Donegal v Meath semifinal 2025

[BillyFlynnfromTrim]

You left out Subs
O Halloran 21
Gray 21
McBride 23
Hickey 24

Yes because as I said above the average age of the starting 15 which will likely be unchanged against Donegal.  Add in the subs/20 players used the average age is 24.

There's no guarantee. We will have to wait to see. I don't know what this Meath team will win.

That's the main point no guarantee.  Right now you are in All Ireland semi final and aiming to win it.

Firstly my quotes about kildare lack of building on their underage success was not dig at kildare. I hope kildare will  win Tailtean and become strong in coming years. We need Kildare Offaly louth as well as Meath challenging Dubs. If kildare were to make breakthrough also win leinster which I think they are good enough to do, and Offaly also win leinster and louth and Meath. It would transform leinster football. Dubs been beaten by all 4 in coming years, would bring us back to late 90s early 00s. I like Brian Flanagan he has to be given time. It just Mystery why kildare have never built on underage sucess.

Donegal sud win but Meath have a real chance. Donegal are impressive. Best drilled organised coached team in  the country. With quality players very experienced and best Ulster manager of his generation. If he wins All Ireland with Donegal this year joins Mikey Harte and Pete Mcgrath Brian McEniff as greatest Ulster managers ever. Donegal could do job on Meath. Beat them well, 8 or 9 points, it could happen. Donegal running game,,power Meaths inexperience. It's a worry. In the old rules Donegal would win v Meath 10 points plus. In new rules Meath have a real chance of upset. It's control v Chaos. McGuinness wants to control the games, Meath want chaos. As I said Donegal should win. But Meath have a real chance of winning. It would not be surprised if Meath win. But Donegal are deserved favourites.

Beating Donegal would be huge for Meath. It would like breaking final barrier. Meath have beaten Dubs, beating best team in the country for many kerry  and Beating top team in championship in Croke Park. Final part of jigsaw is beating top Ulster team in championship. Meath and rest of leinster have struggled v Ulster teams for 20 years, Dubs exception. Meath haven't beaten top Ulster twam in championship in 18 years since Tyrone 2007. Ulster teams and modern day tactics Meath struggled to break down. Hopefully new rules will help Meath breaking their Ulster poor recotd. Because traditionally Meaths recotd v Ulster team was excellent. Meath record v Ulster teams in All Ireland semi finals v Ulster teams is outstanding. Meath have never lost All Ireland semi final to Ulster team.

Meath have played 7 Ulster teams in All Ireland semi finals and won All 7 Games. Donegal are trying to become first Ulster team to beat Meath semi final.

Meath record v Ulster teams in All Ireland semi final
Played 7 Won 7 lost 0


These are semi final wins Meath have had v Ulster teams

1939 Meath beat Cavan
1951 Meath beat Antrim
1954 Meath beat Cavan
1966 Meath beat Down
1987 Meath beat Derry
1990 Meath beat Donegal
1996 Meath beat Tyrone
1999 Meath beat Armagh

Only Ulster teams Meath have never beaten or played in All Ireland semi final are Down and Fermanagh.

3 areas Meath are strong in people don't realise

1 Breaking ball Meath are one of the best teams in country at breaking ball. Sean Coffey is outstanding at breaking ball. Best I have ever seen do it for Meath better than Kevin Foley or Paddy Reynolds who were also brilliant at it.

2 Meath depth at midfield. Meath hace more depth at midfield than any team in country. Meath are missing 3 midfielders and two of them are their best midfielders flynn and Jones. And also Jack kinlough Another midfielder is out. Yet Meath took off their 3 midfielders v Galway Menton O Neill Duke and were missing 3 other midfielders atop of that. Yet Meaths 6th and 7th choice midfielders Conor Gray and Cian McBride both 6tf 5 anf especially Gray came on and won the game for Meath. Its pity Flynn Jones are injured. But next year with their return Meath should have more depth at midfield than any team in country. If one or two of 6ft 4 6ft 5 half forward gaints midfielders and half forwards come through from U20s and Conor Nash possible return from Auzzie rules in 12 months time, when contract up. He says he wants to play for Meath.  Meath will be like like Limerick hurlers in terms if size around midfield. Nash people consider a better footballer than Conor Glass his return would be huge

3 Meath have one of the best defence in All Ireland championship The team that has conceded less in championship is Meath. People might be surprised by that. But Meath have really tightened up since leinster final.  Meath defenders Keoghan Rafferty Caulfield are probaly currently in running for All stars. Meath are playing with new corner back Ronan Ryan. Lavin Rafferty Ryan is excellent full back line.  Ronan Ryan did not play v louth, neitheir did Adam O Neill a defender eho plays at midfield. Keoghan Coffey Caulfield have been excellent since Louth game. They had nightmare v Louth. Meath have good defenses who can defend one on one like Rafferty Keoghan Coffey Caulfield. Also Meath are playing with 7 defenders with O Neill ar midfield a defender at midfield. He didn't play v Louth. Hickey comes on as 8th defender in half forwards in second half. Meath are defending the middle of defence much better since Louth game. Times Meath were open up v Loutg Roscommon Ronan Ryan was not playing and young O Halloran was playing instead. O Halloran is a great talent is not physically ready. Ryan did not play v Roscommon or louth. Meath defence improvec when he played v Cork Kerry and Galway. Galway burst was when Rafferty went off. Once Meaty have had defence of Lavin Rafferty Ryan Keoghan Coffey Caulfield O Neill on the field Meath have done well. Remember Meath are only team to keep David Clifford quite this championship. Meath also kept Con Callaghan quite also. And Shane Walsh was not as effective v Meath. Players like Cormac Costello have struggled v Meath.

