It is sad as a Meath supporter to see it come to this. Horrendous reappointment of Micky o Dowd last year when he didn't even have a backup team in place. People were slagging off Banty and Eamonn o'Brien but both were well ahead of Mick. Nice guy but almost clueless on the sidelines and seems to have been unable to get a 70 minute performance out of the players.
Sad days but hopefully some good young players coming through. County board need to do the right thing finally and get a good management team in place, Andy McEntee probably the favourite at this stage.
Quote from: agorm on July 10, 2016, 11:16:40 AM
It is sad as a Meath supporter to see it come to this. Horrendous reappointment of Micky o Dowd last year when he didn't even have a backup team in place. People were slagging off Banty and Eamonn o'Brien but both were well ahead of Mick. Nice guy but almost clueless on the sidelines and seems to have been unable to get a 70 minute performance out of the players.
Sad days but hopefully some good young players coming through. County board need to do the right thing finally and get a good management team in place, Andy McEntee probably the favourite at this stage.
Even as a non Meath supporter it is sad to see
Seems to be a serious structural problem
We are told these things go in cycles! Not so sure anymore! When you lose the habit of winning it's damn hard to get back. Kerry have maintained the winning habit throughout the history of the GAA. Their longest famine in my lifetime was 87 to 96. Bar the obvious - Dublin. Any other county can fall of the shelf and no time frame if any can be guessed as to their return to the top table.
Quote from: From the Bunker on July 10, 2016, 01:08:10 PM
We are told these things go in cycles! Not so sure anymore! When you lose the habit of winning it's damn hard to get back. Kerry have maintained the winning habit throughout the history of the GAA. Their longest famine in my lifetime was 87 to 96. Bar the obvious - Dublin. Any other county can fall of the shelf and no time frame if any can be guessed as to their return to the top table.
Counties with a winning pedigree get the mojo back at some stage. Ros and Cavan have been AWOL longest if you ignore Welford Tipp and Limerick who are hurling
specialists
traditionally
Quote from: seafoid on July 10, 2016, 02:38:15 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on July 10, 2016, 01:08:10 PM
We are told these things go in cycles! Not so sure anymore! When you lose the habit of winning it's damn hard to get back. Kerry have maintained the winning habit throughout the history of the GAA. Their longest famine in my lifetime was 87 to 96. Bar the obvious - Dublin. Any other county can fall of the shelf and no time frame if any can be guessed as to their return to the top table.
Counties with a winning pedigree get the mojo back at some stage. Ros and Cavan have been AWOL longest if you ignore Welford Tipp and Limerick who are hurling
specialists
traditionally
Kildare have been AWOL longer, back in the 20's we were kings.
It hasn't been a sudden sharp demise for Meath, apart from the crazy 2010 season they have been slipping and stagnating for a long time before and since. Mick O'Dowd going might help a little and they have their underage structure in order now but any improvement will be gradual. They face the same problems as the other Leinster teams in having no hope of winning a provincial which makes it harder to motivate players and attract serious sponsorship money (businesses want to be associated with success).
Quote from: Kuwabatake Sanjuro on July 10, 2016, 03:36:02 PM
Quote from: seafoid on July 10, 2016, 02:38:15 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on July 10, 2016, 01:08:10 PM
We are told these things go in cycles! Not so sure anymore! When you lose the habit of winning it's damn hard to get back. Kerry have maintained the winning habit throughout the history of the GAA. Their longest famine in my lifetime was 87 to 96. Bar the obvious - Dublin. Any other county can fall of the shelf and no time frame if any can be guessed as to their return to the top table.
Counties with a winning pedigree get the mojo back at some stage. Ros and Cavan have been AWOL longest if you ignore Welford Tipp and Limerick who are hurling
specialists
traditionally
Kildare have been AWOL longer, back in the 20's we were kings.
It hasn't been a sudden sharp demise for Meath, apart from the crazy 2010 season they have been slipping and stagnating for a long time before and since. Mick O'Dowd going might help a little and they have their underage structure in order now but any improvement will be gradual. They face the same problems as the other Leinster teams in having no hope of winning a provincial which makes it harder to motivate players and attract serious sponsorship money (businesses want to be associated with success).
Kildare is a class apart.
Re Leinster the dominance of the Dubs shouldn't stop counties doing well in the qualifiers
Meath have never adapted to them in recent years, maybe they had a belief that they could challenge Dublin which was never going to happen and once they go out of Leinster consider their season's over. Some tough draws too.
Watching Kildare and Offaly yesterday evening was like a different sport to the dross that was played in the Leinster Championship. The venue and a tactical shift from Kildare played a part but it was really an excellent championship game with proper intensity even if the defending was suspect. There was no incentive for Kildare and Westmeath to win the semi final and it did play a part in how awful it was to watch.
Quote from: seafoid on July 10, 2016, 12:27:53 PM
Even as a non Meath supporter it is sad to see
Yeah I'm devastated over it. Don't get a full night's sleep most nights, don't see the point in going out, even food doesn't taste quite the same.
The Mead demise has come too late. I wish it happened 20yrs. ago.
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on July 11, 2016, 12:21:25 AM
Quote from: seafoid on July 10, 2016, 12:27:53 PM
Even as a non Meath supporter it is sad to see
Yeah I'm devastated over it. Don't get a full night's sleep most nights, don't see the point in going out, even food doesn't taste quite the same.
Kildare is a GAA purgatory in a class of its own
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQl3WQQoQ0
It isn't over.
Quote from: moysider on July 11, 2016, 02:06:01 AM
The Mead demise has come too late. I wish it happened 20yrs. ago.
89 final Cork were going for 3 losses in a row . They lost the previous 2 finals to Meath
Up against Mayo. In the power structure Meath were superior to Cork . They still are in terms of finals won
And Mayo.......
Quote from: seafoid on July 11, 2016, 05:36:02 AM
Kildare is a GAA purgatory in a class of its own
We just beat Offaly for the fifth time in a row in championship. This is a golden era.
Its truely sad to see Meath football stuck in the doldrums.
Blame it all on Tayto Park.
where are the comments of hardy, juice and jinxy. Perhaps these guys are typical of the wider malaise in Meath. If this were Tyrone in demise they'd have plenty to say. Sad to see
Are you taking the piss?
See the Derry vs Meath thread. It's all in there.
We've said plenty on the matter over the last 5 or more years. Do we need to repeat it all over again in here?
It'll be another 4-5 years before we see Meath win a major title at the earliest is my guess. Till then i don't feel like handwringing and naval gazing about it every year.
Quote from: thejuice on July 11, 2016, 10:43:38 AM
Are you taking the piss?
See the Derry vs Meath thread. It's all in there.
We've said plenty on the matter over the last 5 or more years. Do we need to repeat it all over again in here?
It'll be another 4-5 years before we see Meath win a major title at the earliest is my guess. Till then i don't feel like handwringing and naval gazing about it every year.
Tyrone Tyrone Tyrone. . . they can't even come into a topic that has nothing to do with them and relate it to themselves in some way. Tyrone weren't even playing over the weekend yet they're crying the if O'Shea were from Tyrone he'd be getting worse treatment and now if Tyrone were going through the tough patch Meath are the Meath lads would be sticking the boot in.
Lads please try and remember not EVERYTHING is about you!!!
My own opinion is if McEntee gets the job Meath will be back challenging within the next 4/5 years. From what I've heard he is a shrewd operator!
Quote from: rrhf on July 11, 2016, 07:51:11 AM
where are the comments of hardy, juice and jinxy. Perhaps these guys are typical of the wider malaise in Meath. If this were Tyrone in demise they'd have plenty to say. Sad to see
The rot has been iterating for at least a decade. Tyrone would be no different after such a long period of mediocrity.
Quote from: thejuice on July 11, 2016, 10:43:38 AM
Are you taking the piss?
See the Derry vs Meath thread. It's all in there.
We've said plenty on the matter over the last 5 or more years. Do we need to repeat it all over again in here?
It'll be another 4-5 years before we see Meath win a major title at the earliest is my guess. Till then i don't feel like handwringing and naval gazing about it every year.
Most puzzling aspect for me is that outside of Dublin and possible Kildare, the population of Meath has most likely increased the most of the other counties in Ireland over the past twenty years.
Quote from: screenexile on July 11, 2016, 11:10:53 AM
Quote from: thejuice on July 11, 2016, 10:43:38 AM
Are you taking the piss?
See the Derry vs Meath thread. It's all in there.
We've said plenty on the matter over the last 5 or more years. Do we need to repeat it all over again in here?
It'll be another 4-5 years before we see Meath win a major title at the earliest is my guess. Till then i don't feel like handwringing and naval gazing about it every year.
Tyrone Tyrone Tyrone. . . they can't even come into a topic that has nothing to do with them and relate it to themselves in some way. Tyrone weren't even playing over the weekend yet they're crying the if O'Shea were from Tyrone he'd be getting worse treatment and now if Tyrone were going through the tough patch Meath are the Meath lads would be sticking the boot in.
Lads please try and remember not EVERYTHING is about you!!!
My own opinion is if McEntee gets the job Meath will be back challenging within the next 4/5 years. From what I've heard he is a shrewd operator!
Sure you may as well go ahead and keep the fire going. You've managed to talk more about them in one post than was in the rest of the thread previous to that.
I thought that too Ogra.
A lot of posters from counties with not much to discuss seem to turn to sum us poor Tymoanies.
Bernally Flynn talks some Sh... ,Mick o Dowd got some slating tonight from him easy on sideline looking in.
Quote from: Fuzzman on July 11, 2016, 08:30:57 PM
I thought that too Ogra.
A lot of posters from counties with not much to discuss seem to turn to sum us poor Tymoanies.
Oh we've plenty to discuss lad a second Ulster Minor Final in a row and a decent victory over the weekend ;D ;D
According to Bernard Flynn Meath haven't just not made progress but they have gone back under Mick O'Dowd.
What's the story lads? Meath just not producing the players?
Quote from: ck on July 11, 2016, 11:56:44 PM
According to Bernard Flynn Meath haven't just not made progress but they have gone back under Mick O'Dowd.
What's the story lads? Meath just not producing the players?
30 years ago if you drove into a petrol station in Meath it would be small and carry a small range of items including baling twine.
Now they have big spaceships that sell Sauvignon blanc to women who aren't producing many footballers even with a bigger population. Something got lost in the transition.
Is this thread not at least ten years too late?
Quote from: T Fearon on July 12, 2016, 06:21:42 AM
Is this thread not at least ten years too late?
