew we had a real chance yesterday." Any Meath people I know or work with, were quietly confident.
They knew they had a real chance against a much weakened Dublin team.
The Dubs were definitely there for the taking this year.
Both teams are now on very different trajectories it has to be said.
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 13:47:32
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Replying To Fionn: "Why would Meath beating Dublin be considered as one of the shocks of the century, but you then think Louth would have had an outside chance of beating Dublin in a Leinster final (if Dublin had beaten Meath) ?
That makes no sense... do you think Louth will hammer Meath in the Leinster final so.??
Did you not see the Louth v Meath game in the league.
I think Meath are a better team than Louth. If I am proved wrong about that in the Final so be it." Before yesterday I think most people would have said Louth were closer to Dublin than Meath were. This will be their 3rd Leinster final in a row, and they only lost to Dublin by 4 points last year, Meath lost by 16. Also Louth beat Meath by 10 points in last years championship and had a much better overall performance.
Therefore Louth have been showing real signs of incremental improvements over the past few years from when Mickey Harte took over and it followed on with Ger Brennan now, and wouldn't have to improve as much as Meath did in order to beat Dublin, who had shown nothing in the championship for years until yesterday.
Does that mean Louth will definitely beat Meath? No
Does it mean that after yesterday that Meath have overtaken Louth? No
Everyone knows that sport doesn't work in a binary fashion, and these teams are closer together, so whoever wins won't be a shock or surprise. I do think Louth will win but I could be wrong too though.
Put it this way, if you asked anyone before the start of the championship, if Dublin were to lose, which team will win Leinster, I believe the vast majority would have said Louth.
county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1136 - 28/04/2025 14:24:59
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Replying To county man: "Before yesterday I think most people would have said Louth were closer to Dublin than Meath were. This will be their 3rd Leinster final in a row, and they only lost to Dublin by 4 points last year, Meath lost by 16. Also Louth beat Meath by 10 points in last years championship and had a much better overall performance.
Therefore Louth have been showing real signs of incremental improvements over the past few years from when Mickey Harte took over and it followed on with Ger Brennan now, and wouldn't have to improve as much as Meath did in order to beat Dublin, who had shown nothing in the championship for years until yesterday.
Does that mean Louth will definitely beat Meath? No
Does it mean that after yesterday that Meath have overtaken Louth? No
Everyone knows that sport doesn't work in a binary fashion, and these teams are closer together, so whoever wins won't be a shock or surprise. I do think Louth will win but I could be wrong too though.
Put it this way, if you asked anyone before the start of the championship, if Dublin were to lose, which team will win Leinster, I believe the vast majority would have said Louth." You are missing the point...
One of the shocks of the century vs having an outside chance of beating Dublin.
This is chalk and cheese - not a 5 or 10 or 15 point differential.
Louth and Meath in reality were never that far apart in that description.
You cant say one team is at one end of that spectrum and the other team at the other end, and then say both are quite close.
The results in Meath v Louth games tell you that.
For the betterment of Leinster football, we all need Kildare to get the finger out now....
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4183 - 28/04/2025 16:27:01
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