Looking forward to this immensely.
This is kildares all ire as per usual, Meath however have a slight eye on a certain bigger blue fish they'd like to fry. We cannot and must not be complacent, keep focused and we will win, any eye off the ball and we will be like Kerry.
Bring em on.
Hon the royal

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 08/11/2020 19:42:51    2306344

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13574 - 08/11/2020 20:00:46    2306373

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3309 - 08/11/2020 20:08:35    2306386

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8583 - 08/11/2020 20:09:37    2306387

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8583 - 08/11/2020 20:19:41    2306401

Suppose we should be slight favourites but we still seem to have issues on our kick outs and make poor decisions with the ball at times, particularly when shooting. Centre back also a problem area I feel but overall I think we have improved.

I haven't seen Kildare enough to make any judgements. They had a bit if a battle tonight though so they should be sharper next week. Whereas we can't really tell anything from the Wicklow game.

HighKings (Meath) - Posts: 228 - 08/11/2020 20:20:58    2306403

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3309 - 08/11/2020 20:39:27    2306426

I placed this is another post but this seems to be the main kildare v Meath post sorry for posting again
Meath v Wicklow are usually 4 or 5 point wins for Meath. Wicklow are always dogged opposition for Meath. Today was all about gap between div 1 and div 4. The last time Meath hammered Wicklow was in 99 and 95 Meath were in div 1. Div 1 has brought Meath on. Meath look physically bigger then I have seen in ten years. Meath are improving every 6 months under McEntee. They are still work in progress.

If the semi final is kildare that is a 50 50 game. Meath and kildare there is very little between them. Meath are a little bit ahead of development in terms of being div 1. But kildare always up their game Meath. This could be the game of the championship. But kildare have to beat Offaly. And that will be tricky. John Maughan has a great record of getting underdogs to deliver big performances. He was manager of the greatest shock in gaa history when Clare beat kerry in 92. And also over Mayo when they were underdogs v Meath in both games in 96 Mayo played well. Also last year Offaly were unlucky not to beat Meath. Offaly have a chance tonight. But you would be expecting Meath v kildare semi final. And I think if it is it it will come down to if Meaths defence can keep kildare natural young forwards quite.

Meath are strong defensively. Dublin forwards told Bernard Flynn and national journalist that best toughest defenders they have faced in last few years were Meaths defenders. Might seem strange with Dublins hammering but Meath kept Dublin to lowest first half score in championship since Donegal semi final in 2011. For 55 mins keoghan McGill lavin Harnan Gallagher were excellent defensively. The reason Meath got promoted and to super 8s was because of their defence. Meath have one great defender eg keoghan and other good natural defenders eg McGill McEntee Harnan Lavin Ryan Hickey.

Meath while relegated where very competitive in that Mayo Galway and kerry struggled to beat Meath. Mayo beat Meath by 1 point, with a goal in 70th min won the game. Galway beat by 2, 2 points scored in injury time. Marc O Se said Meath should have beaten kerry and lost by three. Meath game v Dublin was the closest any leinster team has got to Dublin in league or championship in 8 years. Meath drew with Monaghan in Clones. Meath are not beating top teams. But they have gone from going 60 mins with top teams last July in Super 8s. To going full 70 mins and losing in injury time to top teams this year. Meath had youngest team in div 1 in last two ganes with ten Meath players playing v Dublin and Monaghan ten players who were aged 21 and under.

Meath have improved since the spring they have added to a good defence

1 Meath had ten to 12 first teams players injured in everyone of their first 5 games in the spring. This meant Andy McEntee had to play panel players. Many of these players played well. And when all the injured players came back meant for the first time ever Meath have a strong bench. In super 8 last year Mayo Kerry and Donegal bench made bigger impact then Meaths. The same in the spring kerry Galway Mayos bench made a bigger impact then Meaths. Last 3 games Meath bench has made a bigger impqat then opposition.

V Dubs
Meath bench scored 0-4
Dubs bench scored 0-0
V Monaghan
Meath bench scored 0-9
Monaghan bench scored 0-1
V Wicklow
Meath bench scored 2- 2
Wicklow bench 0-0

Meath now have a bench that can make an impact

2 Another improvement since spring is midfield. For first time since 2012 2013 Meath have a midfield partnership that looks strong . Meath lost a generation of midfielders for different reasons eg Conor Gillespie, Shane O Rourke, Conor Nash, Harry Rooney. Ronan Jones is best midfielder in Meath. He was in America for last 3 years. In the spring he travelled back and forth from America every week for every game and he hadnt trained for Meath for 3 years and played gaa for 3 years. He was very rusty. He is now permantly in Ireland and was excellent in Meath club chanpionship. First time he played gaa regularly in 3 years. He was outstanding v Monaghan and again today was class. At 24 Jones with Menton who is one best scoring midfielders in the county ( scored 1 - 1 today, and was top scoring midfielder in the country in last years championship). With Menton and Jones Meath have strong ball carrying athletic midfield.