It is special offer if you buy it with armagh
Quote from: ck on July 11, 2016, 11:56:44 PM
According to Bernard Flynn Meath haven't just not made progress but they have gone back under Mick O'Dowd.
What's the story lads? Meath just not producing the players?
The club scene is not what it was and the dual players have being increasing recently. Long may it continue.
Quote from: Croí na hÉireann on July 12, 2016, 09:52:08 AM
Quote from: ck on July 11, 2016, 11:56:44 PM
According to Bernard Flynn Meath haven't just not made progress but they have gone back under Mick O'Dowd.
What's the story lads? Meath just not producing the players?
The club scene is not what it was and the dual players have being increasing recently. Long may it continue.
This was the end of the ancien regime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUW2WAfHM4
Key stat - ninth consecutive championship game where Meath were outscored by the opposition.
The last team they outscored the opposition in the second half of a championship game was Carlow in 2014 - that was the game where Carlow managed 0-6
http://www.balls.ie/gaa/the-stat-which-proves-how-far-meath-football-has-fallen-in-the-last-decade/339532
Quote from: seafoid on July 12, 2016, 10:36:29 AM
Quote from: Croí na hÉireann on July 12, 2016, 09:52:08 AM
Quote from: ck on July 11, 2016, 11:56:44 PM
According to Bernard Flynn Meath haven't just not made progress but they have gone back under Mick O'Dowd.
What's the story lads? Meath just not producing the players?
The club scene is not what it was and the dual players have being increasing recently. Long may it continue.
This was the end of the ancien regime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUW2WAfHM4
No, it was the 2001 final against Galway that Meath football effectively died. Many great players walked away after that and we had nothing happening at underage since the early ninties so the writing was on the wall back then.
I remember saying to a friend from Galway that night after the game, who came to collect his winnings in a bet we made, that we were finished for a good while now. I never imagined such a long hard road back to the top. 15 years since that game and 17 years since we last won Sam.
Quote from: thejuice on July 12, 2016, 05:18:30 PM
Quote from: seafoid on July 12, 2016, 10:36:29 AM
Quote from: Croí na hÉireann on July 12, 2016, 09:52:08 AM
Quote from: ck on July 11, 2016, 11:56:44 PM
According to Bernard Flynn Meath haven't just not made progress but they have gone back under Mick O'Dowd.
What's the story lads? Meath just not producing the players?
The club scene is not what it was and the dual players have being increasing recently. Long may it continue.
This was the end of the ancien regime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUW2WAfHM4
No, it was the 2001 final against Galway that Meath football effectively died. Many great players walked away after that and we had nothing happening at underage since the early ninties so the writing was on the wall back then.
I remember saying to a friend from Galway that night after the game, who came to collect his winnings in a bet we made, that we were finished for a good while now. I never imagined such a long hard road back to the top. 15 years since that game and 17 years since we last won Sam.
That was the end of a team but the thing now is something different. 17 years between Sams is not unusual but the depth of the dip is
Unfortunately for Meath they didnt realise the diamond in the rough they had with Banty.
A tactical visionary that was never afforded the freedom or time to enact his strategic masterplan, it was a genuine opportunity missed by the Royal County to return to the golden days.
Quote from: thejuice on July 12, 2016, 05:18:30 PM
Quote from: seafoid on July 12, 2016, 10:36:29 AM
Quote from: Croí na hÉireann on July 12, 2016, 09:52:08 AM
Quote from: ck on July 11, 2016, 11:56:44 PM
According to Bernard Flynn Meath haven't just not made progress but they have gone back under Mick O'Dowd.
What's the story lads? Meath just not producing the players?
The club scene is not what it was and the dual players have being increasing recently. Long may it continue.
This was the end of the ancien regime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUW2WAfHM4
No, it was the 2001 final against Galway that Meath football effectively died. Many great players walked away after that and we had nothing happening at underage since the early ninties so the writing was on the wall back then.
I remember saying to a friend from Galway that night after the game, who came to collect his winnings in a bet we made, that we were finished for a good while now. I never imagined such a long hard road back to the top. 15 years since that game and 17 years since we last won Sam.
No, it was when drug testing came in.
How many years was it since Westmeath beat Meath last year?
Quote from: seafoid on July 13, 2016, 10:25:57 AM
How many years was it since Westmeath beat Meath last year?
(http://s44840.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/infinity-symbol.jpg)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/x52mi1.jpg)
Quote from: seafoid on July 13, 2016, 10:25:57 AM
How many years was it since Westmeath beat Meath last year?
1
Ah its Tara
Ever since they were Slane by Galway their wings seem be Trimed, they've NAvan to give anymore.
The 2001 collapse was bizarre considering how they hammered Kerry in the semi final.
Quote from: seafoid on July 15, 2016, 06:35:58 PM
The 2001 collapse was bizarre considering how they hammered Kerry in the semi final.
Nothing bizarre about getting up to beat Kerry in a AI semi-final and not being able to replicate that for a final!
The thing was, the players when they beat Kerry couldn't quite get over what they done. You could see it in the interviews after the game and I've read it in more recent interviews, the lads probably didn't think they'd win that game, or at least had a sense of being the underdogs, to then hammer the champions off the pitch I think, their heads were gone and they never really focused on the final. Sean Boylan said he sort of lost grip on the atmosphere in the dressing room after that.
Certainly the supporters I was at the game with who were good friends of mine and we'd gone to many games before, even they weren't really thinking about the game. There was no sense that we were heading in to a big game, there was no buzz about the Meath fans. Whereas the Galway fans on the Hill where we were, were roaring on every kick, pass and tackle.
http://utv.vo.llnwd.net/o16/LMFM/2016/07/17/07_17_MickODowd.mp3
Good interview with Mick O'Dowd. For all the criticism levelled at him for the performance of the county team, I think he sees the wider picture and realises that he's only one part of it.
It's a very revealing interview and anyone wanting a bit of insight to the state of the game in Meath its a good starting point. They cover a lot of the aspects that is feeding into our lack of success. And not to blow my own trumpet but he does say a lot of things that myself, Hardy and Jinxy have been saying over the last few years.
As I've pointed out and Mick says it now too, it wont be the next Meath management team that brings us success, it'll more likely be the one after that.
Quote from: thejuice on July 17, 2016, 11:01:17 PM
http://utv.vo.llnwd.net/o16/LMFM/2016/07/17/07_17_MickODowd.mp3
Good interview with Mick O'Dowd. For all the criticism levelled at him for the performance of the county team, I think he sees the wider picture and realises that he's only one part of it.
It's a very revealing interview and anyone wanting a bit of insight to the state of the game in Meath its a good starting point. They cover a lot of the aspects that is feeding into our lack of success. And not to blow my own trumpet but he does say a lot of things that myself, Hardy and Jinxy have been saying over the last few years.
As I've pointed out and Mick says it now too, it wont be the next Meath management team that brings us success, it'll more likely be the one after that.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/mick-o-dowd-criticises-former-meath-players-over-comments-1.2726314
Dowd also revealed that when he took over from Seamus McEnaney as manager in 2012, he was shocked by what he inherited.
He said: "To be honest, in those early months, I couldn't believe the state the Meath squad was in physically and mentally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsUNXVpjJDw
It's worrying for the game how bad previous so called big teams like Meath Down Kildare Armagh have fallen. I know in Down a lot of the best players simply don't want to play for the county. They don't see the point in putting in a slog from Jan to June to play 1 championship game and a qualifier. Not many would blame them either. Is it same in the other counties?
Up until a few weeks ago I would've included Galway in this but they are now connacht champions and looked magnificent on sunday. So it does show it can turn around quite quickly but if the best players don't want to play then there are massive problems
I know in Galway I always thought there was talent there but we'd suffered under bad management, Galway have had a lot of underage success winning 4 U21 All Ireland's and in that time they haven't made a Semi final appearance at senior level and in the last 7 years have been a million miles away. I know most of you have been very critical of MOD but at the same time Meath haven't won an u21 in Leinster since 2001, are the players there to turn Meath into AI contenders in the next 2-3 years or is the situation a lot worse than that?
Quote from: snoopdog on July 19, 2016, 10:03:39 AM
I know in Down a lot of the best players simply don't want to play for the county. They don't see the point in putting in a slog from Jan to June to play 1 championship game and a qualifier. Not many would blame them either. Is it same in the other counties?
There would be an element of that creeping into Kildare at the moment too, O'Neill offered call ups to 10 of the talented u-21 team this year with only 4 accepting with one of them being quickly dropped for skipping training to go to Punchestown. There is nothing to play for once they exit the underage grades and I'd assume plenty will start focusing on non footballing careers and life when they finish college.
Quote from: Maroon Manc on July 19, 2016, 10:54:32 AM
I know in Galway I always thought there was talent there but we'd suffered under bad management, Galway have had a lot of underage success winning 4 U21 All Ireland's and in that time they haven't made a Semi final appearance at senior level and in the last 7 years have been a million miles away. I know most of you have been very critical of MOD but at the same time Meath haven't won an u21 in Leinster since 2001, are the players there to turn Meath into AI contenders in the next 2-3 years or is the situation a lot worse than that?
the process whereby a team declines and becomes seriously mediocre is very interesting . There are no quick fixes . Why meath should be down longer than Galway is not clear.
Its not often wee Martin McHugh is right but it would appear he was spot on about the Celtic Tiger turning Meath soft
Quote from: omaghjoe on July 19, 2016, 08:45:39 PM
Its not often wee Martin McHugh is right but it would appear he was spot on about the Celtic Tiger turning Meath soft
With Enda Kenny's new plan to include Derry and Tyrone in Tiger 2, things will even up.
The front-runner in the race to succeed Mick O'Dowd as Meath senior football manager has confirmed his interest in the vacancy.
Ballyboden St Enda's All-Ireland winning club manager Andy McEntee has informed The Meath Chronicle: "I'm interested in the position and I believe that I will be nominated before the deadline."
The nomination forms were circulated to clubs last week and must be returned to the County Board secretary by 5pm this Friday (July 29th).
Now that would shake things up a bit
Good stuff.
Is this his first time going for it on his own? Comes across very well any time I hear him. What's his management background like apart from BSE?
Quote from: Maroon Manc on July 19, 2016, 10:54:32 AM
I know in Galway I always thought there was talent there but we'd suffered under bad management, Galway have had a lot of underage success winning 4 U21 All Ireland's and in that time they haven't made a Semi final appearance at senior level and in the last 7 years have been a million miles away. I know most of you have been very critical of MOD but at the same time Meath haven't won an u21 in Leinster since 2001, are the players there to turn Meath into AI contenders in the next 2-3 years or is the situation a lot worse than that?
