Meath v Cavan

[navanman]

Oh No.

Although it's not quite time to start the 'bring back Barry' campaign, I've never been more depressed as a Meath supporter leaving a match.

Yes we were missing Crawford, GG TD and Bray, but the most worrying aspect for me is the reversion to limited players already tried and discarded by previous regimes. Michael Burke continues to look like a player that won a competition in the Chronicle to play for his county. What people see in Peadar Byrne is beyond me. Rory Maguire didn't get a kick. The two new Rathkenny boys were quiet, but in fairness to them it was their first time out and they need experience.

The most disappointing aspect for me is that the players that seemed to be making progress last year have been either discarded or dropped - I'm thinking Peter Curran, Mairtin Doran, Barry Lynch (not even on the panel I believe), Niall McLoughlin (although he came on as sub). How Mark Ward isn't one of the first names on the team sheet I don't know.

The less said about the match the better - outplayed, outfought, Meath were shapeless and clueless. Only Moyles and our goalie stood above the morass, although young Eoin Harrington showed enough to indicate why he won player of the year in Meath last year and could be a real prospect.

The forwards were badly off colour, Farrell and Sheridan won a lot of ball, but wasted it.

To summarise on the team:

Murphy - class act, always assured
King & McKeigue - we know they are both too loose to be corner backs - why are we persisting with him
Fay - Welcome back - didn't have too much to do
Kenny - How long must this go on?
Reilly - OK, but gave too many frees away
Harrington - a welcome addition
Moyles - good performance, but patently not a midfielder - perhaps a centre forward a la Cassells ?
Donegan - quiet
Byrne & Burke - ran and ran, but most often without the ball, and when they had it wasted it
Meade - big presence, good goal, little else
Farrell & Sheridan - lot of ball ,wasted most of it, no evidence of a plan or pattern of pla
Maguire - didn't get a kick

Things improved significantly when Mark Ward came on at midfield and started kicking long balls in the full forward line, McLoughlin also looked good in the half forwards and Cian Ward didn't get too much ball.

For the next game, to see some progress I'd like to see Ward and Crawford at midfield, Moyles at Centre forward, Sheridan Full Forward with Bray and Farrell in the corners. McLoughlin and Curran as half forwards. Half back line of King, Reilly and Harrington and Full Back line of Fay and two others that would have to be found before Sunday.

One other thing  - anyone else surprised that the likes of Alan Nestor and Shane O'Rourke are not getting a call from Coyler?

[lynchbhoy]

are burke and maguire two longwood lads - if so then they wouldnt be too hot.
I'd almost agree with you assessment on winning a comp in the chronicle to play for Meath.

Dont think its as bad as you reckon.
Cavan are decent, have been training for a while now and Meath still have a lot of good lads I would expect to be drafted back in.
If not, then I would be a touch worried..

[The Bottom Brick]

Can anyone post the irish News report of this?

[The Claw]

navanman, I feel your pain, however, just think, the last couple of seasons, Meath have started the year with a bang, winning the O Byrne Cup, everyone every optimistic only to flop in the championship? i think the management are building the team up gradually, and hey,its not a bad result to draw with Cavan playing terribly. When Dudley Farrell was with the minors last year, they were getting hockeyed in the challenge games but when it came to championship, they did well.
I think the likes of Rory Maguire and Cian Ward could have a good season this year. I'd prefer to see King out in the half back line where he can use his brain, Im glad Reilly is away from the full back line, where he can be troubled by pace and Harrington is a very good player.

[Hardy]

I was fairly depressed with Navanman's report, because it seems to confirm my worst impressions. And of course they can only be impressions at this stage, but I've seen or heard nothing inspirational from Colm Coyle yet - nothing to make me think 'yes, this man is spot on and we're off in the right direction'. I know that's a bit unfair, and it's not me he has to inspire, but I'd expect a few things from a new setup - mainly new faces and a discernible game plan. There seem to be few of the former and Navanman's report of the absence of the latter is depressing if true.

Let's hope The Claw is right. I don't care if we lose every league match, as long as we get it right in May. I remember the league of '96. But then that just reminds me that we had Seán Boylan then and prompts the depressing thought that there's no guarantee that we'll ever get another manager capable of taking us back to the top again. And without such a man, it will never happen. But let's be optimistic – Colm may be the messiah for all we know yet.

It's great to see Darren back. Does anyone know if there's any chance of getting Trevor to reconsider and what about Ollie Murphy? I know I said we need new faces, but that's to replace the tried-and-failed, not the tried-and-proven.

[BallyhaiseMan]

Hardy
I remember hearing Ollie Murphy was outstanding for Meath in a challenge Match against Down a week or two ago... suprised and glad he wasnt playing.

[Star Spangler]

Yous need to bring Boylan back.

[Rossi]

Wasn't Murphy listed among the subs on the programme?

[navanman]

Yes Murphy was a sub, and many were surprised he wasn't brought on. Perhaps with Joe Sheridan in the full forward line they thought they had enough excess weight on display?