Meath are improving young team, and evolving and changing every few months

1 On this Sat in upcoming leinster final, 8 of the starting 15 who will start v Dublin didnt start in last years leinster final. 8 new Meath players who didnt start in last years leinster final.are Marcus Brennan, David Toner, Ronan Ryan, Ronan Jones, Jordan Morris, Thomas O'Reilly, Shane Walsh, Matthew Costello . 5 players who will start on sunday werent on Meath panel in last years leinster final eg Walsh, Toner, Costello, Morris, Jones. While subd like Joey Wallace, Jason Scully, Eoin Harkin, Cathal Hickey who all will probaly come on as subs v Dubs next sat werent on Meath panel last year leinstet final. Meath could have up to 9 players who will get gametime v Dublin who werent on Meath panel in last years leinster final. This is a new Meath team with 50% changes to the starting 15 of 2019 leinster final. It also is a changed team to Meath team which played in early stages of the league when Meath were riddled with injuries. For example of the starting 15 next saturday 8 didnt start in Meath opening game v Tyrone or Donegal this year.

As I said Meath are team young team who are evolving and changing and growing every couple of months.
Age profile of Meath players
Matthew Costello 19
Jordan Morris 19
Shane Walsh 19
Cathal Hickey 19
James Conlon 21
Ethan Devine 21
Dara Campion 21
Jason Scully 21
Eoin Harkin 21
While players like Thomas O Reilly and Ronan Jones are 23. Meath could have 3 teenagers starting as attackers on Sunday eg Morris Costello ( he is attacking wing back but he really is centre forward).Walsh. They are making a big impact.

Jordan Morris has scored 4- 14 in 4 games for Meath 2 as sub
Jordan Morris scored 0- 2 V Dublin as Sub
Jordan Morris scored 0-7 v Dublin as Sub
Jordan Morris scored 3- 4 v WIcklow
Jordan Morris scored 1- 1 v Kildare.
Walsh has been target man not profilic yet but did score 4 excellent points v Dubs a few weeks from play. Some Meath forwards always played well v Dublin eg Ken Rennicks, Colm O Rourke, Brian Stafford, Graham Geraghty, Ollie Murphy,Stephen Bray. Walsh is a huge talent one of best young ffull forwards in the country scored 6 v kerry last in super 8 last year 3 from play and kerry defence couldnt handle. He destroyed Dublin at underage could be big game player on Sunday
Mathhew Costello has only started last 2 games for Meath. He was wing back
V Wickkow he scored 1-0
V Kildare he scored 1-1. Both goals were the best goals of the game.

In last years leinster final Meath misfired upfront. But they have 4 new attackers this year, Meath have a completely new full forward line wg Morris Walsh O Reilly. New attacking wing back eg Costello. A new midfield partner for Menton eg Jones and 2 new defenders eg Ryan Toner. And new goalie eg Brennan. In the early stages of league this year and last year Meath were averaging 12 or 13 point game. Since lockdown Meath have scored 0- 19 v Dubs, 1-17 v Monaghan, 7-14 v Wicklow and 5- 9 v Kildare. Meath have better forward line then last year or since the spring this year.

Also Meaths bench was poor last year. Mayo Donegal Mayo kerry Dublin all their bench made a bigger impact then Meaths last year or in this years spring 2020. With 10 to 12 first team Meath players missing in every of Meaths first 5 league games this year. McEntee was forced to try panel players many played well and when injured player returned v Monaghan game, ( Meath had 9 first team players missing v Dubs) meant huge competition for places. Meaning Padraig Harnan one of Meaths best defenders who is returning cannot get on Meath bench

V Dublin
Meaths subs scored 0- 4
Dublins subs 0-0

V Monaghan
Meaths subs scored 0-8
Monaghan subs scored 0-1

V Wicklow
Meath subs scored 2- 2
Wicklow subs scored 0 - 0

V kildare
Meath subs scored 2-1
Kildare subs scored 0-0

So in last games Meaths bench has made bigger impact then Dubs Monaghan Wicklow or kildare. Meaths bench has scored 4 - 11 in last 4 games. That is huge improvement since the spring. And new development for this Meath team.

