Was at the match 2day in mullingar. Wondering what other people thought of it....
I thought that Meath started well with Brian Sheridan the focal point of the attack raking off a few nice scores. Meath were nthe better team in the first half although when westmeath got direct ball into their full foward line, they looked very dangerous and held the upper hand. Meath started the second half well with Newman netting a blocked Sheridan shot. Meath failed to build on this and Westmeath began to find their feet and never looked like losing from then on. Their midfielder, John Heslin, was spectacular....his fielding and free taking were the difference between the two. Meath over depended on Brian Sheridan and Westmeath ran out deserved winners.
The referree made a few daft decisions but at least he was consistent but the sending off of Mc Cann was non-existent. Two yellow cards where the second one shouldn't even have been a free , let alone a card at all. Although Westmeath were the better team and deserved their win.

johnnytitelips (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 06/03/2010 17:04:08    580774

Very poor in the second half.
Brian Sheridan had a great 1st half, but seemed to be expected to do everything in the second.
I thought the sending off was very harsh as both times Lynam conned the ref, minnimal contact if any between twn players running together! If anything, Lynam had fouled him before the 1st yellow.
Westmeath seemed to run through our defence very easily to get both goals.
Was Biggy injured? Didnt last too long.
Dissappointed (Although not surprised) by the westmeath supporters constantly booing & jeering Brian Sheridan after his first few scores.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 06/03/2010 17:42:40    580802

1st point. i hope this finally shows to people who keep harping on about o'rourke been a great coach/manager,if Bian Seridan wasnt playing for us today we could have been hammered out the gate,

2nd point. i hope eamon o'brien was watching him today and gives him a chance soon, but like i said before i doubt he will. now off to navan

The.Rock (Meath) - Posts: 582 - 06/03/2010 17:53:33    580811

Regarding your second point....
Sheridan was our best performer today ...no arguments.
But when westmeath switched their centre back martin onto him, he was tamed to say the least. Martin stayed on his right everytime and sheridan had no response with no clear left foot option.....do you not think that Sheridan would struggle a bit at senior intercounty when his lack of pace would be shown up and he would not be able to rely on his physicality?? I'm merely playing devil's advocate here for arguments sake as I am a big fan of Sheridan and his ability.

johnnytitelips (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 06/03/2010 18:57:42    580847

What's the point in having 2 good 21yr old back sitting on the bench when they are not put on. It's the same old story with Meath you have to be somebody or an ex St. Pats Player before O'Rourke has time for you.

mash58 (Meath) - Posts: 73 - 06/03/2010 19:03:51    580850

Weird move today alright staring Gerry Sheridan when he wasn't a regular whatsoever in any of their previous matches, surely his pats days aided his selection.....what back are you talking about the bench??

johnnytitelips (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 06/03/2010 19:12:57    580854

eh was at the game today, i dunno bout everyone else but what were we doing in the defence??? we had three proven great defenders on the bench Joey martin, barry curran and stephen obrien, like i dont know what happened in the dressing room but it fell apart, i was at the Armagh and Cavan game and the team proformed far better then they did today, someone would want to tell O rourke ta look beyond navan and its surroundings, another great team disposed off

Meathman105 (Meath) - Posts: 35 - 06/03/2010 20:33:10    580906

Yet again politics rules Meath underage teams. A fine squad knocked out in first round. O rourke and Giles have to go, great players on the bench and indeed not even picked for the panel.

Same every year, we need a more balanced team of selectors and manager representing all areas in meath.

Podge85 (Meath) - Posts: 96 - 06/03/2010 21:10:43    580931

Very disappointed with the result and the manner of the defeat. I do feel that the players in the panel were probably the best available within the county but they did not play to their potential for the second year in a row, what is most disappointing is that both of these squads would have been among the favourites for Leinster success. Meath's record at U-21 is very poor at this stage and we have won very few games in the last 10 years.