When the 2011 under 21 team started playing senior there was no cohort of older lads with experience as there was in 98 when PJ and Donnellan came on the scene. So it took longer for the team to come up with something decent.
Quote from: seafoid on July 19, 2016, 07:56:25 PM
Quote from: Maroon Manc on July 19, 2016, 10:54:32 AM
I know in Galway I always thought there was talent there but we'd suffered under bad management, Galway have had a lot of underage success winning 4 U21 All Ireland's and in that time they haven't made a Semi final appearance at senior level and in the last 7 years have been a million miles away. I know most of you have been very critical of MOD but at the same time Meath haven't won an u21 in Leinster since 2001, are the players there to turn Meath into AI contenders in the next 2-3 years or is the situation a lot worse than that?
the process whereby a team declines and becomes seriously mediocre is very interesting . There are no quick fixes . Why meath should be down longer than Galway is not clear.
Beating a half asleep Mayo team without their best player and taking 2 games to beat a Roscommon team in disarray is hardly evidence of Galway being too far along. More to come perhaps, but there's little to suggest so far that Galway this year are better than Meath last year when they were unlucky to lose to Tyrone.
Not that Meath weren't a shambles this year. Appointing anyone other than McEntee would be very odd.
Meath remind me of Nora Mharcais Bhig. She was lovely. But she fell in with the wrong people.
Quote from: Hound on July 27, 2016, 07:03:28 PM
Quote from: seafoid on July 19, 2016, 07:56:25 PM
Quote from: Maroon Manc on July 19, 2016, 10:54:32 AM
I know in Galway I always thought there was talent there but we'd suffered under bad management, Galway have had a lot of underage success winning 4 U21 All Ireland's and in that time they haven't made a Semi final appearance at senior level and in the last 7 years have been a million miles away. I know most of you have been very critical of MOD but at the same time Meath haven't won an u21 in Leinster since 2001, are the players there to turn Meath into AI contenders in the next 2-3 years or is the situation a lot worse than that?
the process whereby a team declines and becomes seriously mediocre is very interesting . There are no quick fixes . Why meath should be down longer than Galway is not clear.
Beating a half asleep Mayo team without their best player and taking 2 games to beat a Roscommon team in disarray is hardly evidence of Galway being too far along. More to come perhaps, but there's little to suggest so far that Galway this year are better than Meath last year when they were unlucky to lose to Tyrone.
Not that Meath weren't a shambles this year. Appointing anyone other than McEntee would be very odd.
Mayos three best players is Lee Keegan,Colm Boyle,Keith Higgins all played against Galway. That player in question you reckon is their best player has a bit to go before reaching the heights of Boyle,Keegan,Higgins at senior level.
Quote from: Blowitupref on July 27, 2016, 10:35:33 PM
Quote from: Hound on July 27, 2016, 07:03:28 PM
Quote from: seafoid on July 19, 2016, 07:56:25 PM
Quote from: Maroon Manc on July 19, 2016, 10:54:32 AM
I know in Galway I always thought there was talent there but we'd suffered under bad management, Galway have had a lot of underage success winning 4 U21 All Ireland's and in that time they haven't made a Semi final appearance at senior level and in the last 7 years have been a million miles away. I know most of you have been very critical of MOD but at the same time Meath haven't won an u21 in Leinster since 2001, are the players there to turn Meath into AI contenders in the next 2-3 years or is the situation a lot worse than that?
the process whereby a team declines and becomes seriously mediocre is very interesting . There are no quick fixes . Why meath should be down longer than Galway is not clear.
Beating a half asleep Mayo team without their best player and taking 2 games to beat a Roscommon team in disarray is hardly evidence of Galway being too far along. More to come perhaps, but there's little to suggest so far that Galway this year are better than Meath last year when they were unlucky to lose to Tyrone.
Not that Meath weren't a shambles this year. Appointing anyone other than McEntee would be very odd.
Mayos three best players is Lee Keegan,Colm Boyle,Keith Higgins all played against Galway. That player in question you reckon is their best player has a bit to go before reaching the heights of Boyle,Keegan,Higgins at senior level.
I won't argue with that, but Mayo would miss DOC more than any one of those 3 if one of them had to miss a game
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 27, 2016, 03:38:49 PM
Is this his first time going for it on his own? Comes across very well any time I hear him. What's his management background like apart from BSE?
He was the minor manager in 2012 when we lost to Dublin in the all-ireland final (after losing to them in Leinster).
He's the right man for the job, the only question I have is if it's the right time for him to take it.
I'd nearly rather he took over the minors AND the u-21s to be honest.
Until we start getting things right at those grades, there's only so much that can be done at senior level.
Quote from: Jinxy on July 28, 2016, 01:57:11 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 27, 2016, 03:38:49 PM
Is this his first time going for it on his own? Comes across very well any time I hear him. What's his management background like apart from BSE?
He was the minor manager in 2012 when we lost to Dublin in the all-ireland final (after losing to them in Leinster).
He's the right man for the job, the only question I have is if it's the right time for him to take it.
I'd nearly rather he took over the minors AND the u-21s to be honest.
Until we start getting things right at those grades, there's only so much that can be done at senior level.
Interesting, why haven't we seen this already? The championships run back to back nearly so could be done. It would definitely help progression and communication between the panels.
Quote from: Croí na hÉireann on July 29, 2016, 10:24:28 AM
Quote from: Jinxy on July 28, 2016, 01:57:11 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 27, 2016, 03:38:49 PM
Is this his first time going for it on his own? Comes across very well any time I hear him. What's his management background like apart from BSE?
He was the minor manager in 2012 when we lost to Dublin in the all-ireland final (after losing to them in Leinster).
He's the right man for the job, the only question I have is if it's the right time for him to take it.
I'd nearly rather he took over the minors AND the u-21s to be honest.
Until we start getting things right at those grades, there's only so much that can be done at senior level.
Interesting, why haven't we seen this already? The championships run back to back nearly so could be done. It would definitely help progression and communication between the panels.
Interesting idea especially if you want to establish a style of play and philosophy that all players are comfortable with when they graduate to senior. Currently in Kildare Bryan Murphy the junior footballer from Cork is a senior selector and current u21 manager. Bryan was instrumental in helping establish our current underage strucures and was minor manager 4 years ago when we won Leinster. I would like to see Brendan Hackett succeed him as u21 manager and join up with the seniors also as a selector.
How would any man manage the logistics of that and hold down a job?
Quote from: seafoid on July 19, 2016, 07:56:25 PM
the process whereby a team declines and becomes seriously mediocre is very interesting . There are no quick fixes . Why meath should be down longer than Galway is not clear.
Turns out that beating a Mayo team not bothered and a shite Roscommon team after 2 attempts, does not make Galway any further along the line than Meath!
There is a great tendency to look for success at U21 level as a precursor to Senior success. This may happen, but it sometimes hides a more important factor.... the strength of club football in a county. The success of Corofin has hidden the horrific decline in club football in Galway and more particularly in North Galway. Tuam, Milltown & Dunmore, the powerhouses of Galway football, havent been seen in years. Likewise in Meath I think. When did we last hear of Navan O Mahony's, Summerhill etc. Mayo success in the 90s was built on the strengths of Ballina, Knockmore and Crossmolina and has been sustained by the emergence of Mitchels, Ballintubber and Breaffy. U21 successes are a reflection of this, not the cause.
I read a rumour on Hoganstand.com (I know I know, I've little else to be doing to be honest) and its saying Andy has made the following demands:
1. county chairman and treasurer to step down - they fell out when he was Minor manager
2. wants to change the county championships to knock outs - something Sean Boylan was always in favour of and objected to the change to a league format.
3. has requested a trainer and a strength and conditioning coach with bigger fees than previous managers.
If this is true he might have put himself out of the running. That said, knowing what things are like at club level it could easily be bullshite based on begrudgery.
Other nominees to the county manager job are Barry Callaghan, Sean Barry Pete McGrath.
Andy has a proven track record and to be honest we should be hiring the best available, and I think that would be him. In all due respect to Pete McGrath, as Mick O'Dowd rightly pointed out is it in the interests of outside mangers to do whats best for the county in the long run. It might not be.
Quote from: thejuice on July 31, 2016, 08:14:18 PM
I read a rumour on Hoganstand.com (I know I know, I've little else to be doing to be honest) and its saying Andy has made the following demands:
1. county chairman and treasurer to step down - they fell out when he was Minor manager
2. wants to change the county championships to knock outs - something Sean Boylan was always in favour of and objected to the change to a league format.
3. has requested a trainer and a strength and conditioning coach with bigger fees than previous managers.
If this is true he might have put himself out of the running. That said, knowing what things are like at club level it could easily be bullshite based on begrudgery.
Other nominees to the county manager job are Barry Callaghan, Sean Barry Pete McGrath.
Andy has a proven track record and to be honest we should be hiring the best available, and I think that would be him. In all due respect to Pete McGrath, as Mick O'Dowd rightly pointed out is it in the interests of outside mangers to do whats best for the county in the long run. It might not be.
number 1 is clearly a lie juice. Question is what objective would someone have to put that stuff on the internet. Someone in the anti-Mcentee camp for sure.
Yeah it probably is.
All the same I have my doubts as to whether the county board will make the rational and right decision when the time comes.
If it was posted on Hogan Stand you can take it to the bank.
Andy McEntee appointed.
Back room includes Gerry McEntee, Finian Murtagh and Donal Curtis.
All I can say is I'm looking forward to next season but my expectations will be kept in check. Can he get more out of these lads than we've already seen.
If he can somehow get the GAA to get rid of the half time break, ur onto a winner.
Don't you worry, we're already working on the motion for congress.
Quote from: Jinxy on July 31, 2016, 10:56:08 PM
If it was posted on Hogan Stand you can take it to the bank.
Yeah, Anglo Irish
Meath's demise bears itself very nobly amongst all the whining about the Tyrone match
Without honour we are nothing.
I see a Meath Club wants to break the world handpassing record :'(
Is it any wonder ye've fallen so low.
Bring back the oul' manliness and leave the girly stuff to us.
Quote from: Rossfan on August 11, 2016, 03:28:40 PM
I see a Meath Club wants to break the world handpassing record :'(
Is it any wonder ye've fallen so low.
Bring back the oul' manliness and leave the girly stuff to us.
Better than kicking it into the triple marked corner forward because a few ould lads in the stands forgot their medication and started shouting at you to kick the ball.