Some of Meaths best defence performance this year
In league kept Roscommon scoreless from play in second half.
Kept Offaly scoreless from play in second half.
Kept Dublin to 17 pts, keery to 16th points, and Galway to 15 pts. Kept Louth to 3 points in first half. Of course goals were a killer

But since Louth game and Roscommon game Meath defence has improved. Meath defence was excellent against Dubs, Cork, kerry. And also good when Rafferty was on field v Galway. Meath seem up their game defensively v top div 1 teams eg Dublin Kerry Galway.

[Tatler Jack]

Hardly worth Donegal's while  turning up against such powerful opposition Billy!

[BillyFlynnfromTrim]

Hardly worth Donegal's while  turning up against such powerful opposition Billy!

I never said that.
 I said Donegal sud win, but Meath have real chance. I said Donegal are deserved favourites. I said Donegal running games, experience could cause real problems and win the game well. But I also said have allot strengths peoole don't realise. Brillant at breaking ball, huge depth at midfield and defensively improved since Louth game. As I said Donegal should win this game, they are much more experienced and at their peak, and in this year and next year is there time to win All Ireland. They are good enough. But Meath have a real chance, Meath are very dangerous opposition. I'd say McGuinness would rather Galway. He knows so much about Galway. There is unknown quantity to Meath. How good are Meath, what is Meaths ceiling this year. Meath traditionally up their game in All Ireland semi finals. Last two semi finals Meath were poor in 2009 and 2007. Before that Meath went on run brillant All Ireland semi final wins
V kerry in 2001
V Armagh in 1999
V Tyrone 1996
V Roscommon 1991
V Donegal 1990
V Mayo 1988
V Derry 1987.
Prior to 2007 Meath won 7 All Ireland semi finals in a row and really impressive performances. Some of the greatest performances by Meath football have being in All Ireland semis finals eg 15 point win over kerry in semis in 01, 9 points beating of Tyrone in 96 semis, and 11 point defeat of great  Down team in 1966 semis.
Meath should have beaten Galway by 5 or 6 pts even more. What so impressive v Galway was Meath were not outstanding v Galway. Meath beat one of best teams in the country without playing brilliantly. You feel there are more gears in this Meath team. Are we looking at All time great mushroom All Ireland young winning team. A young team winning All Irelands.
Examples in hurling are
Cork in 1966 Cofk in 1999 Clare 2013
Example in Football are Meath in 1996 and kerry in 1975
If Meath won Sam the only comparable All Ireland win would be Dublin in 1974. Dublin were in doldrums for decade and start of the year bottom div 2 team. Exactly were Meath were at the start of thr year, were favourites to relegated to div 3. History is against Meath. Young teams rarely win All Irelands
But who knows. As I said Donegal sud win and kerry sud win. But Meath v Tyrone final could herald a new era of new rivalry for rest of decade, both Meath and Tydone are up and coming young teams, especially Meath. Donegal and kerry along with Armagh and Galway were 4 best teams in country at start of the year. Evidence suggests it will be kerry v Donegal final. But Meath and Tyrone have real chances of upsets.

[BillyFlynnfromTrim]

Also listening to Paul Flynn on Second captains he is one of few to see that Meath are marking one on one. This requires real tenacious tackling. Meath defenders are good man to man markers. Full back line especially were excellent Lavin Rafferty Ryan. Ryan had a great game. My worry would Donegal running game cause problems. Donegal grind teams down with powerful running game. Best in the country at this. Meaths inexperience could be issue. But to fair this young Meath are quick learners. Can Meath stop Murphy and Gallen upfront. Meath did a real good job on Con Callaghan and Dublin attacks, Meath backs were excellent v Kerry and Clifford. Kerry best goal scorers in country, didn't get sniff of goal. While against Galway and Shane Walsh Meath did well. It was when Rafftery was off Galway ran riot. Ronan Ryan missed Roscommon game and Defenders Ronan Ryan and Adam O'Neill missed Louth game. Both improve us defensively. But Sean Rafferty is one the stories of the year. Never player minor or U20 or U21 for Meath. A half back for his club. Never started a game for Meath before this year. Wasn't picked for fiest league game v Cork. Played next game 11 point win over Cavan. He has transformed Meath defence. Carrying on great tradition of Meath full backs Paddy O Brien Jack Quinn Mick lyons and Darren Fay. Kevin Reilly and Conor McGill were quality Meath full backs, but great Meath full backs are best in Ireland and Rafferty is definitely best full back in this years championship. The battle between Michael Murphy and Sean Rafferty could have huge impact on game. Murphy is Donegal greatest ever player and one of the greatest forwards ever to come out of Ulster. Donegal have allot threats upfront. Donegal will try stop Costello Morris. Meath need big games from Frayne Duke and kinsella
I think Frayne and kinsella will stand up. We bear Dubs without Jordan Morris he was injured and we beat kerry without Costello, he was injured. I think Eoghan Frayne for Meath and Gallen for Donegal could have huge impact on game, especially Michael Murphy & Jordan Morris kept

Donegal as said  I are strong favourites and deservedly so. But Meath have a real chance of upset.

