southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 709 - 26/05/2019 01:13:41    2187465

Evernal (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 26/05/2019 01:45:23    2187468

Got to agree with others. Carlow didn't come to play football they didn't even come to play puke football. They came to to play dirty, I don't understand it at all. Now it was cruel at times , before the game started the Carlow player was trying to get Ben into a row (fair play he kept his cool). I mean what was their game plan? Late hits, sly hits pulling and dragging off the ball, fair play to all the lads for keeping their cool in the face of such provocation.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 26/05/2019 07:00:09    2187482

Good win, never thought we looked in any real danger, Carlow are a pretty defensive outfit but we managed to get around that. We were looking good enough before Murphy was sent off but that finished the game altogether, crazy thing to do straight infront of the ref.

We now await the winners of Laois v Westmeath which is 50/50, and also I think our game against either of them is also 50/50.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8583 - 26/05/2019 09:16:37    2187506

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8583 - 26/05/2019 09:57:40    2187519

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 709 - 26/05/2019 09:59:50    2187521

As someone already said you can only beat what is in front of you, job done and we move on.

Anyone familiar with Carlow teams, whether it is football or hurling, inter county or club, will know that they play a hard physical game which sometimes can cross the line, and it's always been so, but Meath dealt with that aspect well.

I like Flanagan at midfield, he strikes me as someone who needs a run of games and he could develop into an important player for us. He is not there yet but I would give him time.

You would feel that whoever we play in the semi final will be a step up in opposition for us, but if we want to compete at the higher level, we need to be winning games like this.

The Dublin bandwagon has started in style, and they were impressive, I think we need to keep our heads down, deal with the semi final and play down expectations. Hopefully The Duns win their semi just as easily and we are written off as no hopers if we face them.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 178 - 26/05/2019 10:23:20    2187527

As someone already said you can only beat what is in front of you, job done and we move on.

Anyone familiar with Carlow teams, whether it is football or hurling, inter county or club, will know that they play a hard physical game which sometimes can cross the line, and it's always been so, but Meath dealt with that aspect well.

I like Flanagan at midfield, he strikes me as someone who needs a run of games and he could develop into an important player for us. He is not there yet but I would give him time.

You would feel that whoever we play in the semi final will be a step up in opposition for us, but if we want to compete at the higher level, we need to be winning games like this.

The Dublin bandwagon has started in style, and they were impressive, I think we need to keep our heads down, deal with the semi final and play down expectations. Hopefully The Duns win their semi just as easily and we are written off as no hopers if we face them.

ROYALOPTIMIST (Meath) - Posts: 178 - 26/05/2019 10:23:20    2187528

I also think with everyone fit Flanagan won't start for us. Against a better team we would see what he is lacking.

Also think Thomas O'Reilly had a bad game but it was just one of them days that can sometimes happen. Still a definite starter for me in the next game. One trait I like to see with him is he keeps looking for the ball and trying things even if things are going wrong for him. A lot of lads would start hiding so they wouldn't be found out.

Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 26/05/2019 11:37:35    2187548

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 459 - 26/05/2019 11:44:49    2187550

Aloblack (Meath) - Posts: 265 - 26/05/2019 11:53:25    2187558

Agree biggy's role is the 20 minute impact sub but what an important role that is in close games so good to see him look so good yesterday, keoghan brilliant as you say but what a boost to have harnan back I'd say andy mcentee has to be delighted with how he went, the half back line really dominated, mccoy and gallagher impressed me too

redser123 (Meath) - Posts: 306 - 26/05/2019 12:05:14    2187564

Leinster football is plain awful. Meath should be walking to Leinster final (if they miss DUBLIN) every year. Same at Minor it's just awful .

Talking_Sense (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 26/05/2019 20:02:25    2187775

A win by a decent margin and an improved, if not perfect, performance, I'll take that for now. Some very frustrating moments yesterday looking at possession been given away cheaply and the ball being carried into the tackle, young O'Reilly had a bad day, thought Cillian looked a bit off and Tobin gave everything but little worked, I think he was trying too hard at times. Plus points were Harnan who I thought was excellent, the two goals were well worked and well executed, more of that please, Keoghan was his usual class act, we kept out cool in the face of some intimidation and kept going and scoring to the end. Overall a good day and I think we will play better in Croke Park but Laois are on a roll and have good confidence and will relish this game, we must be careful

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3590 - 26/05/2019 21:19:59    2187829

Overall a good performance against very poor and limited opposition. Happy with the way we overcame our lull mid way through the first half when Carlow threatened to come back into it. The two goals came at a perfect time and from then on in we were always comfortable. Carlow's indiscipline was shocking and they deserved to lose by more.

