Pigtail. I'd say it will be Bray

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/06/2014 10:48:49    1609750

We were worried about frees the last day alright but in fairness to Podge he kicked the few that came his way. Johnny Doyle is related to him by marriage and apparently has been doing some sort of kicking sessions with him. A load of free-takers on the bench the last day though. We certainly won't be bringing the keeper up which I think might be a possibility for Meath.

Be interesting to see who makes the bench this time. Having Conway, O'Flaherty, Smith and O'Connor (possibly Mulhall now also)to come in is a big plus for Kildare.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 27/06/2014 11:18:06    1609769

No probs at all Htaem. Wee need all the luck Royaldunne but once the pride is but back in the jersey thats the main thing.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 27/06/2014 12:13:33    1609831

Looking at that Meath team I have to say I'd be surprised if they line up as selected.

Shane O'Rourke centreforward? Surely he'll be dropping back into midfield? That'd allow Menton move into the halfback line with Carroll moving up into the forwards.

Keogan needs to be put back in at corner back. He's one of the best markers around and that ability is wasted at centreback especially with the pace and ball winning ability that Brophy, Fogarty and Kelly have.

It'll be interesting to see how Graham Reilly does, seems to blow hot and cold when he's in Croke Park. Ollie Lyons is probably the obvious choice to pick him up, and with his pace and desire to get forward it could ask some big questions of Reilly's ability to track back and defend. Ideally Peter Kelly would be back fit for this one, would be more confident of him over Foley playing against Bray in an isolated two man fullforward line. McGrillen showed a bit of a return to form the last day against Louth and Lennon only managed three scores from play so there's a positive to be taken from that I'm sure.

If there's no changes to that Meath team personnel wise or in terms of positions, then come throw in I might start to feel a bit more confident about a Kildare win.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3691 - 27/06/2014 12:36:16    1609855

if_in_doubt

You seem to know you're stuff about the Meath team in fairness, I have to admit that I'm not great with other teams so I can't comment as much about Kildare but just a few things. I'm in 2 minds over Keoghan (which is the biggest issue for me), he played a lot of the league at 6 and done very well because that was our weakest line but of course the trade off is a weaker FB line and that could be the losing of the game for us.

I'm still unconvinced about Young and Burke was never great at 4 so my main worry is that Kelly, Fogarty and Brophy are going to make hay.

G Reilly will probably play further out field, Menton, Meade and SOR will basically be our 3 centrefielders with Tobin and Carroll both helping out.

But essentially the 2 sides don't look a million miles apart, Kildare probably have the better defence and more of an advantage up front so I'd expect the Lillies to win out easily enough, maybe 5 or 6pts in a high scoring game.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 27/06/2014 13:18:21    1609892

Dh only time paddy will come up is for 45s. He won't take frees. Keoghan has proved himself as good a cb as corner and his runs forward and cause problems, also he can chip in with a point or two. Almost a certainty that the team named will start , mod doesn't name dummy teams, barring god forbid another injury those 15 will start. The position thing is done different with probably a few swapping before throw in. I'm happy enough with that selection, we still have sub's like Kenny, d bray, gilsenen, Curran, mcdonagh to come in if and when needed. So all in all happy enough. Those 2 midfielders and 6 forwards can all score , so Kildare's backs will have their work cut out to minimize that. Bray O'Rourke will take frees paddy 45s and carroll if we get a penalty.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/06/2014 13:31:49    1609903

IFINDOUBT

Oh that will be the Meath team for sure.. Micko has NEVER selected dummy teams,or messed with positions before the game..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 27/06/2014 13:56:56    1609925

Yeah Htaem I think it's definitely a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul playing Keogan at centreback however good he may be there, the one line you shouldn't be weakening is your fullback line.

Haven't seen much of Menton at midfield to be honest, just think he has great potential as a defender, especially at fullback although with Kevin Reilly fit he'll probably struggle to get a run in there.

I reckon a lot of Kildare fans would be happy to see Burke line up against Kelly or Brophy, he's good going forward and holds onto the ball well but I can't see him coping well as a man marker on a pacey ball winner like Brophy or a nippy skilful player like Kelly.

Meath going with three men in the middle is something we should be able to cope with, O'Neill will probably play like he did the last day and drop back out of the halfforward line and Callaghan will drop a little deeper too.