Considering Pat Coyle was relived of his position as Meath minor manger this year despite have quite a successful period it is enivitable that O' Rourke will not be the U-21 manager next year, because his return for the last 2 years has been very very poor.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 483 - 06/03/2010 21:40:03    580955

Where are all our 21yr olds????????????? Two of them on the bench, Ciaran Ellis and Joey Martin, two of the best backs we have. These lads are playing well with their clubs senior level but maybe our management don't consider that when picking the team. There are always exceptions to the rule, John Heskins who was man of the match today for Westmeath is very young but what a talent. Fairness is what it is all about and we have very little of that on show when picking a Meath team. A big shake up is required in Meath for us to progress to where we were in the eighties and ninties. Players should be chosen on merit and not who they are......................

mash58 (Meath) - Posts: 73 - 06/03/2010 21:45:43    580960

A lot of damage done to big reputations including manager.Clearly it was obvious to many that our backs on paper looked weak and this was to be the case.

Poormouth (Meath) - Posts: 204 - 07/03/2010 10:32:07    581003

Sometimes we get carried away- You cannot always blame the management for poor displays. However I for one would have felt before the march that few of the backs (if any ) were up to it as displayed. I read somewhere where someone claimed Menton at CHB was good- he was never a back and is more suited to midfield- I've seen him play well there at club level and the same can be said about Newman who was not on the team starting. Some of the players on the panel are not good enough for county minors. Someone here mentioned how successful Coyle was with minors again I thought he did a poor job and the facts speak for themselves the match against Kildare demonstrates that amply. If we want to improve our underage teams we need to change our whole under age structures at county level and forget the parish politics/playing of sons etc - I could go on!!!

On another note someone made a rather silly comment (maybe on another tread) that there were too many players fom Navan on team. There was nobody from NOM on the panel and nobody from Simonstown on the team (and nobody from Bective on the team) so I am mistified by that comment or was the comment made in plain ignorance!. I do agree that all county teams should have some type of area representation. Two of the management was 'in effect' from the same club. If we do have copunty trials it should be done with many many matches between areas with different management over the area teams (this should be done at all levels). I am aware of good backs from a variety of clubs who were not even on the panel. A good back needs to be able to defend as well as ballwatch!

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 07/03/2010 18:09:03    581259

i was in mullingar on saturday and i thought conor gillespie was very poor .for someone who was picked for meath senior team i thought he might have put up a strong performance in u21 level.he must be at least 6"3 or 4 and yet did not catch or break 1 ball from either kickouts during the game..it was from bought of paddys kickouts that he didnt win or contest the ball and westmeaths midfielders,who to be fair were good, walked through our defence and the 2 goals were the result...anyone have any thoughts?

iamlegend (Meath) - Posts: 66 - 08/03/2010 11:13:55    581767

Kevin McGuire was a former Dunboyne under age player until the family moved to Westmeath. Delighted for him. Was surprised at how good he got, still U21 for another three years.

ontheroad (None) - Posts: 530 - 08/03/2010 19:09:16    582468

I think the great 'Colm O'Rourke' has a lot of answering to do,two years in charge of the Under-21s and knocked out in the first round both years.Next up Pat Coyle,although I can't see him leaving Curraha any time soon,but I'd guarantee he'd at least win a Leinster!

johnboywalton58 (Meath) - Posts: 71 - 08/03/2010 20:08:01    582574

Yes i feel Pat Coyle would be a great Meath U21 manager.Although i myself cannot see him leave his home club Curraha as they are building a nice young team up there.Coyle looked at players from clubs in the lower divisions when he was with the minors.O'Rourke only seems to look at you if you are from a big Senior club or if you are a past player from St Pats.I was very surpized not to see any players from St Micheals on the U21 team as they won the U21 C championship,and one of the players that i thought would get on the panel was Ciaran Lynch.He is a very good player but he wasn't on the panel.

12Royal (Meath) - Posts: 987 - 08/03/2010 20:20:11    582614

12 royal

your right lynch a very good footballer but overage im pretty certain so cant really take your post credibly when the one example you pick isnt eligible to play

wallace (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 08/03/2010 21:38:39    582746

A very harsh sending off ruined this game, young McCann was given a second yellow for a non-existent tackle and after that Meath unfortunately couldn't get to grips with the spare man. Unfortunate as this was a very good Meath side, but many of them have a bright future in Meath football and I hope their heads aren't too low and come back with their clubs stronger than ever and go on to the Meath senior set up and kick on

updaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 1132 - 09/03/2010 08:54:12    582810