Its also noticeable Meath look physically stronger, strongest I have seen Meath since 2009 2010. Meath for most of the last decade had one of the smallest teams country and were outmuscled bullied of the ball and out tackled and lost physical battle to Ulster teams and Dublin and kildare teams. Since football came back a few weeks ago, Meath are competiting much better in the physical stakes. Meath have a new S and C coach this year. Niall Ronan is a Meath man who played for Munster rugby. He is a deep thinker and it is clear to me Meath have done serious S and C work in the break. Also players like Sullivan Lavin McEntee Wallace are now 4 or 5 years with S and C conditioning and are now stronger physically. While young players coming through are first Meath players who have S and C and many them are physically strong eg Walsh Devine Costello. Even small player like Morris is quite stocky. Meath have ball carrier like keoghan, Sullivan, Menton, Jones, Costello who can break the tackle.

Nally has turned Meath from old fashioned direct football team into hard running, hard tackling, running possesion game counter attacking game in. 2 years. For first time Meath are playing modern style game sucessfully.

Meath are improving since the spring this year midfield has improved, Meaths full forward line has improved, Meaths bench has improved, Meaths scoring rate has increased and Meaths tackling has improved all since the spring this year. And in the spring without 10 or 12 first team players Kerry, Mayo and Galway all struggled to beat Meath., all beating Meath by scores in injury time.
Meath have one of the youngest teams in the country and Meath after kerry were greatest championship county in Ireland for 90 year 1930 to 2010. Meath football thrived on knockout football do or die football. Its part of Meath football DNA. Knockout football suits Meaths mentality.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1046 - 17/11/2020 16:05:23    2310694

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 468 - 17/11/2020 16:06:21    2310695

There is evidence allot of games to show this can be a competitive game. Meath cannot beat top teams but kerry Mayo Galway Dublin and Donegal twice last year have all struggled to beat Meath in last two year especially this year.

It began end of 2018 when it took Tyrone point in 5th min of injury time to save a defeat v Meath. Since then Meath have failed to beat top teams , but top teams have struggled to beat Meath. In the spring Meath were 1 point up v Mayo in 70th min when Mayo scored goal from mistake to beat Meath by 1 won. Meath were much better team in secovd half. According to Marc O Se Meath should have beaten kerry in killarnry in the league as Meath played that well. Meath lost by 3 points scored in injury time. Meath played some brillant football v Galway were 4 up half time and again went toe toe toe with Galway until Shane Walsh 71st min and 74th min two points won the game for Galway by 2. In all those games Meath had 10 to 12 first team players who injured.

In last few weeks With 9 first team players missing or injured v Dubs after 15th min Meath went toe with toes with Dubs and 53rd min Meath went ahead and were in the ascendency and it was til again in injury time Dubs scoring winninh points to win by 4. This is the Closest any leinster team has got to Dublin in 8 years. Meath also drew with Monaghan in clones. Last year twice Donegal struggled to beat Meath. Up to 63rd min and bad mistake for a goal Meath were 4 up and Meath were better team but Donegal ahowd their class and won by 2 in Ballybofey. Same in thw league final Meath were 5 up at half time and played some great football. Donegal won by 2 in injury time.

So there is 5 games this year and 2 last, 7 games were Meath put it up to best teams in the country and yes yes Meath didnt win. But for young upcoming team these are great learning experiences and show Meath can take on the best and compete. With 7 new players this year there is no reason not to think Meath can improve further with one of the youngest teams in the country.

2018
Meath lost by 1 point to Tyrone in championship
2019
Mesth lost by 2 points to Donegal in league
Meath lost by 2 points to Donegal in league
2020
Meath lost by 1 point to Mayo in league
Meath lost by 2 points to Galway in league
Meath lost by 3 points to kerry in league
Meath lost by 4 points to Dublin in league
Meath dreaw with Monaghan in league ( First time Meath had nearly fully fit panel).

Outide top 8 the county that has consistently being very competitivev v top teams in last 2 years Meath. Meath came very close to beating Donegal in Ballybofey last year and beating kerry in killarney and Monaghan in Clones and came very close to beating Mayo and Galway also this year and had missed 3 clear goals chances v Dubs when Meath went toe to toe with Dublim few weeks ago. For upcoming young improving teams those performances are significant. Its the only way to suceed you have to go through hard luck stories moral victories and 1 or 2 point loses. Meath might not suceed. But they are going in the direction.

