Messages

Meath have been bad for a long time now. One of many that are choked by a heavy weighted Leinster Championship - geared at proving Dublin with as many advantages as possible. Colm for years sat in his Ivory Tower in RTE criticising teams for not kicking the ball in, for not doing this, for not doing that. He has found out - on the front line that Inter-county management is not as easy as it seems. Colm and his back room team are on big money. He is in no way a volunteer. He is being well paid to do his job.

in andys last year. Expenses was 25k. In Colm's first it was 125k. 

Yesterday proved we need new management.  Cb needs to get ball rolling asap.

If I were Meath County board I'd be going all out for Malachy O'Rourke.

He could transform that team if given time.

Would Meath not get their U20 manager on board?

They need a rebuild with that minor and now that U20 squad.

O'Bric should be involved in any set up but I think we need a proven senior county coach. O'Bric can take the senior role eventually.

Malachy might be an option but I would also look in Dublin as well for a manager and coaches. Someone who has been involved with Jim Gavin. 

I'd go for obric and Brennan as joint managers.  New fresh and know what is needed. They have a huge rebuild to do. Colm has brought us to the lowest level I can remember, we went from 25k expenses under Andy to 125k under Colm in one year. To do what ? Lose our seeding in Leinster, get beat by Offaly not qualify for all ire first year. Yea we won tc beating div 3/4 teams. Lucky v Antrim and Down. But we got there. Again this year no improvement in league and now another disaster in championship. Colm is not a senior manager Latin phrases won't put the ball over the bar. I'd like to see a statement from Meath cb saying that at end of campaign we wil be moving forward with a new appointment

Kildare and Meath same boat. Some half decent underage players but from the outside looking in it looks like in both counties they have went for former playing legends and it hasn't worked out at all. Yes it runs a bit deeper than those two men but if Louth can raise their level like that Meath and Kildare should be fit to do something too.

. Colm is a legend of the game. But too long out of county seniors. He just hasn't got what it takes. I'd argue that we got to super 8s and division one with less talented players. But we were lethargic and bereft of any ideas. What is letting us down now is manager and coaching. It's over the game is up. We cannot let these players who I believe are capable of bringing Meath to div 1 and all ire quarters drift aimlessly away cb need to act asap. This can't be let run for another year.

No. We're done. Need to look elsewhere for a manager now. Serious failure today. I don't care how good Louth are, we shouldn't be that bad.

. Absolutely. It's over for Colm. Should never have appointed in first place. Cb need to get act together NOW

Did O'Rourke call up any of the u20s? That wing back Armstrong is excellent.

just ohalloran. But he was already involved should have called up the lads who can actually kick a free from beyond the 20 line. Should this go badly Colm will be gone at years end. It's been a very difficult couple of years even though he has some of the best players available to him over last 10 years.

If Meath don't give an all guns blazing performance against Louth next week it will be a damning indictment of O'Rourke.

We knew we'd be here since the Tailteann Cup ended. If he can't get that right then he's not fit for the job.

. Totally agree

Louths performance really put ours in a new perspective. I don't think O'Rourke would ever play as defensive as that but Louth seemed far more confident and composed than we were. This isn't a new Louth team or anything like that, largely same players we've seen over the years but the right coaching seems to make a big difference.

If we don't get O'Bric next then  I think we need to go outside the county for a manager. However I get the feeling the county board wanted O'Rourke and they'll give him another term if he wants it.

. That's my fear. The cb wanted orurke and from what has come out lately it seems the whole process was just a sham as Colm was in line to take over should the heave against mcentee have worked. Very bad form on behalf of the delegates.
It would appear that the beat interest of the senior team is not at the heart of Meath cb. They have a chance to redeem themselves and encourage Colm to leave . We are going nowhere under his style of management. Louth performance yesterday proves that without a shadow of a doubt. 
O'Bric is an excellent coach and while it may take him a year or two to undo what has been done it would be far worse to have him coming in to a situation like Kildare are in.

As shown by this thread the big driver to the Tailteann Cup is that it's open for so many to get a run at it. Most of the counties in it could have a say if they get a bit of luck and a run going. We've had Wicklow, Laois, Antrim, Fermanagh, Down, Sligo, Kildare all tipped. If marketed right, this has potential. Makes a big difference from the AI run in! 

Potential for a very competitive competition. But it won't be promoted. Will get 2 minutes on the Sunday game and we will only see it  at semi final stage. The GAA don't do promotion unless it's the Munster hurling championship. The 3 games for 30 euro is a good deal. But if your Down a trip to London should maybe be taken out and a 2 games at a tenner each offered.
 

yep only munster hurling is promoted, and they still whine about it.  Not been in it this year I must say I'm looking forward to this competition more than Dublin run to another all ire

As a Meath man it pains me to say but I think Colm may have to step aside after this year. Depending of course on how the remainder of the year goes. We finished in same position as last year in league Colm got his first ever win in a Leinster game at any grade while shifting 3-12 to mid table 4th division Longford and got destroyed by a Dublin team who didn't get out of first gear. The reference to Cora Staunton and the fact she called out the tactics against Dublin in league last year as been naive before throw in was worrying. It would appear that he's more concerned over a year later with what Someone said in his old job than what he and the team was facing is extremely worrying. Colm was one of the greatest players of all time but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be a great or even average manager. We have got the easier draw for sure in Sam race. And one would expect with the talent we have we'd beat louth 50/50 v Monaghan and put up a huge showing v Kerry in navan for us to qualify.  But I feel the management are not up to it. And we have a proven winning manager waiting in the wings in cathal O'Bric now of course he must be left to his own devices for the foreseeable. But at years end I feel Meath cb have to act. Before we end up like Kildare or worse.

I'm not a bitter royal towards louth. I really would love to see them create the shock of the century. But I just can't see it happening and also the draw makes for interesting position for louth. Their next game is winnable against a Meath team at sixes and sevens under Colm. They could get to a prelim quarter final by winning just that one game in a neutral venue (they should have beat us in league in navan). So what does louth management do ? Throw everything at Dublin and have a very despondent sore tired team still shifting a heavy defeat go out v Meath the following week ? Or play conservative don't waste too much energy avoid injuries and concentrate on the old rivals and giving Colm his p45.  I know which one I hope they do. But I fear they will be focused on Meath which worry's me immensely

It would be great to see a real minnow win this.

We'll need a 3 tier Championship for the real minnows to win one.
Of the 4 Finalists to date 3 were once strong Counties going through bad patches with nearly 20 Sams between them.

if actually agree with you in that. But like junior inter and senior. 2 in final go up each year regardless of league position

I think Antrim had a fair few injuries in league. Lost back now. But surely it's Kildare , Fermanagh Down to lose , that been said would love to see a Wicklow Sligo or Antrim win it. Can Leinster teams do a 3 in a row ?

Any potential surprises here ?  I think Antrim could be the dark horse here. Andy will have them primed for this.

Reckon Wicklow have a scalp in them as well.

yeah I'd agree with that

A few idiotic and insulting posts removed.

Permanent bans for anyone resuming hostilities.

fair play. Shouldn't have got involved with them. Should have just ignored   But I did. Apologies