Meath v Fermanagh Official Thread

[Jinxy]

Well what do we think the changes will be for this one? Defence was very solid, midfield a bit dodgy and the forwards surprisingly weren't great in Newry. Will Graham be back next Saturday evening? Have to say I was encouraged by Coyles attitude with regard to the possibility of Grahams return to the panel in his interview after the match. To be honest, we need him. Fermanagh folk, you are a bit of a bogey team for us so you'd have to fancy your chances.

[Hardy]

I was encouraged by Coyles attitude with regard to the possibility of Grahams return to the panel in his interview after the match.

Can you elaborate there Jinxy? What did he say?

[meathie]

Yea I was surprised Coyle was so serene about it. After all the comments during the week and he decideing that the case was more or less close, he then says well the door is always open for Graham?? I was abitconfused I must say. If the door is always open and Geraghty apologised then why wasnt he playing on saturday? I dont know if bringing him back for next game will unsettle the team mentality. According to one of the senior players, they all met as said last week and it was the team who told  managemnet that they were not happy sharing a dressing room with Graham. we shall see....... anyway with regard to saturday, yes Jinxy I agree, midfield are poor. I dont have much time for Crawford Im afraid. Maybe woprth giving Donegan or McCarthy a try, neither super but cant be much worse than Crawford IMO. Hopefully the Fermanagh hoo doo will be lifeted on saturday. Think home advantage was crucial for us.

[Jinxy]

I have reached the conclusion that our best team has Anthony Moyles at midfield. He has an unbelievable engine so he can still help out in defense yet also get forward when the opportunity arises to pick off a score. We have not done at all well at midfield for the last 2 games. I think it's time to bite the bullet and drop Crawford. It's a pity we can't clone Moylesy. He's the sort of player that when you see him with possession you have total confidence he will do something constructive with it. Always gives 100%.

[tintin25]

Tough game for the Erne lads. Was good to actually get a win this year, though having listened to most commenters, the match in Clones yday wasn't great and both teams were poor with Fermanagh only marginally better! Any Fermanagh folk at the game to confirm this? Anyways, a win is a win and whilst heading to Navan will be tough I have no doubt that Fermanagh have a chance. We're not big scorers but we've got a good defense and I think we can keep tabs on Farrell, Bray et al. I thought Meath looked good against the Dubs and to hold Down to one score from play was pretty impressive also though to be fair, that Down team is going nowhere!

[Jinxy]

What did they say about Louth?

[meathie]

Yea wouldnt mind giving Moyles a go at midfield myself. and bring on McLoughlin in half forwards. I know I couldnt believe myself how the panel last night were all sympathy for Geraghty. the same panel who slated his behaviour a few weeks back ( bar McStay, Im sure he wouldnt have been so sweet ) The player meeting was rubbished alright but this came from a Meath player who said that they were asked and said they didnt want him in the dressing room. Id say Coyle acted from that and claimed it was management decision but even by the way he was last night Id say he'd like to have him back. Jinxy, The panel were going on about how a group of Louth and Cavan lads left the panel to travel etc and its a disgrace and makes a mockery of the qualifiers. wonder will the game be at seven or abit earlier to accomodate the Fermanagh crowd. Fermanagh fans, will alot travel for this?

[ExiledGael]

Sadly didn't see the Fermanagh match as I was knee deep in shit in Punchestown but delighted to get a win at last, but by all accounts Wexford were woeful.
I'd say Fermanagh will take a few thousand down, most worried about the midfield battle, totally lost woithout McGrath, and McBarron is nowhere near fit after injury.
Have full confidence in the defence and think we could scrape a win if the forwards can get a few scores and win plenty of frees for O'Reilly, any word of the referee?

[FermPundit]

The midfield battle will be crucial on Saturday. McBarron did rightly in the first half but he was stuggling for fitness after about 30 mins. Womble has established himself at inter-county level. We are missing Martin McGrath but to be honest he was also sturggling for fitness this year. I suspect that James Sherry will partner Womble in midfield from the start on Saturday and McBarron will be brought on for the last 25-30 mins.

Our defence was outstanding on Sunday. Particularly impressive was the ever reilable Barry Owens and Shane Goan. We'll give any side a game as our defence will always keep things tight. The forwards performed well at the weekend but some of the wides they hit were shocking. If we are to have any chance of defeating Meath we need to take all opportunities that come our way. We've shown over the last few seasons that we have nothing to fear from Meath and I think we def have a chance of winning this weekend.

[ExiledGael]

Where was James Sherry playing on Sunday?
Doherty is bound to start surely
Did Keenan do enough to keep his place?

[FermPundit]

James Sherry started at full forward but he reverted to midfield in the second half when McBarron was taken off. Ryan Keenan did well. He got 2 points from play and he'll keep his place at the weekend. Shaun Doc came on for Ciaran McElroy late in the game and I reckon he might start as he his physcial presence will probably be needed against a strong Meath defence.

[Hound]

I think the win last week will bring Fermanagh on. In any event they are superior to Down. I was confident Meath would beat Down, not so sure they'll do it this week. The Geraghty saga can't be helping preparations. For example, its impossible to believe that training last night could have been as focused as it would have been had their been no Geraghty saga.  But playing in Navan should be an advantage to Meath, and Farrell's due a good game. So I'm expecting a close game, the winner being whoever holds their bottle at the end to kick the winning scores.

If I was Meath I'd be very slow to take Moyles out of the centre back position. IMO the midfield problem they have now isnt as bad as the centre back problem they would create. But give licence to Moyles to make maurading runs when the opportunity arises, with instructions to the midfielders to cover for him when it happens.

[inisceithleann]

Fermanagh lads, do you think Mulgrew will keep faith with the same 15 that started against wexford. If Tom Brew is carrying an injury would it not be a good option to play him at full forward and move O'Reilly to the corner. Although this would mean that McElroy would lose out, he isn't really a scoring threat. Tom Brew gives the option of the long ball into what is a small forward line and of course we would then have a recognised left footed free taker on the park. However, Shaun Doc is another viable option. He did very well when he came on, but he awlays seems to do better as an impact sub than when he starts.

[FermPundit]

I also suspect that if Tom Brewster is fit he'll start at CH forward with Ciaran O'Reilly going to corner forward. There is no real pressure on Fermanagh this saturday as although they won last weekend overall it's been a disappointing season. Meath will be hoping to go on a good run in the qualifiers and they'll see Saturday's tie as a must win game. Hopefully there'll be a good crowd and a good atmosphere down in Navan.

Meath people, I hear they are doing roadworks in Navan at the moment. What time would you need to be arriving into the town to get to the ground and parked for a 7 o'clock throw in?

[ExiledGael]

You're right about Brewster FermPundit he's in at centre half forward alright with James Sherry surprisingly the man losing out, you know what Charlie's like though, pinch of salt.
That's the only change in the team named