Meath reached super 8s and leinster final last year and won promotion because of their defence. Meath were shaky at the back from 2000 to 2018. But that has improved since start of 2019. Teams around Meaths level like Armagh and kildare are very poor at the back. Even county like Galway and even kerry have issues at the back. Meath dont have defence like 80s and 90s were you have two footballers of the year and two of the greatest full backs ever. But Meath have improved at the back in last 2 years. This is shortage of great defenders nationwide, one major reason Dublin were sucesful they had best defenders in the country.

Meath do have one great defender & allot of natural defenders eg Keoghan, McGill, Lavin, McEntee, Ryan, Harnan, Toner, Hickey, Harkin, Clarke.
However there is one worry about Meaths defence which that did so well last year as Meath are missing three of those defenders all injured eg James McEntee with broken hand is gone for the year), Padraig Harnan has been out for nearly whole year only back training in last 2 weeks clearly not ready as cannot make bench. Shane Gallagher who is Meaths best man marker is also out injured.

Meath have found a new defenders David Toner, Eoin Harkin and Cathal Hickey. And Meath are playing with sweeper 7 defenders first time ever. Meath defence is still good.

Last year in leinster final Meath defence did some top class defending. It was forwards who misfired .
Lavin McGill Keoghan Gallagher were excellent on Callaghan, Mannion, Kilkenny Costello up to 50th min. Up to 50th min Meath kept Callaghan Mannion kilkennt Costello to 2 points from play. Kilkenny had his quitest game ever for Dublin keoghan marked him out of the game. Around 50th min Dubs took Keoghan. At that stage Meath forwards had missed for upteem time and the confidence drained from team. Meath defenders legs were run off them. And Dublin just ran over Meath team in last 15 mins who misfired all day. But defensively Meath gave Dublin one toughest examination in recent times. Who says that Dubs players themselves.

First fact to prove how good Meath were defensively in fist 50 mins
Meath kept Dublin to lowest first half score in championahip in 8 years since McGuinness Donegal kept Dublin to low score in an notorious semi final where McGuinness put 15 men behind the ball.

The Dublin forwards told Bernard Flynn and national journalist the toughest and best defender they have faced in recent year were not kerry or Mayo or Donegal they were Meaths defenders. It might seem strange if you look at score but if you know good defending Meath for 50 mins were excellent v Dublin forwards.

Meath are missing three defenders from last year. I think Gallagher who is real man marker which many teams dont have is a loss. But Toner who is wing back had done well all year at corner back. Ronan Ryan was a good find last year a real proper defender and with Shane McEntee as a sweeper Meath defence still has some good defenders. Meath have depth to their defence. MAgainst Dubs a few weeks ago Dubs scored 20 points. But Meath had rookie full back line with two debuts 19 year old Cathal Hickey, 20 year old Eoin Harkin and James McEntee who really is wing forward at corner back. Meath had the most inexperienced full back line I have ever seen play Meath in 20 years. They were missing first choice in full back line eg Lavin McGill Toner/Gallagher.

Against kildare it was oretty much a carbon copy of the league game last year. Kildsre on sunday in first half nd in first half v kildsare in league 2019 kildares forwards were getting the better of Meaths backs.

In 2019 Meath v kildare game kildare were 5 up at half time
In 2020 Meath v kildare game Kildare were 6 up at half time

In both games Meath defence got control of kildare forwards in second half

In 2019 v Meath kildare scored 1 point in second half
In 2020 v Meath kildare scored 5 point in second half.

In both games kildare forwards had better of the Meath backs i first half. These are best set of natural forwards who I have ever seen play for kildare. Very comfortable on the ball natural forwards who will cause team problems. In both games in second half Meath defenders really got tighter. Yesterday Brian Menton came back to help defence in second half. And S McEntee played deeper as sweeper in second half.

The difference was in 2019 league game Meath forwards missed chance after chance after chance. Should have won by 7 or 8 or 9. Only won by 1 point. This year a new Meath forward line of Morris Walsh O Reilly Costello took their scores and scored 5 - 5 from 5 -8. Meath missed and missed in 2019 v kildare. In second half. On Sunday Meath took every chance they got becaude they have a new young exciting full foward line.

Last year Meath were depending to get scores from Brian Menton at midfield anf half back line and Newman. But Meath half back line by 60th its legs were run off them having to all the attacking and then defend. This year Meath have more scoring options. The half backs are still scoring and Costello offers a real new scoring threat at wing back. Jones adds another scoring option at midfield. Him anf Menton scored 1 - 2 from play v Monaghan and 1- 1 v Wicklow. But the big addition is Meath new full forward of Jordan Morris Shane Waksh and T O Reilly. And another scoring option is the bench with players kike James Conlon and Joey Wallace making impact in. Every game they are scoring.