Kick it to one of the 2 unmarked men y'eejit ::)
Girlyball has made your brain worse than it was :-[
An ex-Meath county player just tried to kill a guy in the Europa League, looks like the lad was knocked out cold and is in a bad way.
Real cowardly stuff that Colm O'Rourke would be proud of.
Thankfully the guy has just regained consciousness, he was out for 6 or 7 minutes.
Sure he probably deserved it.
What league is this now?
The ball was there to be won.
Quote from: Jinxy on September 16, 2016, 09:02:05 AM
The ball was there to be won.
The unsuspecting victim had their head there to receive blunt trauma - the Meath way.
I just hope they had plenty of bandages.
Poor Meath's demise. It looks very frumpy beside the all Ireland discussion
More good news on the Meath front, Conor Nash who captained our minors and the Irish under 18s rugby team has turned down a chance to play for Hawthorns in the AFL and is now looking to follow in the footsteps of Gerry McEntee and become a doctor. Hopefully this means he choosing GAA over rugby but we'll see what happens on that front in time.
At least Meath isn't quoted in sterling
Quote from: thejuice on October 16, 2016, 10:58:51 AM
More good news on the Meath front, Conor Nash who captained our minors and the Irish under 18s rugby team has turned down a chance to play for Hawthorns in the AFL and is now looking to follow in the footsteps of Gerry McEntee and become a doctor. Hopefully this means he choosing GAA over rugby but we'll see what happens on that front in time.
For his sake, he'd better. ;D
So now it turns out Conor Nash is going to the AFL after signing with Hawthorns for two years.
Well all I can say is SHIT. :(
Best of luck to him all the same but we certainly could have done with him. Would have been hard with both the AFL and Leinster Rugby after him too.
Quote from: thejuice on October 28, 2016, 07:03:18 AM
So now it turns out Conor Nash is going to the AFL after signing with Hawthorns for two years.
Well all I can say is SHIT. :(
Best of luck to him all the same but we certainly could have done with him. Would have been hard with both the AFL and Leinster Rugby after him too.
Very difficult for any young fella not to have a crack at being a professional athlete - hard to blame him and all you can do is wish him the very best of luck - its a wonderful opportunity.
Best of luck to him.
Trevor Goles says Meath need more top class players. Surely with such amazing insight he should be the next Meath manager?
Trevor Goles should mind his own business, whoever he is.
The Meath psyche never recovered after being brutalised by fancy dans from f**** Connacht. . The shame. . Neither did Kildare in fact. All you had to do after beating Kerry in the semi was turn up and then that. The Meath lads tried to brush it off by blaming Boylan but it was only projection .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ojy1W6r8L0
Quote from: seafoid on October 28, 2016, 08:28:43 PM
The Meath psyche never recovered after being brutalised by fancy dans from f**** Connacht. . The shame. . Neither did Kildare in fact. All you had to do after beating Kerry in the semi was turn up and then that. The Meath lads tried to brush it off by blaming Boylan but it was only projection .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ojy1W6r8L0
I often wondered is that sung in Scots Gaelic or Irish?
Quote from: seafoid on October 28, 2016, 08:28:43 PM
The Meath psyche never recovered after being brutalised by fancy dans from f**** Connacht. . The shame. . Neither did Kildare in fact. All you had to do after beating Kerry in the semi was turn up and then that. The Meath lads tried to brush it off by blaming Boylan but it was only projection .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ojy1W6r8L0
Trevor Goles - f*** off.
The JCB's are rolling in to Pairc Tailteann soon to start tearing down the place if the stories coming out from the final are true. Talk of a 25,000 to 30,000 capacity ground to be built. Exact amount of funding coming from GAA is unknown to the public at large. Outline permission for a new stand was granted in 2012 but a quick scan of the Meath CC website has no mention of a full application being granted permission.
All a bit of a mystery but sure what do you expect.
Heard a few staunch Meath clubmen complaining over the summer about the amount of Dubs who have taken over a lot of the decision making in Meath.
Especially in relation to underage competition formats and tournament permissions etc
Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on October 28, 2016, 10:15:35 AM
Quote from: thejuice on October 28, 2016, 07:03:18 AM
So now it turns out Conor Nash is going to the AFL after signing with Hawthorns for two years.
Well all I can say is SHIT. :(
Best of luck to him all the same but we certainly could have done with him. Would have been hard with both the AFL and Leinster Rugby after him too.
Very difficult for any young fella not to have a crack at being a professional athlete - hard to blame him and all you can do is wish him the very best of luck - its a wonderful opportunity.
Everyone says this, but I'm starting to question the wisdom of it. The money isn't hectic, the lifestyle is strict, and a tiny fraction of them ever play an AFL game. I'm not sure the opportunity is as wonderful or the decision as clearcut as people make it out to be.
The vast majority of them end up struggling in VFL in front of a couple of thousand people - is that really so much better than playing for your county in Croke Park?
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on October 31, 2016, 04:11:58 AM
Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on October 28, 2016, 10:15:35 AM
Quote from: thejuice on October 28, 2016, 07:03:18 AM
So now it turns out Conor Nash is going to the AFL after signing with Hawthorns for two years.
Well all I can say is SHIT. :(
Best of luck to him all the same but we certainly could have done with him. Would have been hard with both the AFL and Leinster Rugby after him too.
Very difficult for any young fella not to have a crack at being a professional athlete - hard to blame him and all you can do is wish him the very best of luck - its a wonderful opportunity.
Everyone says this, but I'm starting to question the wisdom of it. The money isn't hectic, the lifestyle is strict, and a tiny fraction of them ever play an AFL game. I'm not sure the opportunity is as wonderful or the decision as clearcut as people make it out to be.
The vast majority of them end up struggling in VFL in front of a couple of thousand people - is that really so much better than playing for your county in Croke Park?
While trying to hold a full time job/build a career and having to do the same amount of training?
Of course it is so much better
It was better for Ciarán Kilkenny to stay at home and he's winning all Ireland's. We're winning f**k all. That's what it comes down to for me. I wish Nash all the best personally but I want Meath to win so I'm not happy about it. We badly need to be able to hang on to talent like Nash.
Quote from: thejuice on October 31, 2016, 10:51:41 AM
It was better for Ciarán Kilkenny to stay at home and he's winning all Ireland's. We're winning f**k all. That's what it comes down to for me. I wish Nash all the best personally but I want Meath to win so I'm not happy about it. We badly need to be able to hang on to talent like Nash.
Money is corroding competition. Yeah the Dubs and the cats are peerless but the system is rotten.
Quote from: manfromdelmonte on October 31, 2016, 02:32:53 AM
Heard a few staunch Meath clubmen complaining over the summer about the amount of Dubs who have taken over a lot of the decision making in Meath.
Especially in relation to underage competition formats and tournament permissions etc
The sooner we get that border wall built the better.
Quote from: thejuice on October 30, 2016, 11:02:01 PM
The JCB's are rolling in to Pairc Tailteann soon to start tearing down the place if the stories coming out from the final are true. Talk of a 25,000 to 30,000 capacity ground to be built. Exact amount of funding coming from GAA is unknown to the public at large. Outline permission for a new stand was granted in 2012 but a quick scan of the Meath CC website has no mention of a full application being granted permission.
All a bit of a mystery but sure what do you expect.
Ah they should just tear it down and leave it at that.
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on October 31, 2016, 04:11:58 AM
Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on October 28, 2016, 10:15:35 AM
Quote from: thejuice on October 28, 2016, 07:03:18 AM
So now it turns out Conor Nash is going to the AFL after signing with Hawthorns for two years.
Well all I can say is SHIT. :(
Best of luck to him all the same but we certainly could have done with him. Would have been hard with both the AFL and Leinster Rugby after him too.
Very difficult for any young fella not to have a crack at being a professional athlete - hard to blame him and all you can do is wish him the very best of luck - its a wonderful opportunity.
Everyone says this, but I'm starting to question the wisdom of it. The money isn't hectic, the lifestyle is strict, and a tiny fraction of them ever play an AFL game. I'm not sure the opportunity is as wonderful or the decision as clearcut as people make it out to be.
The vast majority of them end up struggling in VFL in front of a couple of thousand people - is that really so much better than playing for your county in Croke Park?
The standard 2 year international rookie contract all the Irish guys are getting is worth €110k over 2 years and that's with accommodation and car paid for plus a number of return flights to Ireland.
For a young lad of 19/20/21 that's seriously decent money especially considering that it's guaranteed pretty much for showing up.
If they get a senior contract, the wages go up and the average Aussie rules annual contract is worth over €200k a year with some of the very top earners are not far off the €1,000,000 a year mark.
Aussie rules has a draft system and salary caps so overall it's fairly clear what sort of money the players are getting.
Quote from: twohands!!! on October 31, 2016, 10:07:49 PM
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on October 31, 2016, 04:11:58 AM
Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on October 28, 2016, 10:15:35 AM
Quote from: thejuice on October 28, 2016, 07:03:18 AM
So now it turns out Conor Nash is going to the AFL after signing with Hawthorns for two years.
Well all I can say is SHIT. :(
Best of luck to him all the same but we certainly could have done with him. Would have been hard with both the AFL and Leinster Rugby after him too.
Very difficult for any young fella not to have a crack at being a professional athlete - hard to blame him and all you can do is wish him the very best of luck - its a wonderful opportunity.
Everyone says this, but I'm starting to question the wisdom of it. The money isn't hectic, the lifestyle is strict, and a tiny fraction of them ever play an AFL game. I'm not sure the opportunity is as wonderful or the decision as clearcut as people make it out to be.
The vast majority of them end up struggling in VFL in front of a couple of thousand people - is that really so much better than playing for your county in Croke Park?
The standard 2 year international rookie contract all the Irish guys are getting is worth €110k over 2 years and that's with accommodation and car paid for plus a number of return flights to Ireland.
For a young lad of 19/20/21 that's seriously decent money especially considering that it's guaranteed pretty much for showing up.
If they get a senior contract, the wages go up and the average Aussie rules annual contract is worth over €200k a year with some of the very top earners are not far off the €1,000,000 a year mark.
Aussie rules has a draft system and salary caps so overall it's fairly clear what sort of money the players are getting.
Last time I checked the minimum for rookies was about $35,000 a year, which is 25,000 euro. Granted that's a few years ago, but still ... where did you get the 55,000 euro a year figure? That would be $80,000, about double what they have to pay them. Doesn't sound right, maybe you're confusing rookies with draftees? Or maybe you're factoring in the flights, etc?
