Meath Forum

Footballer of the Year award

(Oldest Posts First)

The whole thing in the past two years of giving the Peter McDermott trophy for Meath Footballer of the Year to club players rather than county men in baffling. Set up a new category for Club Player of the Year by all means but we are disrespecting great county men with the last two year's selections.
Padraig McKeever was brilliant for his club, but the Footballer of the Year needs to go to the player who was the best performer in a Meath jersey in 2017. That is the way it has been every year up until 2016 and if the selection panel want to give it to a club player, then set up a new category.
This is an award that has been won by Colm O'Rourke three times, Mick Lyons, Gerry McEntee, Liam Hayes, Tommy Dowd, Graham Geraghty and Trevor Giles.
If it was Club Player of the Year, I'd vote for Padraig McKeever, but he doesn't qualify for the main award in my opinion.
Someone said to me it is because the county is not going well, if that is the case it is like the selection committee is trying to pass comment on the county squad and Andy McEntee.
This award should be going to someone who put their life on hold and committed to Meath in 2017 - Graham Reilly, Cillian O'Sullivan, Donal Keogan or whoever else you want.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 400 - 04/12/2017 21:04:37    2064426

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Replying To Roger:  "The whole thing in the past two years of giving the Peter McDermott trophy for Meath Footballer of the Year to club players rather than county men in baffling. Set up a new category for Club Player of the Year by all means but we are disrespecting great county men with the last two year's selections.
Padraig McKeever was brilliant for his club, but the Footballer of the Year needs to go to the player who was the best performer in a Meath jersey in 2017. That is the way it has been every year up until 2016 and if the selection panel want to give it to a club player, then set up a new category.
This is an award that has been won by Colm O'Rourke three times, Mick Lyons, Gerry McEntee, Liam Hayes, Tommy Dowd, Graham Geraghty and Trevor Giles.
If it was Club Player of the Year, I'd vote for Padraig McKeever, but he doesn't qualify for the main award in my opinion.
Someone said to me it is because the county is not going well, if that is the case it is like the selection committee is trying to pass comment on the county squad and Andy McEntee.
This award should be going to someone who put their life on hold and committed to Meath in 2017 - Graham Reilly, Cillian O'Sullivan, Donal Keogan or whoever else you want."
Could not agree more. What are the old lads that pick this award thinking. This is for the best Meath footballer, the description gives it away... MEATH not CLUB.

49erroyal (Meath) - Posts: 53 - 04/12/2017 21:25:50    2064429

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Replying To 49erroyal:  "Could not agree more. What are the old lads that pick this award thinking. This is for the best Meath footballer, the description gives it away... MEATH not CLUB."
Agreed absolutely........ Assuming the criteria for selection is ability x attitude then Mickey Bourke is that man by a distance. Not the most skillful maybe, but his attitude is beyond question.

nobull456 (Meath) - Posts: 841 - 04/12/2017 21:58:00    2064434

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Disagree with above. Podge McKeever fully deserves award and played a pivotal role in securing simonstown s second championship in a row. Don't think there would be many county men who would begrudge this.

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1668 - 05/12/2017 12:13:02    2064450

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Replying To bert09:  "Disagree with above. Podge McKeever fully deserves award and played a pivotal role in securing simonstown s second championship in a row. Don't think there would be many county men who would begrudge this."
Agreed, Meath footballer of the Year in my opinion is for the best footballer in Co Meath over the year, genereally this probably would have been a county player as they are the best players in the county (hence their selection in the County team) but the last two years it simply hasn't been (in football anyway). If another award is to be awarded then it should be made soley for the county team for the 'County Player of the Year'. How anyone can say its disrespecting past winners and county men is ludacris, regardless of who has won it in the past and I'd imagine if you asked any of the men mention in the original post, not one of them would disagree with the winner over the last two years or begrudge them being awarded it either.

ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 323 - 05/12/2017 12:32:16    2064456

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Padraig McKeever is the best club player in Meath on form in 2017 in my opinion, but should not be up for the Peter McDermott Award which was created for the best man playing for the Meath county team. I spoke with a couple of Simonstown lads and both picked Mark McCabe as their best player in the club this year - that goes to show you what way people can differ.
Podge got a run with the county under Micko and looked like he would be let go from the panel before he got injured. Judging someone of the standard of Meath club football as compared to intercounty football is nonsensical. Shooting out the lights against a club corner back can't be compared to giving up you life to represent the county.
The Peter McDermott trophy is for the best player in a Meath senior jersey - it has been for 40 plus years. There is no debate over that fact.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 400 - 05/12/2017 13:10:11    2064461

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Replying To Roger:  "Padraig McKeever is the best club player in Meath on form in 2017 in my opinion, but should not be up for the Peter McDermott Award which was created for the best man playing for the Meath county team. I spoke with a couple of Simonstown lads and both picked Mark McCabe as their best player in the club this year - that goes to show you what way people can differ.
Podge got a run with the county under Micko and looked like he would be let go from the panel before he got injured. Judging someone of the standard of Meath club football as compared to intercounty football is nonsensical. Shooting out the lights against a club corner back can't be compared to giving up you life to represent the county.
The Peter McDermott trophy is for the best player in a Meath senior jersey - it has been for 40 plus years. There is no debate over that fact."
Where is this stated???

ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 323 - 05/12/2017 13:20:23    2064464

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Replying To Roger:  "Padraig McKeever is the best club player in Meath on form in 2017 in my opinion, but should not be up for the Peter McDermott Award which was created for the best man playing for the Meath county team. I spoke with a couple of Simonstown lads and both picked Mark McCabe as their best player in the club this year - that goes to show you what way people can differ.
Podge got a run with the county under Micko and looked like he would be let go from the panel before he got injured. Judging someone of the standard of Meath club football as compared to intercounty football is nonsensical. Shooting out the lights against a club corner back can't be compared to giving up you life to represent the county.
The Peter McDermott trophy is for the best player in a Meath senior jersey - it has been for 40 plus years. There is no debate over that fact."
Roger, I think youll find the county players play club as well and they did not stand out, hence why Padraig was chosen. Its about time that awards stopped being given to club players because they are on the county team.

The award is for Footballer of the Year. Not County Player of the year.

Why should there be an award for county player of the year?? To boost another ego within the set up.

juicy (Meath) - Posts: 384 - 05/12/2017 14:10:52    2064472

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This is probably going to go the way most threads go. One lad gives his opinion, then someone else becomes defensive about a player or club, then the point that was being made is forgotten.
This award as long as I can remember has every year and I remember it being there from the 70's - has gone to a county man. Now there were some terrible years for the county during that time - losing to Longford in '82, the hammering to Laois in '85 and even recent years. During those years there were some brilliant club players - Walterstown won two Leinsters and got to an All-Ireland club final, Dunshaughlin and Summerhill won Leinsters, O'Mahony's did four in a row. The standard of club football was light years ahead of where it is now in the county - but every year the footballer of the year award went to a county man.
Last year with Shane O'Rourke I thought it was a bit odd, but to be truthful the lad had played for the county from when he was a teenager and only for injury could have been an all time great. If he could have gone through a stone wall for the county he would, so you couldn't begrudge him the award.
So for 35 or 40 years whatever, a county man gets the award and then Shane gets it last year. It's a bit odd but you turn your head the other way as he would still be playing county only for injury.
This year is different as McKeever has never played league or championship for Meath. Like, he might play for Meath and not be cut out for county football - hopefully he will as he's exciting to watch. The point is - we don't know. Yet we are giving him the award ahead of guys who played really well for Meath this year at a much higher standard.
I won't be losing too much sleep over it and fair play to McKeever. It just seems a bit odd.

49erroyal (Meath) - Posts: 53 - 05/12/2017 14:49:38    2064474

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Replying To Roger:  "The whole thing in the past two years of giving the Peter McDermott trophy for Meath Footballer of the Year to club players rather than county men in baffling. Set up a new category for Club Player of the Year by all means but we are disrespecting great county men with the last two year's selections.
Padraig McKeever was brilliant for his club, but the Footballer of the Year needs to go to the player who was the best performer in a Meath jersey in 2017. That is the way it has been every year up until 2016 and if the selection panel want to give it to a club player, then set up a new category.
This is an award that has been won by Colm O'Rourke three times, Mick Lyons, Gerry McEntee, Liam Hayes, Tommy Dowd, Graham Geraghty and Trevor Giles.
If it was Club Player of the Year, I'd vote for Padraig McKeever, but he doesn't qualify for the main award in my opinion.
Someone said to me it is because the county is not going well, if that is the case it is like the selection committee is trying to pass comment on the county squad and Andy McEntee.
This award should be going to someone who put their life on hold and committed to Meath in 2017 - Graham Reilly, Cillian O'Sullivan, Donal Keogan or whoever else you want."
I have to say that I agree with you on this. Playing with the county is a huge committment and generally against a higher level player. Nothing against Padraig but I would agree with the general consensus that this should be reserved for those that played county over the year and have a separate club award.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 05/12/2017 15:23:19    2064476

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Replying To oldsam_newsam:  "I have to say that I agree with you on this. Playing with the county is a huge committment and generally against a higher level player. Nothing against Padraig but I would agree with the general consensus that this should be reserved for those that played county over the year and have a separate club award."
And what happens with the new award?? Do you exclude the lads who are on the county team from winning it, even the ones only play as subs or maybe not getting a full run at all, thus diluting the pool and making the award less prestegious?? The award is for Footballer of the year, when it was established (to the best of my knowledge) it wasn't singled out for County Players only, hence why there isn't a seperate awards for the club player to aim for as well. If needs be then have a seperate award for Coutny player of the year and call it 'County Player of the Year', like most clubs would have for their personal player of the year.