It'll be interesting to see if Carroll picks up McNally, Carroll is more of an attacking minded player, while McNally is lightning quick so will need close attention down the wing.

Reilly named in the corner probably helps us too, he'll be picked up by Lyons and followed everywhere so he won't enjoy the freedom he'd get playing against the likes of Bolton or Cribbin.

Brady up against Foley is the area I'd have concern over, they'll be the only two All Stars on the pitch so it should be a good battle.

Plenty of question marks and unknowns surrounding both teams so it should make for a great game for the neutral.

With a stronger bench; the likes of O'Connor, O'Flaherty and Paul Cribbin have all been pretty much ever presents this year while Smith was probably our best forward before injury last year, I think we're probably in a stronger position than Meath are.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3691 - 27/06/2014 14:13:09    1609939

Two teams are very similarly laid out alright. Meath essentially have three midfielders in Menton, Meade and O'Rourke and Kildare will be the same with Hurley dropping back with Moolick and Paidi. Neither Kelly or Leper will be confined to the corner either and will be dropping back around the half forward line or in Callaghan's case maybe even further.

Both teams will run hard and contest the breaking ball. Think Kildare should focus on Carroll's wing early on and see if we might find a few gaps inside there. If that makes Meath have to re-adjust their shape and drop back in front of him to plug a leak then we'll be going in the right direction.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 27/06/2014 14:14:06    1609940

Hard to say what tactics will be but expect Meath to prevail with couple to spare.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/06/2014 17:45:50    1610089

Brian McMahon took the frees for the u21s and Andy Tormey is taking frees all of his life for underage Meath teams and his club. Stephen Bray takes a few every now and again too. Personally I'd leave Tormey at them. He's enjoying a serious season and we know he's a top notch free taker for his club. Shane O'Rourke took one from the right hand side against Carlow. I wouldn't be overly confident in his free taking but frees from that side are going to be a problem with or without Newman.

Former_Poster (Meath) - Posts: 394 - 27/06/2014 17:51:04    1610090

By jasus the excitement is building nicely. Jerseys on the line flags up tickets in press. All I need now is a few bullock sambos :). Sunday can't come quick enough.
Hon the Royal.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/06/2014 19:07:06    1610114

indeed rd. The tension mounts like a steel cable being winched.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3038 - 27/06/2014 19:23:32    1610117

I lillywhite1. It does.
One thing that's annoying me is I think our game should have been the second biling. No disrespect to either Dublin or Wexford. But this match is intriguing.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/06/2014 19:40:43    1610122

I agree royaldunne, even some of the Dubs are looking forward more to this game than their own v Wexford.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3038 - 27/06/2014 19:51:35    1610124

Yep the dubs are lookin forward more to this. Strange decision,

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 27/06/2014 20:06:17    1610129

Who said were looking forward to it more? I'm looking forward to Kildare Meath but never more than Dublin

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 27/06/2014 21:19:16    1610159

One more day.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/06/2014 08:24:03    1610188

Ifindoubt

Yeah you raise some good points,as a Meathman,I would be very concerned about the two corner backs.I think Burke is a good player,but not as a man-marker.Young is small and weak physically.If Kildare get good ball into their full forward line,we are in trouble.As it is,Kildare are more likely to score goals.Carroll hasn't really impressed me at wing back,and if his marker is pacey,we could be in trouble there.Kildare could target him and Burke(both on the same side of the defense),As for Menton,we need his energy around midfield,both SOR and Meade looked tired as the game went on,and that was a nothing game v Carlow.All in all,I think Kildare are in better shape going into this game.The Newman injury could be in the final nail in our coffin.I would be hopeful that Meath will win,but looking at it logically,you would have to tip Kildare to win..

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 28/06/2014 09:35:45    1610208

Reading the different match previews in the papers online and have to say I'm a bit irked by the common consensus that Kildare would be way off if it wasn't for the injuries in the Meath camp. With the squad we have I think we'd still be well in it but either way the die has been cast now. If Kildare win tomorrow it will be because of Meath's misfortune, if we lose then imagine what Meath would have done with a full selection. That we had 10 or more players undergoing surgery just before or during the league apparently was not a factor in our relegation. That was just us finding our level.

Still, nothing we can do about that. We'll have to do it in on the pitch. This is THE season defining game for Jason Ryan. People will write what they want until a result forces them to change their mind.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 28/06/2014 10:27:39    1610228