So midfield a problem area for Meath since 2013 Brian Menton has had 10 different midfield partners in 3 years. Now with Jones Meath have a proper midfield partnership

3 Meaths other area of inprovement is the forwards since the spring. We saw problems Meath had upfront in last years leinster final. This problem contd in spring but with young talented forwards Shane Walsh 19 Mattthew Costello 19 and Jordan Morris 19, These are 3 new forwards that did not play last year or much in the spring. Morris wasnt on match day panel in Spring.

2019 Meath scored 0-14 v Donegal
2019 Meath scored 1-9 v Kidare
2019 Meath scored 0-4 v Dublin
2019 Meath scored 1- 13 v Donegal
2019 Meath scored 0-14 v Mayo
2019 Meath scored 2- 13 v kerry
2020 Meath scored 1- 9 v Tyrone
2020 Meath scored 0-7 v Donegal
2020 Meath scored 2-5 v Mayo
2020 Meath scored 1- 12 v Galway
2020 Meath scored 2- 13 v Kerry
Since we came back
2020 Meath scored 0-19 v Dublin
2020 Meath scored 1- 17 v Monaghan
2020 Meath scored 7- 14 v Wicklow

Jordan Morris scored 2 v Dubs as sub, scored 0-7 v Monaghan as sub and scored 3-4 v Wicklow today
Shane Walsh scored 4 points v Dubs, scored 1 point v Monaghan and scored 0- 4 v Wicklow and scored 6 points v kerry in his debut at 18 last in super 8s g kerry were was Meaths best player.

The emergence of Morris Walsh and Costello who scored goal of the game today means Meath have inside finisher in Morris and a target man in Walsh. Its years since Meath had threatening duo upfront.

They are young very young both 19 but they have huge potential both have been on underage teams who have beaten Dublin regularly. Shane Walsh on underage teams who defeated Dublin twice at underage Jordan Morris on Meath eams who defeated Dublin 3 times at underage. Meath have not made breakthrough at under 20. But that should come in the future. But at minor ten years agp at the start of the last decade Dublin were hammering Meath at minor. Dublin players were bigger and better ten or 6 years ago. Now at minor Meath are beating Dublin year and in many cases hammering Dublin at minor. Meath footballer look in many cases bigger and better at Dublin at underage minor. Meath hammered Dublin ar minor by 11 point in leinster minor a month ago. Some said that was third victory Meath had over Dublin at minor in four years. Its a better record in that if u included Meath hammerings of Dublin by 10 points at minor in 2016 and Meaths beat Dublin twice in the inaugural minor under 17 championship in 2018 this all means Meath have beaten Dublin 6 times in 6 years at minor level in leinster. This is unprecendented.. Dublins organisation finance and professionalism at under 20 kicks in. But with huge work done at underage I think you will see a breakthrough at under 20 for Meath soon.

But these young playerw Morris Walsh Costello have won leinster underage titles and beaten Dublin regularly at underage. This means Meath 10 young players who are 21 or under 21 who played in last two league game or able to make an immediate impact at senior and have confidence I havent seen from Meath young players in years.
.
Meath forward line is much stronger then the one which misfired v Dubs last year or the one which only scored averqge 13 or 14 in the league in the spring. Meath are now scoring 19 to 20 and today 7 goals.

Meath are far from.finished if it is kildare in next game that is a derby a 50 50 game. This is the best set natural forwards I have ever seen play for kildare. Kildare always play like possesed men v Meath. If its Offaly, Offaly wouldnt fear Meath. But whatever happens this year I think in next 2 years Meath development will be worth watching. Meath have one of the youngest teams in the country and are improving every few months and there is no reason why 19 or 20 or 21 years old wouldnt improve in next year and in 2021. The league next year is pivotal Meath have to get back into div 1. Meath are not finished article there are issues with goalkeeper with 9 goalies under McEntee and our still developing and are still far from finished article. There is still mistakes and cannot beat top teams. But I defintely think in next 24 months Meaths developmet will be intereting to see can they break into top 6. Meaths aim is not to win Sam. The aim is to reach Monaghans level be top 6 7 team stay in div 1 reach super 8s yearly and close the gap with Dublin. Thats Meath aim. And kildare Cork Armagh Down are also trying to break into top 6 or 7. I think.Meath have one big advantage over Armagh ot kildare. Armagh have some exciting young forwards but are very poor at the back. Kildare also have excitibg young forwards. But also have issues at the back. Meath for years were shakey at the back.But Meath since 2018 have improved at the back. Upfront and midfield was problem last year. But with Jones at midfield and emergence of young forward talent like Morris 19 , Walsh 19, Costello 19 and Conlon 21 means Meath have improved and are improving.