Another thing this young Meath footballers have beaten Dublin regularly at underage. Sometime hammered Dublin at underage. One of the reasons Cork beat kerry was many of those Cork players have beating kerry at underage its helps. Yes Meatu havent made breakthrought at under 20 Dublins organisation and finances kicks in and Meath mentally have issue at under 20 21 but I think in 2020s we will see change and Meath more succesful But at minor Meath have won leinster minor titles, titles at under 16 under 17 under 18. Dublin were hammering Meath at minor 5 years. But in last 6 years its changed. Meath have gone on incredible run which is unprecendeted and historic at underage v Dubs

Meath minors defeated Dublin by 11 points recently. Some say that was 3 victory over Dubs at minor recently. If yoy add 10 point hammering of Dublin by Meath minors in 2016 and two victories over Dubs at minor in inaugurak under 17 minor championship in 2017, Meath have defeated Dublin at minor 5 times in last 6 years in leinster championship. This is important because those players who have beating Dublin year after year at underage are now playing senior for Meath and making a impact. These players are Walsh, Morris, Devine, J Conlon, Costello, Harkin, Hickey, Scully
This is important vety very important. Beating Dublin at any age group is like giving Meath players injections of confidence. Look at Morris or Walsh. Walsh defeated Dublin twice at underage and Morris 3 times ( twice at minor and was man of the match v Dubs in leinster league in early this year). Meath teams of 2014 2015 2019 those players were hammered v Dublin at underage. Look at confidence and swagger of these brillant young players. People dont understand outside the counry the confidence that Meaths gets from beating Dublin.

People in Dublin dont understand what Dublin means to Meath. People throughour the country dont understand what Dublin means to Meath. Its a hundred year obessesion. Meath are obssesed about Dublin the same way Cork and kerry same way Tipp and kilkenmy. It is of the one great rivalries and its peaks was the number one rivalry in GAA. Meath players manager its all about knocking Dublin from thwir perch. Beating Dublin in leinster final is nore important to Meath then winning All Ireland final. Colm O Rourke said and he was 100% right.

Dublin are the most powerful most populated most wealthy most famous Irish county and its being like for hundreds of years. Meath up to 2000 had smaller population then Mayo or Donegal when Meath won Sam in 96. From 1960 to 2010 counties with smallest pop to win Sam were Offaly just under 100000 and Meath just over 100000. Meath was average rural midland county from.15th to 20th in terms of stature in Irish society up to 2000 and with pop growrh might jump 12th or 13th currently.

Meath and Dublin is the most unequal rivalry in Irish sport. Cork and kerry are similar enough counties so are Tipp and kilkenny so are Armgh anf Tyrone and so are Mayo and Galway. But Dublin have always had 10 times population and wealth and power yet this average county called Meath went to toe to toe with Dublin for 90 years and had unprecedented sucess. Kerry also have huge suvesw v Dubs it must be said.

But no county has beaten Dublin more then Meath, no county has had period of dominance over Dublin then Meath. Dublin have always had an aura around them in leinater and nationwide for generatioms. Dublin have dominated leinster since 1890s. Most counties in leinster have never beaten Dublin in leinster senior final.

1 Carlow Wicklow Longford Westmeath and laois have never beaten Dublin in leinster senior final
2 Offaly have done it 3 times and last time to beat Dublin in leinster final was 35 years
3 Wexford havent beaten Dublin in keinster final in near 100 years and louth have done it twice last time in 1950s.
4 kildare have beaten Dublin in 1 leinster final in 90 years
5 Meath idefeated Dublin in 7 leinster fin in 15 years in 80s and 90s also including league final win over Dubs.
In 15 years in 80s 90s Meath were undefeated v Dublin in 13 games. with 9 victories 4 draws for Meath in a 15 year period . One word incredible.

Most counties havent beaten Dublin in leinster for 70 60 or 50 years eg Louth Carlow Wicklow. Others two or three times in 50 or 60 years eg kildare and laois. Lets look at rest of the country. Kerry also have a proud tradition of beating Dublin. In Munster Cork have beaten Dublin maybe oncw or twice in 50 years. The only teams to veat Dubs in Wwst are Galway who havent beaten Dubs in 90 years and Mayo who have 2 victories over Dubs. In 90s and 00s Dublin failed many times to beat Ulster teams but prior to 1990 and since 2010 Ulater teams have rarely beaten Dublin. The two counties that consistently beaten Dublin is kerry especially Meath.