Our defence was solid throughout, although not seriously tested. That said they dealt with everything that was thrown their way. Kickouts were improved on Offaly but are still a worry against higher quality opposition.

Some very good individual performances throughout - Keogan and Harnan in particular - and the management team's substitutions generally worked well, in particular the call to remove O'Reilly (who was clearly having an off day) before half time.

All in all, a good win and most importantly we have some momentum behind us now. A sterner test awaits in the semi-final but there's a lot to be said for the confidence a group can build up with a couple of championship wins.

men_of_49 (Meath) - Posts: 1962 - 27/05/2019 10:03:35    2187986

Anmhi364 (Meath) - Posts: 41 - 27/05/2019 11:13:21    2188039

Great win. I taught before the game we might win by 6 to 10 points especially considering the suspensions. Turned out to be 15 but what a ridiculously stupid act byt Murphy to get a red card. What was he thinking ? He put pay to any type of close match. He was flying I have no clue what he was at there.

Straight away you could see Meath where a different team that played Offaly. Lavin bursting out of defense keoghan soloing forward etc. Seems like Meath where over cooked in the Offaly game. the look way fresher altogether.

Harnan at 6 frees up keoghan to do what he is very good at carrying the ball he is our best player and defender, but what we forget he actually our best ball carrier he created too goals. When Keoghan gets the ball I can relax he rarely gives the ball away and nearly always creates something.

I agree with a lot of people why sub Thomas O'reilly on the 34 minute when we are 9 points up ? It was very harsh on the young lad. Yes he did give the ball away cheaply a few times, but other players without naming names have done it in the past but where not treated this way. vary harsh.

There is a Flanagan Mc Entee debate for the next day. I am firmly on the Flanagan corner, and I think he needs time, he got precious little game time so far this year and it shows. It takes time to gel midfielders and time will be needed. I dont think flanagan is the answer long term but I prefer him than Mc Entee he has a bit more height and is more accurate in front of goal. Just offers slightly more. And dont forget as Haran approaches match fitness he could do a job Midfield. He has done it in the past.

Shane Gallagher, I am been honest I would not have started him against Carlow I see others in team selection taught the same, he was way off the pace against Offaly. But what a transformation he was my MOM he chipped in with a lovely point too when we needed in, some really clever defending also. Hopefully he can continue in this type of form. Other stand outs that I can think off was Harnan with his the goal and other goal disallowed for square ball,also as usual he wasn't afraid to put himself about. I taught Byran Mc Mahon had a good game and in first 20 especially minutes looked really sharp and he looked like the only one that could unlock that tight defense, he caused Carlow real trouble too.

I think it was job done against a weakened and poor enough Carlow side on the day. We kept or cool got the job done. Lads like Haran conlon Campion Ryan got a run so it was a positive day. But they will have to lift it another notch for Loais the next day.

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1192 - 27/05/2019 15:51:11    2188185

Flanagan more accurate in front of the goal then Shane McEntee. Not sure about that one.

Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 27/05/2019 19:22:22    2188275

Even allowing for the fact that there's 3 divisions between Meath and Offaly Meath still beat them by a decent 0-02, Offaly were not in disarray going into the game like Carlow was, for example, we had no manager, no coach, no star midfielder as in Brendan Murphy, things went from bad to worse after 12 mins we lost our prolific scorer Paul Brodrick through injury, we then lost Sean Murphy for retaliation after the offender got brownie points, Carlow then lost Sean Gannon injured and that was hard to take, we also lost center back D. St Ledger along with Eoin Ruth (2 black cards)
It's anyone's guess why he dished out the black cards, as for the red card well I'll leave that one for you to decide.
Meath played a depleted Carlow team from the throw in, after 12 mins Carlow began to lose 4 quality players that they simply couldn't afford to lose but so be it.
I would question where Meath goes from here after failing to put Carlow away when they were gifted the conditions to do just that-
If the negative posts coming from the Meath camp is anything to go by, suggesting that Carlow played negative football, what will be their excuse when they play Leix.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 1890 - 27/05/2019 22:43:14 2188360

fullbach (Carlow) - Posts: 257 - 28/05/2019 09:18:46    2188403

Aloblack (Meath) - Posts: 265 - 28/05/2019 10:22:32    2188423