[Dunneroyal]

7 days and counting. Bring em on

[greatpoint]

Billy what ever happened to Colm O'Rourke's Hollywood backroom team you were telling us about a few years ago?

[thejuice]

A few things about Colm O'Rourkes tenure.

Even after winning the TC his coaching team walked away. Apparently because they weren't being listened to. A handful of good young players walked away too.

Colm by some accounts I've heard didn't believe in modern coaching or "systems". His approach was to let the players figure it out themselves. Dublin league match comes to mind where this approach was badly found out and Colm denied that he was even taking that approach to the game no matter how obvious it was.

At the end of his 2 years the players were asked if they would support extending his contract and the answer was a resounding'No'.

[Dunneroyal]

A few things about Colm O'Rourkes tenure.

Even after winning the TC his coaching team walked away. Apparently because they weren't being listened to. A handful of good young players walked away too.

Colm by some accounts I've heard didn't believe in modern coaching or "systems". His approach was to let the players figure it out themselves. Dublin league match comes to mind where this approach was badly found out and Colm denied that he was even taking that approach to the game no matter how obvious it was.

At the end of his 2 years the players were asked if they would support extending his contract and the answer was a resounding'No'.

His obsession with Cora Stauntons remarks that Meath went man to man, his denial of that (which was obviously total fantasy for all to see). He even referenced it when the played Kerry well over a year later and decided to go full ultra defensive playing at home with a strong wind in the first half. An dlead to a humiliating defeat. What really did it for him though was his running down of the players saying none of them were a David Clifford or a con ocallaghan. He said he needed another 5 years for them to be competitive (not win anything but competitive) the survey of players at year end when he demanded that their names be put to it to try and intimidate them into saying nothing negative or else back fired when cb to their credit said no it can be without names. The feedback was damming, over 90% said that he should not continue, that his methods were outdated and the players had a total disconnect with management, to such a extent that they organised training sessions on their own to try and improve their play. The nail in his coffin though was when a question that wasn't on the survey was added by the players. Will you make yourself available for next year under Colm ? The answer was a resounding no.
The cb who had handed out a lot of expenses for this set up became very worried, the sponsors could walk, there  was serious concern in cb. They needed to give a legend of Meath football an out, they advised him to walk. He didn't, they then refused to ratify without selectors that Colm said he had. They called his bluff. And won.
The cb in Meath gets a lot of abuse majority of it rightly so. But on this dare I say they saved Meath football. Without doubt we would be in division 3 and beaten out of TC if he had remained.

[Captain Scarlet]

It's amazing how much a coach can set teams back and on the flip turn things round. The new rules are definitely suiting Meath and teams with good forwards more.
In Kildare we left things fester too long with a legendary player and the final year really did serious damage to a squad with potential. I do think Meath have far more up front than we do.

On the flip the new rules also work to make space for hard direct runs and Donegal have plenty of those, and lads who can loop round to finish.

I know some might say it's early in the Meath development but things are there to be won. It's giving a scorcher so the fitness levels and the subs will need to be on it.

Fancy Donegal by 4+ but you never know if Meath get their 2-pointers flowing.

[Orior]

Who is playing in the preliminary match in Croke Park on Sunday?

[Dunneroyal]

Who is playing in the preliminary match in Croke Park on Sunday?

Junior football final. Kilkenny v

[Blowitupref]

Who is playing in the preliminary match in Croke Park on Sunday?

Junior football final. Kilkenny v

New York v Warwickshire  and Kilkenny v London semi finals on Friday in Abbottstown and the two winners play in the final on Sunday at 1:30pm.  Can't imagine many Meath and Donegal fans will be rushing in to watch that?

[Orior]

Who is playing in the preliminary match in Croke Park on Sunday?

Junior football final. Kilkenny v

New York v Warwickshire  and Kilkenny v London semi finals on Friday in Abbottstown and the two winners play in the final on Sunday at 1:30pm.  Can't imagine many Meath and Donegal fans will be rushing in to watch that?

It doesn't give fans of the four participating counties much time to decide to go to the final. Must be just  jolly / reward for the footballers.

[ardtole]

Any loyal fan will be there on Friday regardless

[Dunneroyal]

Who is playing in the preliminary match in Croke Park on Sunday?

Junior football final. Kilkenny v

New York v Warwickshire  and Kilkenny v London semi finals on Friday in Abbottstown and the two winners play in the final on Sunday at 1:30pm.  Can't imagine many Meath and Donegal fans will be rushing in to watch that?

Not many rushing but I'd say a fair few will get in for last 15 minutes.
I was hoping for tc final.