Why? Meath always had better footballers especially forwards . Dublin were tough as nails hard defenders strong midfield very hard to beat

The best way to explain up 2010
Dublin had 4 players who won Footballer of the year in their history eg Lar Foley Jimmy Keaveney Tommy Drum Paul Curran
Meath had 6 players who Footballer of the year wg Bertie Cunningham Brian Stafford Robbie O Malley Martin O Connell Colm O Rourke Trevor Giles..


Well Meath had better footballes particularly better natural forwards. Every generation of Meath teams from 1930 throughout every decade up to 2010 Meath had better forwards. This decade Dublin of course had better forwards. This meant every generation of Meath footballers defeated Dubklin in 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s. So will 2020s continue that incredible run where every generation of Meath footballers since foundation of state have beaten Dublin. And when Meath had great teams these Meath teams dominated Dublin in 1940s 1950s 1960s 1980s 1990s.

And when you see Meath minor team hammering Dublin by 11 points at minor this year it continues that great tradition. And Meath will beat Dublin someday. I dont know if Meath win wib leinater or Sam Maguire in next ten years. But I know we will beat Dublin. Its in our dna, it in our blood an obsession that runs through our hearts souls minds beings Maybe it wouldnt happen on Sat. But it will happen someday much sooner then people think.

People in Dublin or throughout the country dont get it, dokt really understand how Meath are a county whose GAA obssesion is all about Dublin, its strives us to be great. Becaude you have to be great to go beat Dublin. They are and have alwaye been most difficult opponent in gaelic football. But the biggest rock in Dublins shoe is Meath. No county has beaten Dublin, no county has rattled Dublin, no county has humilated ot hammered dominated rocked Dublin to its very core then Meath. Some of said if Meath win it take miracle. But everytime Meath did beat Dublin it ws sporting miracle of sorts. This average rural county who didnt know its place stood up to the powerful county in Ireland and performed heroics that are legendary.

We performed miracles in 1947 1964 1975 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1996 1999 2001 2010 and maybe in 2025 or 2023 or maybe just maybe 2020 another generation of Meath men knocked the Dubs from their perch. It might not happen on Sat but it is the future it whats ahead its our counties destiny its our calling. Morris Walshs Costellos have the ability at teenagers all have a long career and all have ability to be next generation of Meath footballere to knock Dublin from perch. The past ten years were Dublins the future is ours the future is An Mhi.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1046 - 17/11/2020 16:06:38    2310696

Is it youngest team in the country? Im not certain. But we can say for certainty is one of the youngest and could be the youngest. In the super 8s last year we had youngest set of forwards. We had 6 forwards who played who were 20, 19 and Shane Walsh 18. In the last 2 games of the league we have youngest players playing in div 1. We have youngest full forward line in the country. Jordan Morris 19 Shane Walsh 19 Thomas O Reilly 23. Like on saturday we could have 3 attackers who are all 19. Jordan Morris 19 Shane Walsh 19 Matthew Costello 19 ( I know Costello is wing back. But he basically is half forward who is playing deep and attacking from half back line with keoghan Ryan McEntee the real half backs). Against Dublin in the league we had
Hickey 19, Harkin 20, Walsh 19, Morris 19, Devine 21, J Conlon 21, Campion 21, Scully 21. Its definately allot of young player. Which is good and bad.

But firstly I do think media has not mentioned this at all . There has always been anti Meath bias in the media. How young these Meath players are.
Like where have all goals come from. 7 of the 12 goals scored are by these young Meath footballers.
Meath 12 goals = Morris 4, Costello 1, Scully 1, Hickey 1. Thats were goals are coming from the 19 and 20 year olds.

The problem with there youth is you can get allot of mistakes disjointed play you look at game v kildare. 7 of those players who started didnt play in last years leinster final. Really this Meath team has only 4 games together and first 15 two games. So there still getting used to each other. Worry would be couple early goals the head could drop. To be fair to them when they were behind v Kildare by 6 at half time and behind by Dublin by 7 after 15 mins, behind by Kerry by 7 after 15 mins and 6 behind Monaghan after 15 mins. And that they came roaring back and level up the game and went toe to toe with Dublin kerry and Monaghan for 70 mins and should have beaten kerry in killarney ( thats what Marc O Se said) and Monaghan in Clones. So McEntee has installed the tradtional never say die atitude in these Meath players. But Dublin are at a different level that they could steamroll any team and have steamed rolled and hammered every county they have played in last 6 or 7 years at different stages.