The gas thing is, is that not a single player would have an issue with who its been awarded to, its only the old brigade of fans (people past their playng days) I'd say who have the issue.

ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 323 - 05/12/2017 15:44:55    2064481

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Niall Kane was Simonstowns best player in past 2 years in my opinion. The issue with club football now is that the leagues seem to have no value whatsoever as can be seen by the amount of interest in the div 1 final last Saturday. This leaves the borefest that is the group stages of championship which have about as much intensity as a pre season soccer friendly. So we are really judging club footballers on 3/4 matches at this stage ???

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1338 - 05/12/2017 16:02:59    2064485

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Replying To Analyst:  "Niall Kane was Simonstowns best player in past 2 years in my opinion. The issue with club football now is that the leagues seem to have no value whatsoever as can be seen by the amount of interest in the div 1 final last Saturday. This leaves the borefest that is the group stages of championship which have about as much intensity as a pre season soccer friendly. So we are really judging club footballers on 3/4 matches at this stage ???"
Completely disagree with the comment about intensity of group games, as will anyone who plays in them would disagree too. Easy and unfair comment to make from someone who obviously doesn't play.

TakeYourPoints6 (Meath) - Posts: 223 - 05/12/2017 16:19:31    2064489

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Replying To ratlag:  "And what happens with the new award?? Do you exclude the lads who are on the county team from winning it, even the ones only play as subs or maybe not getting a full run at all, thus diluting the pool and making the award less prestegious?? The award is for Footballer of the year, when it was established (to the best of my knowledge) it wasn't singled out for County Players only, hence why there isn't a seperate awards for the club player to aim for as well. If needs be then have a seperate award for Coutny player of the year and call it 'County Player of the Year', like most clubs would have for their personal player of the year.

The gas thing is, is that not a single player would have an issue with who its been awarded to, its only the old brigade of fans (people past their playng days) I'd say who have the issue."
It should not be too complicated. Meath Footballer of the Year is the player who stood out in a Meath jersey, Club Footballer of the Year is whoever played best in the club championship. The Club award could be won by a county player or it could be won by a non-county player, just like Padraig McKeever.
I'm not sure it is an age thing as chatting at work about it a few lads who took part in the championships didn't agree with this year's award winner.
In years gone by if there was a Club Player of the Year, the likes of Mattie McCabe or Finian Murtagh would have been honoured. These men were on the periphery of the county team, might get a short run, but were usually on the bench. When it came to the club championships, they had no betters and stood out much more than some All-Ireland winners.
It's horses for courses, some players excel at county level, some are super club players and the really good ones are brilliant at both.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 400 - 05/12/2017 16:21:25    2064492

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Ridiculous argument. It shouldn't have to be categorised into club player or County player of the year it's the standout player in County meath this year. Podge mckeever won man of the match in the county final for the second year running and this was the first time this has ever been done. No1 on the county team achieved anything of note this year and I don't think one player stood out. He fully deserves this award and the only people that should have even been in contention with him are some of his simonstown team mates

Northsidegaels (Meath) - Posts: 227 - 05/12/2017 17:58:10    2064498

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Replying To TakeYourPoints6:  "Completely disagree with the comment about intensity of group games, as will anyone who plays in them would disagree too. Easy and unfair comment to make from someone who obviously doesn't play."
There are currently 45 group matches in senior championship to get 18 teams down to 9. To my recollection of the final round this year, of the 9 matches only 3 had both sides with something to play for. Bear in mind that in our championship a team can lose 4 games and still not be in a relegation battle (st Colmcilles ) or just win one game and go through to knockout (na fianna). I attended a lot of group games and the difference between these and the knockout Q finals is chalk and cheese. 4 Q Finals had massive crowds and great intensity. Tones v Simonstown semi and first half of the other semi were again full of what spectators want to see. The final was one of the worst in a long time. In summary our format is flawed and until knockout is predominantly a dragged out borefest

Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1338 - 05/12/2017 21:28:24    2064508

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Replying To Analyst:  "There are currently 45 group matches in senior championship to get 18 teams down to 9. To my recollection of the final round this year, of the 9 matches only 3 had both sides with something to play for. Bear in mind that in our championship a team can lose 4 games and still not be in a relegation battle (st Colmcilles ) or just win one game and go through to knockout (na fianna). I attended a lot of group games and the difference between these and the knockout Q finals is chalk and cheese. 4 Q Finals had massive crowds and great intensity. Tones v Simonstown semi and first half of the other semi were again full of what spectators want to see. The final was one of the worst in a long time. In summary our format is flawed and until knockout is predominantly a dragged out borefest"
Fair point, can see that side of the argument also.

TakeYourPoints6 (Meath) - Posts: 223 - 06/12/2017 10:20:44    2064527

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