An Mhí vs Corcaigh - Sraith Náisiúnta Peile, Roinn II

[thejuice]

Live on TG4, Sunday 2:30pm

As much as I'm lookng forward to this game, theres a chance the Cork footballers will be joining the picket lines to support the hurlers. Hope that doesnt come to pass, I'd rather we went down there and lost a tough game then get handed 2 points for nothing.

From a Meath point of view its good to hear that Moyles is back to full health and playing well, Crawford is still there. Brian Farrell lined out in a challenge match against the Gardai. Dereck Flood looks like a possible full back for the future. No word on teams for Sunday yet.

[Declan]

Meath players show real determination

By Fergal Lynch

The next time some of the minority of idiotic so-called Meath GAA 'supporters' decide to take it upon themselves to rush at any player or manager, hurl abuse or throw a programme at them they should take into consideration the sacrifices that these people make for the county.
When Meath lost to Limerick in the All-Ireland SFC qualifier last July, a couple of 'amadans' decided to vent their fury towards the then manager Colm Coyle and several of the players without putting any thought into fact that they too were hurting.
As people crawled from their beds last Sunday morning, some nursing sore heads from the night before, to be greeted with blankets of snow covering some parts of the county, most of the Meath senior football panel were preparing for a challenge match against DIT.
It was obvious from the ground conditions that the game would not go ahead, but instead of returning home to curl up by a warm fire and enjoying a rare Sunday off, team manager Eamonn O'Brien re-directed his troops to the Meath GAA Centre of Excellence at Dunganny.
There was much work to be done, too much time had been lost because of the collective training ban in November and December.
Instead of taking advantage of the abandonment, Colm Brady gathered the players together and put them through their paces.
As the sun started to shine and melt the snow around Ratoath, the rain flooded down at Dunganny as more than 30 of O'Brien's panel worked hard on righting the wrongs of last July.
When Brendan Murphy announced that he was withdrawing from the Meath panel because he had lost his appetite and hated the thoughts of going training, it was easy to understand those sentiments when you consider the horrendous conditions the players endured last week.
On Wednesday night last at Pairc Tailteann, Meath continued their preparations for the start of the National Football League by taking on a strong Garda side that included Cork star Michael Cussen and they showed typical Royal determination to secure a 4-10 to 1-13 win.
O'Brien used the game to assess the players who hadn't featured in the O'Byrne Cup and Shield against Westmeath and Kildare.
Brady ushered the other members of the panel to the back pitch at Pairc Tailteann and conducted a tough training session in terrible weather.
Under the main lights Meath looked like slumping to another defeat, their second in four days, but late goals from the returning Brian Farrell and Jamie Queeney secured a 4-10 to 1-13 victory for O'Brien's side.
As well as a positive result, it was pleasing to see the return of players like Anthony Moyles, Caoimhin King and Farrell.
On the back pitch Nigel Crawford was also put through the ringer, the commitment is strong.
Farrell and Queeney contributed 4-8 between them against Garda, while Moyles and Walterstown's Tom Walsh were also on target.
Chris O'Connor and Brian O'Reilly made a positive return. St Michael's Derek Flood did well at full-back and Moynalvey's Stephen Donoghue featured at centre-forward.
"We have to use these challenge matches to have a look at players," said coach Brady.
The lack of a game on Sunday was a disappointment, but the Meath players are determined to restore lost pride.
If the commitment shown at training on Sunday can be replicated in the summer then the 'real' Meath supporters will have plenty to cheer about.

[GAA_Punter]

Will Cork footballers put out a second team or just give meath the 2pts if they decide to stick with the hurling team ?

[Zulu]

They won't be able to get a second team in time so if the current squad don't play, then no one will. In saying that, I was talking to a few Cork footballers after the McGrath cup final last Saturday and though I didn't ask them about the situation with the hurlers, I got the impression that they were looking forward to the league so at that stage going on strike didn't seem to be on the agenda.

[Hardy]

I'd feel very cheated if those langers cheated me out of a "home" away game.