Loss of J McEntee, Harnan and Gallagher to the defence and Newman to the forwards is a pity. Newman would have particularly have given full forward line huge experience. But overall this is very close fully fit panel and this Meath team and panel is very much for now but also future. Its really only beginning and 2020 and 2021 it will be fascinating to see can they make the breakthrough become a div 1 team a top 7 or 8 team.

The good thing about young players and you can see already they play with no fear. Its just real confidence. There is no doubt when McEntee brought 8 under 20 players on to the panel last year and 6 under 20 players he brought on to panel this year our fortunes improved. This has happenned over when Boylan brought young players like Stafford, Flynn, Beggy, O Connell, O Malley on to the panel in 86 and when he brought young players on Fay, Reilly, Reynold, McGuinness, Kelly, Murphy, Giles, Callaghan on to panel in 95 96. I am not saying the current crop are as good as them. But we can say for certain its not since 90s Meath have brought so many 18 and 19 and 20 years old on to panel and made immediate impact. That did not happen from 2000 to 2018. These are young talented skilful Meath players and have had some sucess at underage and all beaten Dublin regularly at underage. Good news for Meath theres more to come with Arron Lynch, Luke Mitchell young forwards making impact on club scene will get there chance, Lynch is already called to panel. And current minor team which hammered Dublin by 11 recently is the biggest Meath minor team I have seen in ten years and its looks possibly best minor team we have produced recently. Hard to know with young lads and we have to beat Dublin, Westmeath, loais and kildare to win leinster on tough side of draw but they did look awesome v Dublin and I have high hope for captain Eoghan Frayne who I rate along Shane Walsh the two best young footballers of the current crop and with East leinster project in next ten years you should see Wicklow and louth doing well at underage and Meath and kildare should remain strong and could even get stronger at underage. We are definately entering a new era in Meath football. How good that will be time will tell.

One of these young players have brought in improved morale. Prior to they came in Meaths morale was rock bottom.and since Boylan left there has being many unhappy camps, cliques and low morale in Meath panels. The injection of young talent has transformed the morale and this Meath group are more together then any Meath team since Boylan left. And they seem to be raring to go. Ronan Ryan 23 from Summerhill said the lads are hoping of the tables with excitement at every training session on how they love knockout football. Prior to 2000 Meath along with kerry were two great championship knockout teams. Meath thrived in knockout football. Its in our dna. On sunday it would be great if we could have another 1964 or 1975 or 1986 or 1996 or 2010. But if we could go 60 mins and keep it under ten that would be progress and best any team had done v Dubs in leinster since 2013 in the championship. If we could get to 6 or 5 or 4 or go full 70 mins like we did in the league that would be brillant. And yes Dublin.could steamroll win by 10 to 16 points. They defeated most teams in leinster by average of 15 or 16 points and hammered all best teams in the country at one stage eg Tyrone, kerry, Mayo. But we can still dream we are entitled to dream. Theres no law in believing and wishing and dreaming. Probaly wont happen. But Dubs dont understand what this means to us, other counties dont understand what this means to us. Some of our young supporters dont understand what this means to us. But many in the county understand, McEntee understands what does mean to us, Donal keoghan undestands what means to people of Meath. And many of one of these young lads who I talked to who are playing recently on Sunday understand and he tells me other young lads on team knows what this means to the people of Meath.

This is not a game of football . This is not leinster final this is bigger then an All Ireland final for us. This counts and means more then all those things put together it is our obsession that runs through our blood and hearts and souls It matters more then.anythimg. people in Dublin or other counties dont understand what Meath and Dublin means to Meath people , it is indescribable is many ways because it is raw emotion. It is a war of tribes it id a battle, its David vrs Gioliath, it is cuchies v Jackeens, Boggers v City Slickers. It is e the capital v the neighbouring small tribe, its modern capital of Ireland ves home of highkings of Ireland it is Ballinabrackey versus Ballymun. It is Trim versus Tallaght. Its is Nobber versus Naul. Its is Clonee versus Clondalkin it is Dunderry versus Dalkey. It is streets of Navan versus the streets of the inner city. Sheds of hay and field of barley versus backstreets and alley ways. Its Tommy Tiernan versus Brendan O Carroll. Its Navan vesus Mrs Brown. Its Pierce Brosnan versus Bono. It is Shane Horgam versus Jonnny Sexton. It is John Bruton versus Bertie Ahern. It is Johnny Murtaght vesus Padraig Harrington. It is Book of Kells versus Trinity College. It is Hill of Tara versus Phoniex Park , Newgrange versus the spire, it is Boylan versus Heffernan. It is David vrs Giolath. It is Meath versus Dublin. Two tribes going to war.

