Meath V Fermanagh, 14th Feb, Navan

[FermPundit]

Meath in serious trouble after that and will struggle to pick up the points total required to remain in Div 2.

I think Fermanagh will use this as a platform for survival but could be the other team to face the drop with tough away fixtures in the Division. League Final already looks like its between Cork and AN Other from Kildare, Monaghan and Armagh...

At the start of the league campaign, given the difficult fixtures, the main objective for Fermanagh would have been to avoid relegation. After the disappointing defeat at home to Monaghan, it was crucial that we picked up two points away to Meath. Whilst the overall performance wasn't great, at least we secured the league points and we now have something to build on for the next 3 weeks. Looking at the remaining fixtures, the away games against Cork and Laois look very difficult. If we can pick up another two wins, it should be enough to keep us in this division. The home games against Armagh and Kildare are massive.

[thejuice]

Not sure what to read into that, doesnt fill me with confidence though.

I wouldn't be happy if the manager thinks it would be okay for a team like Meath to drop into Division 3!

The bit where he says, "hopefully we can get get a few wins later on" doesnt sound like a man with a plan to me. Either that or he simply doesnt value the league at all.

[FermPundit]

From Hoganstand

Relegation wouldn't be the end of the world - O'Brien

Meath manager Eamonn O'Brien has suggested that relegation from Division Two of the National Football League would not ruin his side's season completely.

The Royals' boss was speaking after his side's second NFL defeat to Fermanagh last Saturday in Navan and has hinted that the new 'experimental rules' have had an affect on Meath's performance.

"The new rules take a lot of physical contact out of the game," said O'Brien. "The goals left us a bit to do in the second-half but we battled back and could have got a draw.

"It wouldn't be the end of the world to be relegated but it wouldn't be nice. Hopefully we can get a couple of wins later on."

Not sure what to read into that, doesnt fill me with confidence though.

I'm not sure where O'Brien is coming from here. If he thinks its hard to stay in division two, it would be even harder to get out of divison three next year. Division three is an absolute minefield. I was so glad to get out of it last year.

[Hardy]

I don't know what to think or say, so I think I'll say nothin.

Not much of a contribution, I know, but I can't make head nor tail of what's going on, if anything is going on at all, other than a slide into oblivion. I'm only hoping the manager has a plan that I can't see and that he's not talking about. I take consolation from the memory that in February 1996, things didn't look great either (not as bad as they do now, but not great). That September we were All-Ireland champions with a completely new team. But back then we had Seán Boylan. I don't see any evidence, yet, that Eamonn O'Brien is Seán Boylan.