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Why?

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Can someone explain to me why we are so poor at underage. We haven't won an all ireland since the early 90s and at that that was our best bunch in 50 years. We have the population and the facilities but we are abysmal and now it's obviously affecting our seniors. But why? Foley91 (Meath) - Posts: 339 - 13/05/2018 19:34:09 2100132 Link
Replying To Foley91: "Can someone explain to me why we are so poor at underage. We haven't won an all ireland since the early 90s and at that that was our best bunch in 50 years. We have the population and the facilities but we are abysmal and now it's obviously affecting our seniors. But why?" I seen minor team last Monday was very good team not sure on other ages but this bunch seem to b talented. Reco (Meath) - Posts: 419 - 13/05/2018 20:12:59 2100161 Link
Replying To Foley91: "Can someone explain to me why we are so poor at underage. We haven't won an all ireland since the early 90s and at that that was our best bunch in 50 years. We have the population and the facilities but we are abysmal and now it's obviously affecting our seniors. But why?" Some serious talent at underage at the moment, hopefully we make sure the best ones go on, and play senior.. ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 13/05/2018 22:49:15 2100262 Link
This population argument doesn't sit with me being honest, an awful lot of the "new" population just don't want to play for Meath yet and some are still trying their hand getting into Dublin squads when playing club hurling or football here and when they don't break into the blue wave don't want to try their hand with us, that's a generational thing and it could be a few years before we benefit fully from the population influx of recent years, that being said the eye was taken off the ball at underage in recent years in Meath but that is thankfully changing with extra coaches now in the county and improved training facilities starting to bring about much needed improvements, I look forward to seeing our minor and U20 teams this year and would be optimistic of their chances in the provincial competitions. Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3590 - 14/05/2018 00:46:26 2100312 Link
Replying To Richieq: "This population argument doesn't sit with me being honest, an awful lot of the "new" population just don't want to play for Meath yet and some are still trying their hand getting into Dublin squads when playing club hurling or football here and when they don't break into the blue wave don't want to try their hand with us, that's a generational thing and it could be a few years before we benefit fully from the population influx of recent years, that being said the eye was taken off the ball at underage in recent years in Meath but that is thankfully changing with extra coaches now in the county and improved training facilities starting to bring about much needed improvements, I look forward to seeing our minor and U20 teams this year and would be optimistic of their chances in the provincial competitions." The next step is to breed a winning mentality. That comes with winning trophies, some players got a taste of winning Leinster last year, so hopefully we see some minor and/or U20 titles in the next few years. ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 14/05/2018 09:16:38 2100358 Link
It would also be of benefit to have good management teams in place throughout the underage structure. I'm not sure this has been the case up to now. Think we might of got more out of some of our recent groups. Upforyourball (Meath) - Posts: 36 - 14/05/2018 09:55:21 2100379 Link
Out of curiosity, has there been any year recently where our minors aren't a "seriously talented bunch" or full of "unbelievable talent"? I've been on the site around 10 years now and every year without fail people say we've one of the best minor teams in Ireland that year. How is it that these supposedly super talented teams keep winning nothing? I find it hard to believe that they are leaving championships behind them year after year. Its more likely that they just aren't that good to begin with. CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1391 - 14/05/2018 10:07:38 2100387 Link
Replying To CastleBravo: "Out of curiosity, has there been any year recently where our minors aren't a "seriously talented bunch" or full of "unbelievable talent"? I've been on the site around 10 years now and every year without fail people say we've one of the best minor teams in Ireland that year. How is it that these supposedly super talented teams keep winning nothing? I find it hard to believe that they are leaving championships behind them year after year. Its more likely that they just aren't that good to begin with." From my own perspective, I have often said some of those teams were overrated. But I see more underage talent in Meath since the early 90s. Generally coached better, organised better and looked after well. Out of curiousity, have you seen any of the underage teams lately? ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 14/05/2018 10:35:17 2100402 Link
no doubt a lost generation at underage level, but serious good working going on over the past number of years, hopefully the under 17s winning Leinster last year is the start of things bearing fruit longroadback (Meath) - Posts: 300 - 14/05/2018 11:56:08 2100473 Link
Replying To longroadback: "no doubt a lost generation at underage level, but serious good working going on over the past number of years, hopefully the under 17s winning Leinster last year is the start of things bearing fruit" I think this years minor ( under 17 ) fairly decent and have some very good players in their ranks . I went to see them versus Westmeath and they are up there with the better teams in Leinster I hope . I saw the under 16s play also recently by chance and this team not at the same level as 17's . Don't know re 15's but I heard they were decent . Bear10 (Meath) - Posts: 328 - 14/05/2018 12:35:11 2100507 Link
Replying To CastleBravo: "Out of curiosity, has there been any year recently where our minors aren't a "seriously talented bunch" or full of "unbelievable talent"? I've been on the site around 10 years now and every year without fail people say we've one of the best minor teams in Ireland that year. How is it that these supposedly super talented teams keep winning nothing? I find it hard to believe that they are leaving championships behind them year after year. Its more likely that they just aren't that good to begin with." I've noticed this as well. Every year we have a "serious" minor team! But we get two or three to be decent at senior level then they are a successful minor team in my book. Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 926 - 14/05/2018 13:08:29 2100531 Link