To lose it is gutwreching to win is the greatest feeling in the world, when we won in the past it was a sporting miracle in 47 64 75 86 91 96 01 of all sporting miracles. The dream lives on , the fire in our hearts is strong we are a quite people but when risen we are ferocious and passionate as can possibly be. Keep the faith bring on the Dubs. Its mid August the hay is saved Dubs are beaten was a rallying cry generations. Well its near christmas and we can dream this could be best christmas ever in Royal county. There is nothing wrong in dreaming or believing we know what awaits we could hammered. But if we are we brush ourselves and we start up 2021 and 2022 again and the obsession continues and all the following years and we keep going and competiting until Dublin are knocked from perch. We will never give up on that. Once there is a county called Meath there will be men who will strive to beat Dublin. Thats the way it is thats the way it will always be.

My favourite Meath v Dublin story. I have told before. I will again. Dublin are All Ireland chanpions in 1963. Meath meet them in 1964 leinster final, Meath are complete underdogs no one gives Meath a hope. Three Quinn brother from tiny parish in Meath called kilbride are on the team. The Friday before the game their father is very sick on his deathbed. The brother dont know should they play the leinster final. He calls them in him tells them to play leinster final and go out and beat Dubs. The 3 Quinn brother go up to Croke Park on the Sunday. They know before they leavd the parish priest is called to give their Father his last rites. On the field Meath beat Dublin by 7 points in the greatest performance by Meath team in leinster final v Dublin. On the hottest summer day of the year the 3 Quinn brothers wwre magnificent. Especially the great majestic Jack Quinn who announces himself in 1964 in the leinster final as the best footballer in Ireland. The three brothers bring the leinster cup back to kilbride that evening to their sick fathers bed. The father sees the cup and smiles. The following Tues he passed away.
Meath and Dublin is not game of football for the Meath people it is much much much more and important then that. It is what defines us it is our whole culture and tradition and heritage. Beating Dublin to the Meath football family it is everything and much more. It really really matters to us.

Furlong1949 (Meath) - Posts: 1046 - 17/11/2020 16:18:17    2310704

DMML (USA) - Posts: 1 - 17/11/2020 18:04:17    2310760

bobkarlgees (Meath) - Posts: 1192 - 17/11/2020 18:50:52    2310770

Very hard to know match ups here as Dublin in my opinion still haven't started their best 15.

Inside line at the minute is:
Rock O Callaghan Small although personally I think Manion is better than Small and starts ahead of him.
McGill picks up O Callaghan, Lavin on Small/Manion as he is the stickier of our corner backs and Toner on Rock who isn't overly influential from play.

Half backs is the interesting one. Keoghan has to take Kilkenny again, he's by far Dublins best player this year and his worst game in recent memory was against us last yea when Keoghan man marked him. The 2 issues here is:
1. We lose an attacking outlet as McEntee isn't a marauding wing back, he's very much a defensive player but I don't think could match up to Kilkenny (not many in the country can)
2. Kilkenny is playing much closer to goals this year and often interchanges with O Callaghan, so does McGill take him when he goes inside or does he stick with O Callaghan and let Keoghan go in Full Back when Kilkenny drifts in. I'd be happy with McGill taking him in the full forward line but I'm not a fan of lads swapping players as it can cause confusion as to who is picking up who.
McEntee takes C Costello as he's a more defensive minded player than our other wing back M Costello and He then takes the remaining wing forward Scully.

In midfield, Menton takes Fenton and Jones takes the other midfielder who I think will be Howard although he hasn't started yet I don't think.

We can't control who their backs pick up but we all know Dublins 2 wing backs and Murchen love to bomb forward and will need to be tagged every time or they will make us pay..

After that, kick outs and free taking aside, we need to match if not outwork them, get every ounce of luck that is available on the night and cross every one of our fingers and see what happens

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