The bookies are calling it as an evenly matched contest, however, as I posted earlier, goals will decide this game and Meath have the forwards to find the net. Best of luck and hoping it is a cracker of a game.

bryanadams (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 16/06/2014 19:54:50    1604748

The gap between top half of division 2 and bottom half of division 1 is virtually non existent. We had Donegal and arguably the best team in Ulster Monaghan to contend with. Now a bit like us up in Donegal ( we should have beat them) Kildare should have beat Tyrone if both those had happened both counties would be in division one next year. Those are the breaks. So really two very evenly matched teams. Meath downfall I believe is also their strength, goals, if you get them great, if you don't then like Leinster final last year you end up 2 points up instead of 5/6. Meath play a high speed game even with it been brought down due to wallace and o'sullivan been out. It will tire out some lads, like o'rourke and Meade on Sunday. Both not long back from injury
It really is impossible to call. Kildare have impressed me under Ryan to a level they never did under geezer. Firstly they have dropped a hell of a lot of the muscle that was totally the factor of former years. They can score rather than run a team into the ground.
All in all the questions that will decide this game is not how fit the teams are as I think meath have rectified that problem,but who has lost the bigger players to injury. By reareading on here it would seem Kildare have as many as Meath. That is what will decide it.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/06/2014 09:13:43    1604827

Really looking forward to this one. It has the potential to be a cracker of a game and will give the winners a huge boost going into the Leinster Final.

Before the start of the Championship I would've thought Meath were going to win this match but I was very impressed by Kildare's dismantling of Louth. Now I know Meath hammered Carlow but for me the Kildare performance was much more impressive.

Kildare by a point or two for me.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 17/06/2014 10:07:45    1604855

Potential to be a very interesting game. Both managers would appear to be fairly tactical in their approach so I'm not expecting a score fest, at least not in the first half. Quite cagey for first 40-45mins and then to open up. Very much a 50/50 contest. Neither team know how good they are, injuries etc. have hampered both. Kildare have a larger squad and are more of a Div 1 team than Meath at the moment, would expect them to bounce back up next year. Both teams are still a good 7-10 points behind Dublin.

moylagh (Meath) - Posts: 486 - 17/06/2014 10:10:40    1604859

Fair Reflection their RoyalDunne. This is the game that most Kildare and Meath supporters were looking forward to and both teams would have been aiming at the Leinster final and take it form there. Its a crucial game for both.
Expecting a good open high scoring game in Croke Park and I would hope for no refereeing drama.
The ref for the Dublin Laois game was fairly decent, well in control without influencing the game much.
I think Kildares full forward line against Meaths fullback line can be the difference. Of course the same could be said from a Meath perspective.

jonno (Kildare) - Posts: 261 - 17/06/2014 10:25:31    1604872

In truth I'd agree with the general consensus that this is going to be a tight game and is quite difficult to call, most Meath people will go for Meath, Kildare fans will pick Kildare and given our recent history I'd imagine most neutrals and pundits will also go for Kildare. I think both teams are quite similar at the moment and I like both managers so there isn't a huge difference there, both are a little depleted with injuries aswell so again not a lot to separate the two teams.

Two years ago Kildare were heavy favourites and rightfully so but they just never clicked on the day so even when a prediction seems easy it can be very wide of the mark, which makes calling this game even harder, so my prediction?......Kildare at a canter of course ;-)

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 17/06/2014 11:24:02    1604912

Royaldunne how have Kildare impressed you under Jason Ryan? They lost five out of seven league games and were relegated.

I have to say I am very wary of Kildare coming into this game under the radar but to-date I have been far from impressed. I think it took them a while to get to grips with losing McGeeney. Maybe they are back in control again. Certainly though any team that gets relegated can't be too impressive.

I make Kildare favourites for this game anyway on the basis that their younger players have probably won a lot more than Meath's younger players at underage plus Meath are carrying a lot of expectation while Kildare have been a forgotten team for much of the season so far. There's plenty of incentive there for Kildare and maybe a lot of the pressure is on Meath.

Former_Poster (Meath) - Posts: 394 - 17/06/2014 11:27:05    1604918

Jono. Yes it will come down to how both back lines deal with foforward line

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/06/2014 11:46:45    1604938

Former poster. For me its about work ethic and attitude. The attitude under mcgeeney was they were world beaters, totally focused on bulking up, this was not only from management but players and supporters too.
That attitude has changed dramatically within the county, and yes I am mostly basing this on what I seen v Louth, if I'm honest I went to that match expecting lu to win
Kildare impressed me yeah Louth were bad but comparing how Kildare went about their business you could not but be impressed. Both teams are at a similar level. For me the relatively easy runs Kildare had to quarters during geezers time masked a problem. They could hardly score until opponent gave in due to lack of fitness. Where as now they have got the balance right.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/06/2014 11:58:48    1604944

Both teams will beat Wexford in the Final!