When Meath lost to Limerick in the All-Ireland SFC qualifier last July, a couple of 'amadans' decided to vent their fury towards the then manager Colm Coyle and several of the players

I don't know when or where this happened, but I was there and I didn't see it happen at any time in the few minutes between the final whistle and the players entering the dressing room. I was one of about 15-20 supporters standing at the only point where the public had close access to the players - the gate from the pitch to the walkway to the dressing room and I remember being pleased that there was nothing untoward said. Instead everyone was saying "chin up lads" and the like. I suppose it's possible it happened somewhere between that point and the dresssing room or maybe afterwards as the team left.

Anyway, the point is that the prevailing mood among supporters at the end of that debacle of a game was support for the team.

[thejuice]

i was over the otherside of the field but I think any anger would have given way to apathy long before the final whistle. It was a funny day for emotions, I actually let out a huge cheer when Joe Sheridan got his first goal. Even though the game was over as a contest I was just happy that someone in a green jersey decided to show up.

Anyway thats all behind us, think things will be different this year.

[thejuice]

From Hoganstand

Rebel footballers hold fire

Despite widespread speculation to the contrary, Cork's footballers have NOT indicated any intention to go on strike.

The Rebel County's big ball merchants met on Sunday night to discuss the ongoing crisis - and their prospective role in it - leading to suggestions that they were about to down tools as a show of solidarity towards the exiled 2008 hurling squad.

However, the silence from the footballers at the moment is deafening.

It's understood that both camps have been in contact with each other since their respective meetings last night.

The '08 hurlers, who trained before a large crowd at Mourneabbey on Saturday, are due to give a press conference on Monday evening and the footballers will not make any public statement until after that.

[thejuice]

Rebel line-up for Sunday:

A Quirke;

M Shields,   N O Donovan,    A Lynch;
N O' Leary,     G Canty,       J Miskella;

           A O Connor, P O Neill;

C McCarthy,    F Goold,         P Kelly;
D Goulding,   M Cussen,     D O Connor

No word on the Meath team yet.

[lynchbhoy]

Rebel line-up for Sunday:

A Quirke;

M Shields,   N O Donovan,    A Lynch;
N O' Leary,     G Canty,       J Miskella;

           A O Connor, P O Neill;

C McCarthy,    F Goold,         P Kelly;
D Goulding,   M Cussen,     D O Connor

thats a darn good Cork side - if they have their heads in the right place.

Meath this year will be fit as Brady is a fitness fanatic himself.

No word on the Meath team yet.

[thejuice]

1. Paddy O'Rourke Skryne
2. Anthony Moyles Blackhall Gaels
3. Kevin Reilly Navan O'Mahony's
4. Eoghan Harrington Wolfe Tones
5. Shane McAnarney Clann na nGael
6. Barry Regan Navan O'Mahony's
7. Stephen McKenna St. Peter's, Dunboyne
8. Damian Sheridan Seneschalstown
9. Brian Meade Rathkenny
10. David Bray Navan O'Mahony's
11. Stephen Bray Navan O'Mahony's
12. Eoin Reilly Donaghmore/Ashbourne
13. Joe Sheridan Seneschalstown
14. Caoimhin King Dunshaughlin
15. Cian Ward Wolfe Tones

I suspect it will line out something like this.

                    P O'Rourke

S McKenna       K Reilly          E Harrington
S McAnarney    B Regan        A Moyles

         D Sheridan    B Meade

D Bray          C King            E Reilly
J Sheridan     S Bray            C Ward

Either way its definatley not a very strong team. Farrell, Queeny, Crawford and M Ward will be coming of the bench I reckon as some stage. I expect King, Reilly and Moyles to be working to get the breaks in the middle.

[lynchbhoy]

any of the summerhill lads left on the panel ?
Ennis ?

[thejuice]

Well I dont know if the squad has been cut down to 30 yet, I suppose it has. Of course the Meath website is bursting with info as usual.

[Jinxy]

That's an extremely experimental team.
I think we will be well beat to be honest.

[Hardy]

I agree, but I don't mind. That's what the league is for.

[Declan]

Jaysus Caoimhin lining out at FF . Can't see that line up starting in those positions