Replying To ziggy320001: "From my own perspective, I have often said some of those teams were overrated. But I see more underage talent in Meath since the early 90s. Generally coached better, organised better and looked after well. Out of curiousity, have you seen any of the underage teams lately?" No I haven't seen them lately, but it's irrelevant since I'm not talking them up, down, or sideways. My point is that when I hear "serious minor team this year, talent beyond belief" I can't help but remember that I've heard that same thing said about our minors every year. Yet bar maybe 2012 they've been wrong every year. It's a boy who cried wolf type situation. I can't take these claims seriously after them being wrongly spouted every year. CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1391 - 14/05/2018 13:58:11 2100557 Link
Replying To Foley91: "Can someone explain to me why we are so poor at underage. We haven't won an all ireland since the early 90s and at that that was our best bunch in 50 years. We have the population and the facilities but we are abysmal and now it's obviously affecting our seniors. But why?" There was one minor AI won prior to 1990 yet there were a few senior AI's won. The teams in 87, 88 who led the way for the most successful era in terms of AI's did not win minor or Leinster AI's (or u21's either). Even when an minor AI is won most of that team will not even be good senior club players. It helps to have good underage teams but they do not come with guarantees when it comes to adult teams. browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2189 - 14/05/2018 14:31:32 2100575 Link
Replying To CastleBravo: "No I haven't seen them lately, but it's irrelevant since I'm not talking them up, down, or sideways. My point is that when I hear "serious minor team this year, talent beyond belief" I can't help but remember that I've heard that same thing said about our minors every year. Yet bar maybe 2012 they've been wrong every year. It's a boy who cried wolf type situation. I can't take these claims seriously after them being wrongly spouted every year." Why don't you go and watch them and make your own judgement then? Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 14/05/2018 17:44:24 2100703 Link
lads you can't neglect the underage structure in a county for 20 odd years and expect it to be fixed in 2-3 years. during our last heyday it was neglected becuase we we're winning leinsters and all irelands and everyone was happy. and tbh i dont think even before that we were overally consistent at minor level (stand to be proven wrong) i believe their have been steps put in place to improve the underage set up at county level but its going to take time for this to develop. co board need to be putting efforts in to club coaching, getting everyone up to scratch that wants to be a juvenile mentor/ if the standard of coaching at club level improves then the players improve then the county teams improve. but this will take time srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 15/05/2018 15:26:45 2101023 Link
Very simple, standards have improved in GAA in the last 20 years from when Meath were competing. We now have great facilities and sponsorship, but this will take 15 years to reap the benefits. The top teams had all these in place 10/15 years ago when we were enjoying our success at senior levels and underage. But I have no doubt, our time will come again when we will be competing. Few points to mention: 1. Dublin/Mayo/Kerry have structures in place for years and are entitled to their glory. In my opinion, Dublin have already peaked and can only fall. 2. You are quite right, the size of the county doesnt represent success however, when we have 2 or 3 underage sucessful teams, we hopefully will grow from this. It only takes 2 good years to grab 5 or 6 lads to make a difference to the senior teams. tackleberry (Meath) - Posts: 324 - 17/05/2018 11:52:13 2101664 Link
Replying To CastleBravo: "No I haven't seen them lately, but it's irrelevant since I'm not talking them up, down, or sideways. My point is that when I hear "serious minor team this year, talent beyond belief" I can't help but remember that I've heard that same thing said about our minors every year. Yet bar maybe 2012 they've been wrong every year. It's a boy who cried wolf type situation. I can't take these claims seriously after them being wrongly spouted every year." I know how you feel. In the last 3 or 4 years I have often heard this said when we get take a bad loss at senior, that the underage has been put right and it will bear fruit in the future, and we will have to wait until these lads come through, I don't know the situation in detail myself but I won't believe it until we actually win a few Leinster underage titles. I think we won an U17 title last year (correct me if I'm wrong) but hard to know how serious to take this, the the age for minor is going to u17 only this year so not sure how serious this was taken by the teams competing. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 768 - 17/05/2018 14:06:22 2101710 Link
Replying To bdbuddah: "I know how you feel. In the last 3 or 4 years I have often heard this said when we get take a bad loss at senior, that the underage has been put right and it will bear fruit in the future, and we will have to wait until these lads come through, I don't know the situation in detail myself but I won't believe it until we actually win a few Leinster underage titles. I think we won an U17 title last year (correct me if I'm wrong) but hard to know how serious to take this, the the age for minor is going to u17 only this year so not sure how serious this was taken by the teams competing." Just an interesting fact. Cork won 10 U21 Munster titles in thirteen years between 2004 and 2016 Cavan won 4 in a row Ulster U21 titles between 2011 and 2014. In corks case in particular this proves thevlink between Underage success and Senior is not as strong as we might think, and U21 would be by far the best indicator as the drop off from minor up is huge Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1338 - 17/05/2018 16:42:59 2101740 Link
Replying To Analyst: "Just an interesting fact. Cork won 10 U21 Munster titles in thirteen years between 2004 and 2016 Cavan won 4 in a row Ulster U21 titles between 2011 and 2014. In corks case in particular this proves thevlink between Underage success and Senior is not as strong as we might think, and U21 would be by far the best indicator as the drop off from minor up is huge" Another interesting fact, Cork won a Senior All Ireland in 2010 and got beat in another couple of finals in the same era bang in the middle of all there success at U21 level.... longroadback (Meath) - Posts: 300 - 17/05/2018 16:54:31 2101745 Link
Replying To longroadback: "Another interesting fact, Cork won a Senior All Ireland in 2010 and got beat in another couple of finals in the same era bang in the middle of all there success at U21 level...." Do you think that with 10 wins over a thirteen year period one all ireland is a decent return ?? The point is that underage success is in no eay a guarantee of pur much sought after senior success. Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1338 - 17/05/2018 17:39:59 2101755 Link