Its Meath v Kildare. The best derby in leinster. Its a 50 50 game. Very little between the teams. Meath are little bit ahead in terms of development with div 1 football. Meath have really bulked up in the lockdown all over the field. Have unearthed Jordan Morris who scored 7 points v Monagham as a sub and 3 - 4 today v Wicklow in his first start. He comes part of Meath that produced Ollie Murphy Brian Stafford Michael Newman Brian Farrell, naturall finishers from the small villages in the north of the county. He does remind me of Ollie Murphy. But he is still very young. Shane Walsh looks the real deal, a huge talent at full forward and he went to school in kildare so we know all about Meath and kildare rivaley how much the kildare lads hate Meath. Kildare nearly always up the game when they play Meath, play like men possesed. So I expect huge game from kildare.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1046 - 08/11/2020 20:54:36    2306447

As I said this is 50 50 game. Very hard to call a winner.
A proper derby and both teams have a great chance. Kildare have seen to have unearthed new quality forward in kirwan who is big and strong and two footed. The very skilful Jimmy Hyland is startinmg to make an impact at senior with McCormack and two Flynns its best set of natural forwards I have ever seen play for kildare. Usually kildare are strong at the back and are weaker up front. This teams weakness seems to be more at the back. But again I expect kildare to throw kitchen sink at Meath. Feehily v Jones will be very important. Feehily is one of the best midfielders in the country and in 2017 dominated midfield v Menton and Jones. Jones went to the US for 3 years and is a different footballer now. He looks like he turning into quality inter county midfielder he still only 24 with exception of Jack O Shea Brian Fenton and Sean Cavangh I find midfielders start to peak at mid 20s 25 26 27.

. But I think the game will come down to Meaths defence v kildares forwards. In the first half last year in the league. Kildare forwards were getting better of Meath backs. Half time kildare were ahead. But in second half Meath backs got the better of Kildare forwards Meath won by 1. The battle between keoghan McGill lavin Ryan McEntee Toner V Kirwan McCormack Hyland Flynn Conway will probaly decide the game. Feehily v Jones will also be important. And kildare gave Offaly few goal chances and Meath do have a poacher in Morris who scored 3 goals today could have had 3 goals v Monagan and had goal chance v Dublin. But I think Shane Walsh who was quite today with 4 points I think he huge talent. And I think he could have a big role next weekend.

Anyway this could be classic could be extra time maybe even penalties. A real proper first time Knockout leinster championship Meath v kildare game like we had in 1997 1998. In 2011 Meath played kildare in qualifier was also great game. I think this could be the game of the weekend.


And anyone who has seen Meath v kildare in last 25 years would have saw in 1998 2003 2010 2011 2017 kildare can play like possesed men v Meath and throw the kitchen sink at us and beat us. They really really dont like us and for them and Cavan beating Meath matters to those two counties. But we can beat them and we did in 1997 2003 2007 2012 2014 and last year in the league. It is a very close derby.

Meath and kildare have played 38 times, there has 7 draws, 16 Kildare wins and 15 Meaths wins and in last 40 years there has 8 Meath victories and 6 kildare victories. In last 20 years there has been 4 Meath victories and 4 kildare victories. Its a very close derby. leave Dublin to one side the county with the best record v Meath in leinster in last 25 years is Kildare. In frist 40 years of the rivalry Meath couldnt beat kildare from 1880s to 1930. From the 1930 to 1998. most of the time Kildare couldnt beat Meath. When kildare beat Meath in championship in 1998 it was kildare first victory v Meath in champioship in 20 years. But since 98 its a very close rivalry. Amazing thing is there has only ever been 3 Meath v kildare leinster finals eg 1998, 1966, 1930. I do think in the next 20 years we could be entering a really strong Meath v kildare rivalry. Both have got their act together at underage and with east Meath project we are both improving. This feels like a new era in Meath v kildare rivalry.