As for what established AFL players make, yeah, four players make more than $1m a year. Think the average salary is $300,000, or 210,000 euro. Not bad coin, I'll grant you, but I'd estimate that 90% or Irish recruits won't make it that far.
I'm just saying, there seems to be a reflex among everyone that life as an Aussie Rules rookie is fantastic. I live in Australia and I don't think the choice facing these lads is as simple as it's made out to be.
I assume Hawthorn are one of the manliest teams in the AFL.
Quote from: Jinxy on October 31, 2016, 11:53:16 PM
I assume Hawthorn are one of the manliest teams in the AFL.
Managed by Eddie Keher
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on October 31, 2016, 10:53:56 PM
Quote from: twohands!!! on October 31, 2016, 10:07:49 PM
Quote from: Ohtoohtobe on October 31, 2016, 04:11:58 AM
Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on October 28, 2016, 10:15:35 AM
Quote from: thejuice on October 28, 2016, 07:03:18 AM
So now it turns out Conor Nash is going to the AFL after signing with Hawthorns for two years.
Well all I can say is SHIT. :(
Best of luck to him all the same but we certainly could have done with him. Would have been hard with both the AFL and Leinster Rugby after him too.
Very difficult for any young fella not to have a crack at being a professional athlete - hard to blame him and all you can do is wish him the very best of luck - its a wonderful opportunity.
Everyone says this, but I'm starting to question the wisdom of it. The money isn't hectic, the lifestyle is strict, and a tiny fraction of them ever play an AFL game. I'm not sure the opportunity is as wonderful or the decision as clearcut as people make it out to be.
The vast majority of them end up struggling in VFL in front of a couple of thousand people - is that really so much better than playing for your county in Croke Park?
The standard 2 year international rookie contract all the Irish guys are getting is worth €110k over 2 years and that's with accommodation and car paid for plus a number of return flights to Ireland.
For a young lad of 19/20/21 that's seriously decent money especially considering that it's guaranteed pretty much for showing up.
If they get a senior contract, the wages go up and the average Aussie rules annual contract is worth over €200k a year with some of the very top earners are not far off the €1,000,000 a year mark.
Aussie rules has a draft system and salary caps so overall it's fairly clear what sort of money the players are getting.
Last time I checked the minimum for rookies was about $35,000 a year, which is 25,000 euro. Granted that's a few years ago, but still ... where did you get the 55,000 euro a year figure? That would be $80,000, about double what they have to pay them. Doesn't sound right, maybe you're confusing rookies with draftees? Or maybe you're factoring in the flights, etc?
As for what established AFL players make, yeah, four players make more than $1m a year. Think the average salary is $300,000, or 210,000 euro. Not bad coin, I'll grant you, but I'd estimate that 90% or Irish recruits won't make it that far.
I'm just saying, there seems to be a reflex among everyone that life as an Aussie Rules rookie is fantastic. I live in Australia and I don't think the choice facing these lads is as simple as it's made out to be.
It was in an article in one of Irish papers within the last year or two with Tadhg Kennelly about what was on offer for Irish recruits. It was clearly about what was on offer for the Irish lads from day one.
I agree with you that on the fact that these lads could well have an overly idealistic view of what way life is like for rookies. Could easily end up being very isolated where you're competing to make it against other new recruits with very little in the way of support structures especially if things aren't going well at the club.
I do think the GAA should have some sort of system for lads who are considering going to talk with the lads who went and came back as these lads are likely to give a fairly realistic view of what it's like warts and all.
Dan Flynn wasnt up for it despite breaking into Port Adelaides first team in 2014. Depends very much on each individual. Cant cure homesickness with a few bob.
Worst case scenario for him it's a 2 year working holiday in a part of the world where he may have headed at some point anyway.
If it works out for him great.
If it doesn't, and provided he doesn't come back riddled with injuries, we'll have an athletic 20/21 year old midfielder who will have had two years of professional S&C that's light years ahead of what he would get here.
Then again, if he does come back I hope Leinster rugby don't come looking for him!
Either way, best of luck to him.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Quote from: Jinxy on October 31, 2016, 11:53:16 PM
I assume Hawthorn are one of the manliest teams in the AFL.
Manly would be the manliest. :D
Quote from: thejuice on October 30, 2016, 11:02:01 PM
The JCB's are rolling in to Pairc Tailteann soon to start tearing down the place if the stories coming out from the final are true. Talk of a 25,000 to 30,000 capacity ground to be built. Exact amount of funding coming from GAA is unknown to the public at large. Outline permission for a new stand was granted in 2012 but a quick scan of the Meath CC website has no mention of a full application being granted permission.
All a bit of a mystery but sure what do you expect.
In fairness Navan has great potential to be made into a nice ground. Two stands similar to what Armagh's Athletic Grounds (maybe steeper as I love the steepness of the current shed) coupled with bowled terracing at each end similar to Páirc Uí Chaoimh would work grand. There is good space there and the location isn't bad.
The only thing missing would be supporters but maybe Dublin could play a couple of home games there to please their ex pats.
LilyS, don't think Dan was anywhere near the Port Adelaide team. Twohands, yeah, that figure seems high to me, would like to find out for sure.
So,
Conor Nash gone to AFL
Conor Gillespies career over almost as soon as it started
Harry Rooney has dropped off the panel to go live in New York.
Three of the most promising prospects for Meaths future that we'll have to do without. At least Harry can come back if he's up for it.
One positive is that there is a chance Shane O'Rourke might make it back on the panel after a stand out season for Simonstown. He's got picked for Leinster too but not sure what to make of that.
Quick questions-did Colm O'Rourke ever manage Skryne? Was it ever expected that Shane would play for them? Seemed like a very good prospect even if RTE did point out who his dad was every time he touched the ball.
Colm played for Skryne but I don't think he ever managed them though I could be wrong about that.
Shane was a nice player and could be effective if he was given the right ball but often right kind of ball was in short supply, it was no good giving him a low pass or making him run for one. His back and hip might have been at him though at the time to be fair to him.
He might come back all the better for the time away from the county giving his body time to mend after all the surgery.
Quote from: Buttofthehill on December 10, 2016, 07:13:01 PM
Quick questions-did Colm O'Rourke ever manage Skryne? Was it ever expected that Shane would play for them? Seemed like a very good prospect even if RTE did point out who his dad was every time he touched the ball.
I think the son went to school in Simonstown and was part of a group of good young playersh as Colm would say. So he never played for Skryne. Colm had an articlé in the Sindo recently about the county final.
Is puke fuball one of the reasons Meath aRe in the doldrums? Down are also struggling.
Puke might be Down's downfall (sorry) but Meath's woes come from cleaning up the game. ::)
Quote from: seafoid on December 10, 2016, 10:54:47 PM
Quote from: Buttofthehill on December 10, 2016, 07:13:01 PM
Quick questions-did Colm O'Rourke ever manage Skryne? Was it ever expected that Shane would play for them? Seemed like a very good prospect even if RTE did point out who his dad was every time he touched the ball.
I think the son went to school in Simonstown and was part of a group of good young playersh as Colm would say. So he never played for Skryne. Colm had an articlé in the Sindo recently about the county final.
Is puke fuball one of the reasons Meath aRe in the doldrums? Down are also struggling.
Excellent point.
We're not shit now, football is.
This new Devenish Nutrition ye're lads will be getting fed should help. Better than th'oul crisps anyway.
I see ye're going to bring Pàirc Tailteann out of the 1960s too.
Probably get all the East Leinster games at home then as the good times come rolling back.
Good to see the revolution continuing in the Royal County ;) ;)
Meath club bring in ex-Shamrock Rovers boss
13 December 2016
Former Shamrock Rovers boss Pat Fenlon has stepped into GAA management with Meath outfit Kilbride.
The Dublin border outfit recently appointed the clubs minor boss David Harford as their new manager for 2017 and revealed that Fenlon, who has managed Shelbourne, Bohemians and Hibernian, along with the Republic of Ireland U23s during his career, will come on board in his backroom team.
Kilbride operate in the Royal County's Junior B ranks but boast a growing population and a strong underage structure, which Fenlon's son is currently a part of.
"Kilbride are delighted to announce their new first team management for 2017. Former Meath junior Leinster winner David Harford who managed the Kilbride minor team to league success in 2016 and Meath development squads in the past takes over the reins as manager," a statement from the club read.
"A highly motivated level two coach, David has been to the fore front of Kilbrides recent surge in their juvenile success. His management team will also consist of former Republic of Ireland u23s manager, Hibernian and most recently Shamrock Rovers boss , Pat Fenlon" the club statement added.
Quote from: Rossfan on December 13, 2016, 11:32:01 AM
This new Devenish Nutrition ye're lads will be getting fed should help. Better than th'oul crisps anyway.
I see ye're going to bring Pàirc Tailteann out of the 1960s too.
Probably get all the East Leinster games at home then as the good times come rolling back.
Never heard of them.
Hope they do a good snackbox.
If Kildare or Louth want to use our fancy new stadium they better kick in a few quid.
Give us a horse to raffle or something.
Quote from: Jinxy on December 13, 2016, 04:18:40 PM
Quote from: Rossfan on December 13, 2016, 11:32:01 AM
This new Devenish Nutrition ye're lads will be getting fed should help. Better than th'oul crisps anyway.
I see ye're going to bring Pàirc Tailteann out of the 1960s too.
Probably get all the East Leinster games at home then as the good times come rolling back.
Never heard of them.
Hope they do a good snackbox.
Checked up - animal food it seems.
I'll say no more ;D
We're all animals at the end of the day.
Quote from: Jinxy on December 13, 2016, 04:57:54 PM
If Kildare or Louth want to use our fancy new stadium they better kick in a few quid.
Give us a horse to raffle or something.
We've planning permission in to widen the pitch and plans are afoot for a more modest and affordable redevelopment. I don't see how Meath can afford to build a 20000 capacity stadium with there current lull in support. Although Navan has potential to be a nice ground but it is pointless in a 1 team province with no one interested in going to games anymore.
Quote from: Jinxy on December 13, 2016, 06:02:10 PM
We're all animals at the end of the day.
Once were animals.
Start with the puppy food and progress.
Quote from: Kuwabatake Sanjuro on December 13, 2016, 11:54:30 PM
Quote from: Jinxy on December 13, 2016, 04:57:54 PM
If Kildare or Louth want to use our fancy new stadium they better kick in a few quid.
Give us a horse to raffle or something.
We've planning permission in to widen the pitch and plans are afoot for a more modest and affordable redevelopment. I don't see how Meath can afford to build a 20000 capacity stadium with there current lull in support. Although Navan has potential to be a nice ground but it is pointless in a 1 team province with no one interested in going to games anymore.
