Kildare V Meath...A/I Q/Final...

Yes well an unsatisfactory end to Meath's year. Even after beating the Dubs so comprehensively and then bringing the Delaney Cup back to Navan and beyond, there still has to be some degree of failure assiociated with Meath's year given that the Dubs have now progressed further and the manner in which we won Leinster.

Obviously Kildare completely outclassed us in the second half playing a total no-nonsense game that in the end suffocated the life out of Meath. We were reduced to nothing in the last ten minutes, they did to us what we did to Dublin a few short weeks ago. It'll be interesting to see if any of the remaining teams can come up with an answer to them, somehow I doubt it.

As for Meath, well we accomplished what we set out to accomplish, beat the Dubs and win Leinster. But as I say, the manner in which this was completed creates a kind of negative feeling inside. Perhaps, Meath proved to be the biggest losers of the Leinster Final debacle. A few of the lads looked to have lost a step or two in their swagger yesterday.

Defensively, we were found out in too many positions. Brendan Murphy was beaten twice but the players in front of him left him in a tough position for both. The goal by James Kavanagh was poetry, nothing Murphy could have done. Harrington was roasted for the second time this year, Niall McNamee eight weeks ago and even in the Leinster Final, JP Rooney asked questions. Moyles and King struggled once again but really this was coming, our half-back line was always going to struggle and the injury to McGuinness all season has been a huge blow. If he had been on from the start, who knows? He certainly made a big impact when introduced. Earley going off so early surely had to mean advantage Meath round the middle and to be fair. Meade, who seems to like these type of conditions, did well and Crawford was okay but it was our use of this primary possession that cost us. Too many times, we won ball and then coughed it up far too easily. King, O'Brien and Moyles were guilty of committing so many turnovers. Forwards, well they aren't as good as everyone thinks. Fine kickers/finishers/strikers but they need the ball to do that. Cian Ward was beaten to everything that came his way and Shane O'Rourke was rather easily marked. Joe must have went off at half-time as well. I find it strange that a player of the calibre Brian Farrell was left on the sideline all day. We'll need David Bray back next year as well.

To be honest, and I've said it before but Meath are team lacking in leadership and to a lesser extent, confidence. When the game was swinging Kildare's way, only Stephen Bray tried to rescue the situation while the rest continued to foolishly do what they'd been doing all day long. What we need to do now is to unearth a half-back, get McGuinness back to full fitness and find a commanding midfielder, of which they are probably none in the county. Craig Berrigan (Dunboyne), Eoin Reilly (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Maurice Kennedy (Summerhill) appear to be best of whats not on the panel but I don't really believe any are the answer to our midfield woes. As for the forwards, well I've said it before as well, the best forward in the county has little or no interest in pulling on the green and gold. A fully-fit David Bray would have been a major addition yesterday so getting him back is a priority. O'Rourke and Sheridan are fine when things are going their way but from a long way out yesterday, they had thrown in the towel.

Well done to Kildare. That was a cracking performance, particularly in the second half.
To lose one of your main leaders so early, and to fall behind so quickly were hugh blows. And then to rack up that high a score in the remainder of the game! Massive stuff all together.

RMDrive wrote:To lose one of your main leaders so early

Delighful play on words there RM ...

Jayo has rated this Lilies team for a while now - Kavanagh a shoe-in for All Star at 12 - a class act.

Does anyone else think 'loyaltotheroyal' hasn't a clue, or is it just me ?

He is obviously still trying to get over the beating in '98 when he says lynch sent in a kick and hope ball and he also alludes to 'cork' players for Kildare. Indeed we had a good tipp man and a good kerry man as well, a meath man wouldn't have made it on to that team, that was an honest team !

If he's still bitter after '98 he must be particularly sick right now

He knows nothing about football, including his own county, Sheridan and O'Rourke kept meath in the game and O'Rourke ran and chased to the end.

abm wrote:Does anyone else think 'loyaltotheroyal' hasn't a clue, or is it just me ?

He is obviously still trying to get over the beating in '98 when he says lynch sent in a kick and hope ball and he also alludes to 'cork' players for Kildare. Indeed we had a good tipp man and a good kerry man as well, a meath man wouldn't have made it on to that team, that was an honest team !

If he's still bitter after '98 he must be particularly sick right now

He knows nothing about football, including his own county, Sheridan and O'Rourke kept meath in the game and O'Rourke ran and chased to the end.

Everyone else probably thinks the same but they said that about Patrique and I think he's the best poster on here. Sheridan and O'Rourke, fine kickers/strikers but just lack that bit of class in my opinion. Both player's impacts on games got progressively worsened as the season wore on which would indicate that better defenders have their match. I think I was talking about Fahy and Tompkins playing for Cork but yes you are right, there were plenty of non-Kildare men on that '98 team. Brian Lacey, Karl O'Dwyer, Brian Murphy and there was someone else who's name I can't remember.