I think for players like Shane Walsh, Ethan Devine and Padraig Harnan who went to school in kidlare this game would really matter and the other players up the border like Ronan Ryan from Summerhill and Ronan Jones from Dunboyne. Our forward line looks better then we played them last with additions like Morris. Walsh, Costello and Conlon and Wallace off the bench. Our bench looks stronger and Jones at midfield looks stronger. But they have found kirwan and Hyland has improved and they have better manager now this year. Its all to play for. I think it is a 50 50 game.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1046 - 08/11/2020 20:55:19    2306449

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 08/11/2020 21:16:51    2306471

There's no back door no second chance that's the beauty of it, so with the exception of Dublin there's no certainties.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2161 - 08/11/2020 22:12:06    2306507

Dr.Watson (Kildare) - Posts: 206 - 08/11/2020 22:22:46    2306514

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1046 - 08/11/2020 22:39:01    2306528

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1357 - 08/11/2020 22:44:15    2306531

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3309 - 08/11/2020 23:07:27    2306543

Being from the border myself this is the game that I always look forward to I love Furlongs posts, always fair and very well informed. From a Kildare perspective I would be very worried about Meaths pace and running power, I think that would be our biggest concern and what generally causes us the biggest problem whoever we are playing. 7 kildare players made their championship debut today, 5 starting and 2 off the bench. We were missing our 2 most experienced defenders today through injury Mick OGrady and Eoin Doyle but they should return next week which will hopefully strengthen us at the back. Jack has us playing far more direct football, we are moving the ball forward by kicking probably more than any team I,ve seen this year, that is a change and an improvement for us, Another sign of improvement is former regulars like Tommy Moolick and Paul Cribbin are now only making the bench, I agree that Meaths defence is now one of the meanest around and could potentially tie up some of our forwards, Where we have an edge is at goal keeper, Mark Donnellan has been top class all year, Feely is the best fielder around and Masterson offers good support, Darragh Kirwan scored 6 from play on championship debut, we scored 20 points today kicked 14 sides and 4 dropped short to Offalys 3 wides We will need a better conversion rate to beat Meath, Special mention to Neil Flynn, his father passed away this week and was buried yesterday, he came off the bench when we were in trouble at the end of the game and kicked 3 quality scores to get us over the line. If we can stop Meath scoring goals, and stick with their pace for the 70 mins we can out point them, Its a big ask but its all to play for

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 169 - 08/11/2020 23:39:50    2306557

@royaldunne - Not sure what you are smoking but it must be strong stuff. Meath and Kildare is a 50/50 game, if anything I would make Kildare slight favorites based on having more underage success recently. Anyway, just because Meath got close to Dublin in a warm up league match does not mean that we can compete against the Dubs in the heat of championship battle, recent evidence suggests we can't. I think Meath Kildare should be a good battle and will be a good tell tale sign of where each team are at but the pick of both teams would still struggle to compete against the Dubs IMHO.

AthboyCelt (Meath) - Posts: 108 - 09/11/2020 09:34:14    2306607

Kildare won't put a glove on Meath if they repeat yesterday's performance. A lot of below par performers but the hope is that they can't be as bad again. Kildare have no fear of Meath going back through the years so if they can raise their own performance it could be a ding dong battle but I'd be worried about our potential to ship goals

JJ1 (Kildare) - Posts: 543 - 09/11/2020 09:43:24    2306614

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 09/11/2020 10:06:06    2306636

I think this will be a close game but Kildare have nothing to fear from Meath.

Some of the comments from Meath posters are hilarious.

"Meath however have a slight eye on a certain bigger blue fish they'd like to fry" - well Dublin will certainly be wary of Meath after their narrow 1 -17 to 0 - 4 win last year.

As to this idea that Meath are somehow further on in their development than Kildare, lets look at the last 5 years.

Minor Leinster Titles
Meath: 1
Kildare: 3

U21/u20
Meath: 0 Titles
Kildare: 1 Leinster Championship, 1 All-Ireland Championship.

Seasons spent in Division 1:
Meath: 1
Kildare: 1

Senior Quarter Final/ Super 8 appearances
Meath: 1
Kildare: 2

'Top 6' Opposition beaten in Championship
Meath: none
Kildare: 1 (Mayo)

Senior Championship meetings
2017 : Kildare 2 - 16 Meath 0 - 13

All of which suggests Kildare and Meath are operating on similar levels for the last few years, with Kildare producing more at underage and a slight bit more at senior.

Sure look, we'll turn up anyway and give Meath a run out before they take on Dublin....

SquireGannon (Kildare) - Posts: 1 - 09/11/2020 10:07:21    2306639