Ye better keep the grass banks, handy for a picnic. Beats ateing the hang sandwiches out of the boot of the car any day.
Quote from: Kuwabatake Sanjuro on December 13, 2016, 11:54:30 PM
Quote from: Jinxy on December 13, 2016, 04:57:54 PM
If Kildare or Louth want to use our fancy new stadium they better kick in a few quid.
Give us a horse to raffle or something.
We've planning permission in to widen the pitch and plans are afoot for a more modest and affordable redevelopment. I don't see how Meath can afford to build a 20000 capacity stadium with there current lull in support. Although Navan has potential to be a nice ground but it is pointless in a 1 team province with no one interested in going to games anymore.
Kildare, as a county, has always lacked ambition.
If you build it they will come.
Roscommon and Westmeath both ruthlessly crushed in the same weekend.
We're almost certainly back, baby.
http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=264324 (http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=264324)
Quote from: Jinxy on December 18, 2016, 08:08:53 PM
Roscommon and Westmeath both ruthlessly crushed in the same weekend.
We're almost certainly back, baby.
http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=264324 (http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=264324)
And Joe in goals?????
Quote from: Jinxy on December 18, 2016, 08:08:53 PM
Roscommon and Westmeath both ruthlessly crushed in the same weekend.
We're almost certainly back, baby.
http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=264324 (http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=264324)
Saturday seen them victorious. ..Where is Hardy?
He's tried out a fair amount of players over the two games who have been on the fringes or perhaps were minors a few years ago but never got a run at senior. Don't think I'll read much into the results but hopefully some talent will be unearthed, we do need to plug a few gaps with Gillespie and Rooney gone.
He still has a squad of 50 players and will have to start whittling it down for the O'Byrne and League.
QuoteHe's tried out a fair amount of players over the two games who have been on the fringes or perhaps were minors a few years ago but never got a run at senior. Don't think I'll read much into the results but hopefully some talent will be unearthed, we do need to plug a few gaps with Gillespie and Rooney gone.
He still has a squad of 50 players and will have to start whittling it down for the O'Byrne and League.
He's certainly trying to widen the scope in terms of available players given the emails/phonecalls sent out to lads playing in Dublin looking for Meath connections - He'll leave no stone unturned ;)
You've some cheek.
Dean Rock is a Meath man.
QuoteYou've some cheek.
Dean Rock is a Meath man.
Correct as is young Deegan and Lowndes;)
How many Dublin feckers are playing in Meath nowadays.
Get the fupp ourra dat, would ye!
Build the wall, deport them all! :P
Make Meath Great Again.
Some Dubs...I assume, are good people.
Dublin will pay for the wall.
Recruiting some Dubs -
http://www.the42.ie/stuart-lowndes-dublin-meath-stephen-oconnor-3155494-Dec2016/
Interesting read
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/andy-mcentee-aiming-to-add-steel-to-meath-436950.html (http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/andy-mcentee-aiming-to-add-steel-to-meath-436950.html)
"It's roll up your sleeves time."
That's it in a nutshell.
Meath have to admit they are at rock bottom. And do the programme. And show up in Leinster. It might take a few years.
Could a team with accurate foot passing and scoring forwards beat the blanket outfits?
Quote from: seafoid on December 29, 2016, 04:58:59 PM
Meath have to admit they are at rock bottom. And do the programme. And show up in Leinster. It might take a few years.
Could a team with accurate foot passing and scoring forwards beat the blanket outfits?
We already have admitted it.
We've done the programme i.e. Banty and O'Dowd
We have shown up in Leinster, (finalists 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) we just aren't as good as Dublin.
It's already been a few years.
Meath are like Ros - unstoppable in the 80s but fumbling to find a role in the 21st century GAA. Class is permanent..
You weren't born in the 80's Syfīn.
We were very stoppable for most of that decade.
Ros were better in the late 70s. Meath came good about a decade later
Quote from: Syferus on December 30, 2016, 01:26:27 AM
Meath are like Ros - unstoppable in the 80s but fumbling to find a role in the 21st century GAA. Class is permanent..
Does that mean ye have no class?
Meath had a long period of mediocrity in the 70's until Boylan rolled up and won the Centenary Cup. Maybe now is the same thing.
Quote from: Syferus on December 30, 2016, 01:26:27 AM
Meath are like Ros - unstoppable in the 80s but fumbling to find a role in the 21st century GAA. Class is permanent..
Roscommon were stopped every single year in the 1980s.
Quote from: seafoid on January 02, 2017, 09:39:27 AM
Meath had a long period of mediocrity in the 70's until Boylan rolled up and won the Centenary Cup. Maybe now is the same thing.
Just need a Centenary Cup to get things rolling.....
Sad news that Ray Mooney, Skryne stalwart and also coach with St Pats in Navan over the years passed away.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/growing-pains-for-meath-and-mcentee-after-lilies-roasting-35429735.html
Excellent interview with Andy McEntee on Newstalk earlier.
Nothing but common sense & honesty as usual.
Covers a lot of different stuff including club v county.
Well worth a listen.
http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/GAA_on_Off_The_Ball/185295/Andy_McEntee_on_his_life_in_GAA__being_Meath_manager (http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/GAA_on_Off_The_Ball/185295/Andy_McEntee_on_his_life_in_GAA__being_Meath_manager)
I found this in the files
091206
One On One: Bernard Flynn, Former Meath Great
'Would I do it all again? Right now I'm not sure'
In a frank and revealing interview, former Meath star Bernard Flynn tells Kieran Shannon of his 15-year battle with pain after football and suggests ways for improving player welfare going forward
Reality bites: Bernard Flynn first began taking pain-killing injections for his hip around 1987 but battled his way on to win many honours with Meath. A knee injury suffered in the 1992 Leinster club championship largely ended his career and now at the age of 44 he has just had a hip replacement
• 1
• 2
To: Jimmy Stynes
From: Bernard Flynn November 16, 2009
How are you, big man? Thinking of you a lot. Feel helpless so far away. It is tough what you are going through but there is no one stronger than you mentally to meet the challenge ahead. I know you are going to do whatever you have to do to survive this tough time. God can be a hoor from time to time; boy does he f****n' test us along the way. I have to go in for my hip replacement on 30 November. The pain has been chronic but I couldn't go in earlier with the [property] crash and all the shit that goes with it. I'm going over to see you, Jim, when I can walk properly again – that I promise you. It is something that will keep me going. I think it will be the start of February if that is okay with you and Sam. Hey, Jim, we have lost practically everything that we worked hard for over 20 years. We're starting all over again, it's hard, but you know what, I will work hard and like you I have a great family and I am at last sorting out my health. I and Madeline are thinking of you all the time. I know you will be in mighty form when I go to see you. So long for now, Jim. Please say hello to Sam for me. Get yourself ready. Flynner is coming.
BERNARD FLYNN saw every hour last Tuesday night, just like the night before. And as the pain shot through his every fibre, because of a serious reaction to morphine, forcing him to grit his teeth and grab the monkey pole above his bed in Mount Carmel Hospital, he reminded himself – "I'm one of the lucky ones". He thought of Jimmy Stynes, who he befriended on the Compromise Rules tour Down Under in 1990 and who for 10 years would visit him and his wife Madeline in Mullingar every Christmas, staying over in their house for days, having great chats and a few glasses of wine. Now Jimmy, one of the world's great gentlemen and specimens, is fighting cancer at only 43; he'd love to only have a hip operation, followed by a knee replacement next year, to put up with. His achievements on and off the field are remarkable, particularly with his charity called REACH.
Flynn's mind raced back to last September and the funeral of his friend, Edel Duignan – wife of Offaly hurler and RTÉ Sunday Game panellist Michael – who the big C claimed at just 42 years of age. How Edel suffered and how she would love to trade places to be back with Michael and her two lovely sons, Seán and Brian. And Eamonn Coleman, who he'd often have some tea and a laugh with over lunch when the soul of Derry football used to work on the sites of Mullingar. And John Kerins and Mike McCarthy from Cork, who denied him an All Ireland and who he denied All Irelands before they all realised too late it was only just a game.
Bernard and Madeline recently had the great pleasure of hooking up with Ann Kerins, John's widow at Bob O'Malley's wedding in Mayo and boy, did they have a great bit of craic. Yet other thoughts would flash through his mind, briefly tormenting him. Why didn't he get this operation done a few years ago? Was business really that important that he'd put if off and instead take between six and eight tablets just to play a round of golf? Was his business really that bad over the past 12 months that he couldn't afford to take a few months out for fear it would completely fall apart? And Christ, why did he take so many injections to the hip to play in and win all those Leinster and All Ireland finals? Or all those jabs to the ankle playing for the month in the three tests for Ireland Down Under in 1990; was winning the series and being its leading scorer worth it now? And what on earth possessed him to come back after the horrific injury in '92 when doctors said he wouldn't walk again properly after his knee was made shit of in a bad tackle playing for the club? Was hobbling back to win another three counties for the Shamrocks really worth it? By that stage, he had fractured both legs in the middle of that six-year period. But then he thought of Edel again. And of Gráinne Keigue, another close friend that was taken away far too soon. And of Madeline and his three kids. "I'm one of the lucky ones." The week before he went in Dessie Farrell called him out of the blue, having learned of his impending operation. "Have you insurance?" he asked. And thankfully, Flynn was able to answer in the affirmative. Way back in the day playing for Meath and the injuries were starting to mount up, his close colleague Gerry McEntee strongly advised him to take out and keep up his health insurance. And last week, grimacing at the ceiling, Flynn thought of all those old warriors from the quiet fields and killing fields of the '80s and '90s and beyond who needed insurance but didn't have it and many still don't have it – or the inter-county medals to show for their battle wounds either. He had the medals, the All Stars, the plaudits – and the health insurance for his hip operation. A lot of poor bastards out there don't.
On Thursday morning he thought of some sad bastards of a different kind, for at least in his eyes that's what they are. Lying in his back in hospital, he'd just read the paper to learn there were counties objecting to the GAA's recognition of the GPA and the player welfare schemes Dessie Farrell and Christy Cooney intend to roll out collectively. Later that day Dessie would ring him again just to see how he was feeling. As Flynn himself said, it was a nice call to get. No past or present officer of the Meath county board came through his door this past week. Nobody from Of One Belief called in either and Flynn has no doubt there will be none from the county board or the other crowd calling this week either. But he isn't bothered one bit.