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 17/06/2014 12:02:57    1604949

Former poster. There is no way Kildare are under the radar, same as Meath. A mere month ago Meath were 7/1 to win Leinster Kildare ranging from 9/1 to 12/1. Both this morning are 11/1. The match itself has both at evens. Its impossible to call with any certainty the winner. I'd say most pundits will be split 50/50.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/06/2014 12:06:27    1604950

Jeez royaldunne
the way your putting it one would think that under McGeeney Kildare teams machine gunned teams into the ground and stampeded all over them!

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3038 - 17/06/2014 12:10:44    1604954

well 2 years ago before we played yee there was this awful racket about how fit kildare were and how hard they were going at they gym that meath would not be able to cope with the sheer fitness of this team and then meath pretty much destroyed them. Not all fans were saying this but it was a pretty general feeling that meath would not be anywhere near them. I think it just goes to show that anything can happen on the day and that sometimes form goes out the window. There is definitely a good rivalry there and we are much better matched than either of us are with dublin so hopefully it will be a cracker whoever wins! Best of luck Kildare :)! An Mhi Abu.

Beautiful.Meath (Meath) - Posts: 537 - 17/06/2014 12:52:40    1604984

Yes beautiful Meath both are evenly matched. Very very hardto call. 2 years ago iI was very bullish about a Meath win. That was based on league game where the former player mcenarny, ( hope is recovery still going well) hit the post with time just up, Kildare went up and got winner. If Shane had punched that ball over bar or it went in net Meath would have at least drawn. But this time I'm not sure.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 17/06/2014 13:37:45    1605028

If Peter Kelly starts for Kildare at full back instead of Foley Kildare will win handy enough.

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 17/06/2014 14:21:38    1605058

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 5827

The attitude under mcgeeney was they were world beaters, totally focused on bulking up, this was not only from management but players and supporters too.

Sure the only time I managed to put down the weights and drag myself away from the Jack3d was to post on here...

Totally focused on bulking up, well it clearly worked to an extent didn't it? Five consecutive quarter finals and a semi would support that of course.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3691 - 17/06/2014 14:24:48    1605060

daytona11
County: Kildare
Posts: 2563

If Peter Kelly starts for Kildare at full back instead of Foley Kildare will win handy enough.

Combine that with Meath playing their best man marker at centre back instead of in the corner and I'd be happy enough.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3691 - 17/06/2014 14:51:13    1605083

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 5827

The attitude under mcgeeney was they were world beaters, totally focused on bulking up, this was not only from management but players and supporters too.

Sure the only time I managed to put down the weights and drag myself away from the Jack3d was to post on here...

Totally focused on bulking up, well it clearly worked to an extent didn't it? Five consecutive quarter finals and a semi would support that of course.

Meh, I would have thought beating the Dubs and attaining a Leinster title or two would have been more beneficial long term, Kildare went into a few of those quarters and semi finals you speak of with mental scars from earlier defeats, going into the All Ireland series as provincial winners would have made a difference I feel in terms of confidence and belief, they were never able to get that unbeaten run together that would have made them hard to beat in the latter stages

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3750 - 17/06/2014 14:59:52    1605093

Richieq
County: Meath
Posts: 1588

Meh, I would have thought beating the Dubs and attaining a Leinster title or two would have been more beneficial long term

Of course it would.

But if it were that easy then Carlow and Louth would be doing it too.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3691 - 17/06/2014 15:10:24    1605101

if_in_doubt
County: Kildare
Posts: 2736

1605060
royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 5827

The attitude under mcgeeney was they were world beaters, totally focused on bulking up, this was not only from management but players and supporters too.

Sure the only time I managed to put down the weights and drag myself away from the Jack3d was to post on here...

Totally focused on bulking up, well it clearly worked to an extent didn't it? Five consecutive quarter finals and a semi would support that of course.

Still not enough though is it? or is a few quarter finals and a semi and no major silverware bragged about down in Kildare?
That weight lifting must be going to yer heads :)

Beautiful.Meath (Meath) - Posts: 537 - 17/06/2014 15:33:29    1605123