"There has been many like me and there'll be more like me, and the GPA, Christy Cooney and Páraic Duffy are now trying to do something for them. And those self-righteous boys object to it. Pathetic and sad people," says Flynn.
"I must commend Cooney in particular. He has really surprised me. He has been fantastic. He's a charming man but more importantly, he has embraced the whole player welfare thing up front by this recognition. None of the past presidents ever embraced it the way he has. I have spoken to many past players recently and the respect they have for the things he has done like inviting ex-players and their wives to the GAA box on days their counties are playing in, meant a lot to them. Those lads felt worth something for this little recognition. I know. I was one."
He had managed to get in some sleep by then. Thanks to a few tablets he managed to doze off around 11 o'clock on Wednesday night, the third night after the operation, but the first where he got some sleep and after waking up at 5.45 the following morning, he reminded himself of how lucky he was to be alive. He did his exercises at 6am until 8am before breakfast. His surgeon, Dr Kieran O'Rourke, brother of his old friend Colm who he found outstanding throughout, had told him the harder he worked at the start of his rehab, the better it would be for him. So did Seánie Walsh, his old roommate from the GAA legends golf tours who he and Madeline had a few pints with last Saturday night up in Dublin along with his wife Ber after they'd been at the Ireland-South Africa rugby game in Croke Park. Seánie had his hip replaced a good few years ago and was now in mighty form. And so, last Thursday morning, after he woke up, Flynn did some programmed exercises in his bed before manoeuvring his way off the bed and completing 20 laps of the corridor on his crutches. Later that evening he'd be told by Dr O'Rourke that he'd require a new knee because it has become so unstable, probably some time next spring. Yet he continues to put his normal sunny side out. "I'm 44 and the way I'm looking at this, the referee has blown the whistle and it's half-time in my life. I needed this hip replacement. My business probably needs a hip replacement. I did okay like many other in the Celtic Tiger years. I borrowed money like so many as the banks threw it out like confetti. But sure listen, that's the way it is. There are thousands of GAA men and self-employed men like me, suffering in silence, and this week has given me time to reflect. The way I see it, it's a brand new game when I come back out."
It will be back to working hard for Flynn – something he never shirked. He firmly believes that Ireland became very lazy. "We need the young, smart, innovative people with a wealth of knowledge to be allowed to exercise their expertise and drive to get the country up and running again. The time has come when all of us together must start looking forward and stop looking back. There's been too much negativity on television and in the media, which has poisoned our younger generation. It's positive thoughts and actions the youth of Ireland that we need now, not the shite we've been listening to."
• • •
We often think of him as merely a member of one of the greatest full-forward lines ever, just one partner in the firm that was Flynn, Stafford and O'Rourke, but never as a great player in his own right. Keener and closer observers though tend to view him as exactly that.
Last Sunday night Martin McHugh, who went through the torture of a hip replacement himself 18 months ago, sent Flynn a lengthy and touching text message. It was prompted primarily out of empathy but out of a great deal of admiration too. In 1990 he was on a Donegal team that played Flynn's Meath in an All Ireland semi-final. In the same game Flynn cracked his chestbone yet stayed on to score 2-2, the difference between the teams. He was a lethal finisher, able to kick goals and points off both feet. He was sharp, he was smart and boy, was he brave. For McHugh the measure of a player is how much he stands out for his club, and in his eyes, the fact Flynn was able to move to Mullingar and win four county titles on the trot for the local Shamrocks club was one of the great individual achievements of any forward of modern times. Earlier he had done the same for his beloved Colmcilles in Meath.
Ned Moore, the former Westmeath footballer, soldiered with Flynn throughout all those campaigns. He knows how the general public tend to view Flynn – the guy who writes a page in the Daily Mirror and the tanned pretty boy on The Sunday Game with the gelled hair, Meath's answer to Cork's Tony Davis, and on the field a bit of a shaper too. "Nothing was further from the truth," says Moore. "He had the biggest heart I know. He had to withstand more hardship than any player but never shirked a battle. Football was a different game in those days. There was a lot of cynical fouling, cheap, dirty hits, yet he was never intimidated.
"After we won the county in '92, we were playing down in Aughrim in the Leinster club championship. Bernard had scored something like 2-3 when just after half-time I saw him in a heap on the ground at the far end of the pitch. I still remember visiting him in Navan Hospital the following week where he was confined for 14 days. The ligaments had snapped to such a state they found them halfway down his shin and halfway up his thigh. The knee cap had been smashed in umpteen places. The doctors said he wouldn't walk again properly. Six months later he was back playing. He was only hobbling about the place and still players couldn't mark him." Flynn on occasion was no angel himself; he'll accept that. He remembers a Leinster final and getting a few clips out the field from the likes of Tommy Carr and their then new half-back Keith Barr. With his blood boiling Flynn couldn't resist unleashing a dose of verbals which were over the top. Yet these days Carr and Flynn coach the same school team. Tom and Mary Carr and the family have become best friends. While he has raised over €1m for charity Barr and Carr are a fixture at all those gigs, and through their involvement, the two Dubs have forged old friendships which had become strained.
Flynn was a product of football's killing fields, a member of the old great Meath team. He recalls one night in Páirc Tailteann in the lead-up to the four-game saga against the Dubs in '91. "We had a team meeting a few nights earlier. Boys had agreed that training had gone slack. Mick Lyons said we'd gone too soft. So this night we were training and I sidestepped Mick when he gave me this feckin' awful dirty belt. We exchanged words and I said to myself, 'If that happens again, I'm going to pull'. Anyway Mick did it again and I turned around and hit him as hard as I could. Next thing, all I could see was blood. I split his nose down the middle. I spent the rest of that training session looking around, left, right and centre. I genuinely had a fear that I was going to wake up in hospital. "I kept out of Mick's way for the rest of the training session. He never said a word, just let the blood flow down his nose. But I remember going into the dressing room after and there was hardly a word spoken. I was thinking to myself, 'You're fighting for your life here'. I went into the showers and it was like something from Midnight Express with the steam rising and everything. I reversed in and positioned myself so that if anyone came in, I could see them. Next thing, Mick walks in, and I swear to God, I clenched my fist down by my side and said to myself, 'If he pulls, I'll pull first'. What does Mick Lyons do? He lifts his arm but instead of hitting me he puts it around me. "'That's the sort of stuff we f***n' need!' After me splitting him! I said, 'Mick, I didn't mean to split you but it's just you hit me...' He said, 'Don't worry about it. It's only blood'. With that I unclenched my fist, finished my shower and when I walked out, I looked back over my shoulder and all I could see was Mick showering away, blood and shampoo mixing together. That was Mick Lyons. The best captain I ever played under. That was Meath. That was football back in those days."
He first started taking cortisone shots for the hip around '87, '88. Before big games in Croke Park he'd skirt away from the rest of the team and head off for his jab. Even then, before they were married, Madeline was telling him he was taking too many injections, too many tablets, for a man in his early 20s. But she didn't understand, he'd say to himself, and Seán Boylan didn't have to know about them all. If Flynn didn't play, he'd miss out on winning. He'd miss out on playing the next day. Lining up to take his place were classy forwards like Mattie McCabe, Finian Murtagh and Liam Smyth; if fate had been kinder to them, you'd never have heard of Flynn and Stafford, whatever about O'Rourke. Flynn acknowledges that O'Rourke was the best all-round player he ever played with and that Stafford was the classiest he ever saw.
"I look back on it now and I was probably too insecure, probably trying to prove myself too much. At that time we had some great leaders in the squad. Joe Cassells I think has 11 kids now, six or seven when he was playing, yet he wouldn't dream of missing a training session. Gerry McEntee was a surgeon, flying back from England and America without a word of complaint. Without doubt, he put Meath football before everything else. Liam Harnan played in an All Ireland final with a broken bone in his back. That was inhuman. So for me to get a jab to go out and play, I'd have kept it to myself. As it was some of the lads might say, 'Ah, Flynn was moaning about a bit of pain'. I actually suffered a lot more than I let on. And a lot more than the players would have ever known."
His last game with Meath was in '94, the same year he helped them to a league, scoring two goals against Armagh in the final, but in truth he was only 70 per cent of the player he was before the battle of Aughrim in '92. He now knows he came back from too many injuries too soon but the winning was addictive and the craic was something else too. Rooming and partying with David Beggy. Enjoying the droll but sharp wit of men like O'Rourke and Harnan, Finian Murtagh and Martin O'Connell and Stafford. And the intriguing chats with McEntee. Where else would you want to be? What else would you want to be doing? But looking back now it was a Faustian pact – play and win now, suffer later. If he had to do it all again, would he?
"A few years ago I would have had no hesitation in saying it was worth it. But now? Those couple of All Irelands, the five Leinsters, the three national leagues, the two All Stars?
"First up, the way I am is my own fault. And umpteen county players have been here before me – the likes of Seánie Walsh, John O'Keeffe, Martin McHugh and so on. But I have to say when I think of the pain in the knee and the hip over the last few years, the fact I haven't been able to lift a golf club since May, that over the summer the kids had to put my socks and shoes on for me and I couldn't get up and down the stairs; if I'm being honest, the answer to your question is probably not. And I tell you, the pain I felt last Monday and Tuesday night – Christ, I thought I was going to die! – my answer would have been definitely not."
He can almost feel and hear Gerry McEntee on his shoulder – "You feckin' eejit, Flynn – why didn't you get it done earlier?" It was McEntee who in '95 set up the appointment with Dr Pat O'Neill who told Flynn his career was over; if he played on he'd end up a cripple. It was McEntee who told him about insurance. He'd have told him to get the hip replaced years ago too. Yet Flynn always put family and work ahead of himself and so he resisted.
"I just had a taboo about having a false limb in there at 44 years of age. It's grand at 74 going around with one false limb and being ready to hit the grave. My fear was, 'Will I now need a second one at 54? A third at 64?' There was this weird, silly feeling inside me, 'Jesus, if you go for that, you won't be a real man anymore'. I'd think whether I'd be able to do certain things with the kids again. Could you fall and roll around the garden with them after playing football? Jump on the trampoline? Ski with them like we did before? A father must never be sick is what I felt. But the way I was this summer I couldn't do any of those things. I could barely put on my trousers. I pushed the boat too far. I was going, going, going all the time."
The other reason why he put off the inevitable for so long was another source of fear. Flynn is a small, self-employed one-man operator involved in property. He had the family and banks to feed.
"I should have gone in over a year ago but I couldn't with the pressure and tell people that I was going away for a few months to get a hip sorted out. The economic situation has put me back 15 years – like so many other people. Many of them are well-known GAA people. I made mistakes, banks made mistakes. We all made mistakes. The man who didn't make a mistake, made nothing," he stresses.
"I now firmly believe that if we all put our hands up and agree we made mistakes instead of everyone blaming everyone else, apart from themselves, then we would be better off. Let's get on with it."
He now sees the GPA and Christy Cooney are ready to provide that kind of support and it's up to the wider GAA community and especially its county boards to do likewise. This operation and this economic situation has underlined to him the need for a support network within the GAA.
Flynn is convinced that the demands and the pressure on our amateur players has to a certain extent created a binge drinking culture. "There is at least one or more potential alcoholic in every inter-county dressing room. There's probably a compulsive gambler or two there as well. I commend Donal Óg Cusack and Oisìn McConville for their honesty and openness in their recent announcements. That took great courage .
"Not all GAA lads are as confident as people believe or outgoing as people might think. I was lucky to have my insurance and know a great surgeon like Kieran O'Rourke. But what about the average player in my situation who has no insurance and does not know who to turn to for medical help? A lot of lads have cried out for help from time to time and there hasn't been a helping hand there. There are very few Seán Boylans and Brian Codys and Joe Kernans out there, because some managers are there now for a quick fix and to pick up the wages. By and large players are well looked after but Croke Park should be doing more to make sure there's proper mechanisms put in place. A lot of GAA players were under pressure to go out and form their own businesses, cash in on their name, many without any real foundations. They are now suffering the consequences.
"Inter-county players might be amateur but they're public property just like the pros. They're superstars one day, scapegoats the next and a lot of fellas struggle to deal with that.Who is there to help them? Who is there to help the guy that is going through personal turmoil and is suffering all alone? We expect too much from our amateur players. There should be a facility in place that a player can turn to without having to spill his guts out to his manager and teammates. There has to be a statutory model in place in a private and confidential forum for these players."
Flynn has had little dealings with the GPA to date but he can tell from something like their proposed benevolent fund that they're dynamic, proactive, empathetic. And by formally recognising them, Christy Cooney and Croke Park too are embracing the same ethos. But at the moment county boards are all virtually reactive, unwieldy, outdated, viewing the player as simply someone to help the county win, someone disposable. Who cares about you once you hand the jersey back? Or if you do hand it back? A whole change in mindset is required, Flynn believes. The 'lucky-to-wear-the-jersey' riposte no longer suffices. The template for going forward for a county board and team management job is to provide a life experience for young men which is worthy of their time away from their loved ones and seeking or keeping down a job.
"In the GAA we have to look after our players and each other. Give business to each other. Give jobs where applicable to the players. The good young player coming out of college at present; there's a real danger he's now going to head straight to Australia, America, London. It's going to be pretty poor-to-bad here for another while so county boards will have to put a little structure in place to make sure these lads are given the best opportunity, in terms of jobs and the like, otherwise we're going to lose the best players we've never seen."
Flynn knows though that in many ways the lot of the current player has improved since his day. They no longer are asked to flatten the local biggest hill. They have greater physio and medical backup. There'll be fewer and fewer players needing a hip replacement in years to come. But to make sure of it, he has this bit of advice for the kid thinking of taking that next injection to squeeze in that next game.
"Be responsible for your own wellbeing because no one else will. If you're only half right, leave it and get it fully right. You'll play for longer. As I know now, your future health will be paramount to your family's future."
It's nearly time to leave. He needs to rest up some more. But before you go, you're struck by how chirpy his disposition and mood is. He talks about the 32 marathons in 32 consecutive days in 32 counties (32marathons.com) a couple of his friends, Gerry Duffy and Ken Whitelaw, are running for charity. He is a co-founder of this and hopes it will gross a million for charity next summer. Also the book launch in Meath he and his close friend Kevin Cahill are putting together for Billy Morgan on Saturday, 19 December in David Beggy's new pub in Navan where there are 300-400 people expected. Above all, he is grateful to Dr O'Rourke and all the staff in Mount Carmel and Aiden Gleeson CEO of Cappagh Hospital for how they have looked after him.
"I know for myself, it's back to basics. The simple things in life are free. I'm going through a tough time medically and in business, and facing a knee replacement next year, but I will deal with this when it comes."
As he says, he's one of the lucky ones. It's half-time now for Flynn. As he lies on the bed in Mount Carmel after his sixth day, his bag is packed and his crutches are by his side waiting for his great friend Mick King (The Kinger) who has always been there for him through thick and thin, to bring him back to his family in Mullingar.
As he looks up at the ceiling, his last thoughts goes to Jimmy Stynes in Australia and more particularly Gráinne Keigue, Edel Duignan, John Kerins, Mick McCarthy, Eamonn Coleman and Cormac McAnallen. All looking down on us and saying: "Aren't they the lucky bastards."
Quote from: seafoid on February 05, 2020, 09:16:17 PM
I found this in the files
You did well
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nvWgMkmFQCE/SEjQr29g8VI/AAAAAAAABH8/3kyNAYCAttA/s400/Messy+office.jpg)
Quote from: Main Street on February 11, 2020, 04:38:25 PM
Quote from: seafoid on February 05, 2020, 09:16:17 PM
I found this in the files
You did well
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nvWgMkmFQCE/SEjQr29g8VI/AAAAAAAABH8/3kyNAYCAttA/s400/Messy+office.jpg)
Not far off.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/meath-s-fall-from-grace-is-evident-as-they-take-on-dublin-1.4199147
The hope was that by mixing it with the eight best teams in the country they could bring a higher standard into the championship. In reality, Meath football might well feel as far away from that top table as it has ever been.
There will be no hiding from that in Sunday's penultimate round of the league against Dublin at Croke Park – a game some Meath supporters might actually prefer was played behind closed doors. After five rounds the only certainty in division one is that Meath are already relegated back to Division Two.
After taking 13 seasons to get back up there, they're playing for nothing more now than pride, although Dublin won't have much sympathy: currently on six points, one behind Kerry and two behind Galway, they're still playing for a place in the final, with Galway to come in the final round.
There's no hiding too from the fact the last time they played in Croke Park in the 2019 Leinster final, Dublin beat Meath 1-17 to 0-4.
Meath may still be the last county to actually beat Dublin in the Leinster football championship, 10 years ago this summer, in the 2010 Leinster semi-final, hitting them were it hurts with five goals to none (5-9 to 0-13), only that seems very far away now.
The last league clash between Meath and Dublin was in Parnell Park in 2008, back in their more fiery days, both teams actually operating in Division Two: Dublin won by 0-13 to Meath's 2-6, with five players sent off (Dublin's Bernard Brogan, Paddy Andrews, Ciaran Whelan and Meath's Niall McKeigue and Shane McAnarney) and 11 others booked.
Dublin were promoted that season, and have won the nine successive Leinster titles after Meath's last win in 2010, plus seven All-Irelands. Meath were relegated from the old Division 1B back in 2006, with the likes of Graham Geraghty still on board, and had fallen either short or a little long of promotion back to division one in 12 seasons, before 2019 proved the lucky 13th.
Struggling
Geraghty has his own thoughts on Meath's fall from grace, part of the reminder coming with Allianz renewing its sponsorship of the football and hurling league, beginning when Meath last won the football league title outright in 1993-94.
"No, there's no point sugar-coating it," said Geraghty. "We're struggling in Division One, being competitive, but not being able to get across the line which is worrying. Looking at the early part, you'd have targeted Tyrone up there, and the game against Mayo was disappointing, a game we had in the bag we let slip.
"So that's two or three points we could have had, and it's so tight there in Division One at the minute three points might keep you up.
"But over the last few years we haven't developed underage teams that can win All-Irelands. The last one that we won was when we were playing, in 1993, under-21 at that stage.
"We've won a few minors, but it's a long time since we've won anything underage. I know Andy McEntee got us to a minor final in 2012, but looking at the club scene it's hard to tell where the players are coming from.
"We came off the back of a very good underage system. We won a minor in 1990 and another one in 1992, an under-21 All-Ireland in 1993, so we had that batch of players coming through to a Meath team coming to the end of that era."
Injury hasn't helped Meath's cause: first choice goalkeeper Andy Colgan has been out since injuring his knee in the warm-up to their league opener against Tyrone, and the absence of forwards Mickey Newman, Shane Walsh and Donal Lenihan certainly hasn't improved their scoring power.
Still Geraghty wonders if Meath can ever close that gap on Dublin again
"I suppose they [Dublin] have only 15 players, the same as everybody else, but I think Dublin waited so long to get success. When they have it then, when you're winning games, whether it's soccer, basketball or different sports, everybody wants to play for Dublin. Half of the Dubs living in Meath want to play for them now.
"But we can't get away from the money end as well. It just gives them the ability to be able to have the best of everything, trainers, nutritionists. Every county has them, but it's the fact that most club teams in Dublin now have a couple of full-time coaches as well. And you can see this just hasn't happened over the last number of years, it's just developed and developed, and they have sustained it.
"But I think the one thing that probably would upset me more is where you have young kids living in Meath, that are playing club football in Meath, and opting to play for Dublin or where they're from originally.
"We're a big enough county that we can cope with that, but I think at the minute we don't have the players. If you look at club level we're not playing a good brand of football in Meath at the minute to warrant us winning Leinster finals and going on.
"With Meath-Dublin games in the past., you'd be waiting all week for them. Now it's will we put it up to them for 50 minutes?
"It's disappointing for the older supporters in Meath who would remember those games. Whether you won or lost you always had a battle. Sometimes the football mightn't have been the best but it was always close, and something was going on somewhere on the pitch."
I'm slightly more optimistic than Graham. We've improved every game and we're not full strength. While it is disappointing not to have any points given where we've been for so long I'm not too disheartened. Of course I want us to be better but it's going to take a while to turn things round given all that we're up against.
As for this weekend, I think we will be close enough with Dublin. It won't be as one sided as the Leinster Final although we are unlikely to have the firepower to win we won't get pulled asunder either.
Ultimately I'd be happier if the games were called off though. It's just not worth putting peoples health at risk and when you look at what measures they're taking in Italy now, the games are a trivial matter.
Meath saved by the pox?
Will the league next year be the same as this year?
Quote from: armaghniac on March 12, 2020, 11:35:38 AM
Meath saved by the pox?
Will the league next year be the same as this year?
Hard to know what they'll do, probably four options for it:
- play remaining games behind closed doors
- relegation/promotion decided based on current positions
- season scrapped, no relegation/promotion
- season postponed with a vague promise of holding it later in the year (pointless imo as there won't be time)