U-21 match vs Meath

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Lone Shark
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U-21 match vs Meath

Post by Lone Shark »

"Meath (U21 v. Offaly) - Marcus Brennan, Brian O’Reilly, Tomas O’Connor, Kevin Reilly, Alan Reynolds, Caomhin King, Joe Melia (Capt.), Mark Ward, Paul Murray, Mickey Burke, Joe Sheridan, Ger McCullagh, David Murtagh, Brian Farrell, Cian Ward. Subs - Johnny O’Connor, John Bruton, Terry Farrelly, Francis Murphy, Brian Ennis, Cormac Reilly, Mark Whearty, AN Other, AN Other. "

Now I know these lads were in the minor final three years ago, but you'd still have to be hopeful that if our boys are worth any of the hype, then they should be able for them.

I've heard rumours that although he won't start, Deehan actually took part in a challenge game against Erin Rovers, and would be fit to play some part if needed. Rumours about Niall are still all over the place, but you would hope they wouldn't have to call on him here, certainly not if he's not ready.

Looking at that Meath team above, there are a few areas which are going to be key. Tomás O'Connor has been playing very well over the last twelve months, although he has been out with injury for a while. Certainly we'd need a little more challenge on him than Shane Dooley has looked like providing so far - Thomas Coughlan maybe?

Their half back line is the best line on the pitch for them. Joe Melia is a good footballer, and Caoimhín King has been Meath's best player in the league so far. Our half forwards didn't cover themselves in glory in Kilkenny, although David Egan coming back in should strengthen them, and Tom Fitzpatrick will always keep his man busy if nothing else.

I don't know much about the midfielders, but it's hard to imagine any Meath team going into a game without a 6'3" wall of mahogony wearing 8 or 9. Padraig Bracken is a very hardy footballer, but he'll have to win and spoil a lot of ball to feed Quinn the possession to deliver on to the forwards.

Up front, we all know about Joe Sheridan, but he hasn't been playing well - he got shunted out to the wing from FF against Wicklow because he was being dominated, and you would hope we can do the same. Starting at 11 he'll be on James Keane, which will be a huge deciding factor in the game. Keane should be able for him physically, young and all as he is, and hopefully we'll force Sheridan to chase back towards his own goal on a regular basis. Likewise all Kiely's footballing instinct here could prove vital, assuming he plays in this line.

Ward and Farrell will be the two boys to keep an eye on inside, but Sullivan and Casey are two of the best players on this team, and I'd have every faith in them. Rafferty would be hard pressed to keep a hold on Farrell, but the options for switching are there if need be.

Overall it's a good Meath outfit, but if our lads are half as good as they are cracked up to be, they should be able for them and should progress to the real acid test, against a fantastic looking Leix team.

mykneehurts
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Post by mykneehurts »

I heard last week that Deehan is almost one hundred per cent. It has been nearly seven months (I think) since his operation so he should be ready to play as much as he is needed to at this stage not that I am suggesting that he rush back or anything.

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Deehan

Post by Lone Shark »

Yeah, I'd say it's just match fitness at this stage.

He'll be some boost if he can get back to sharpness though. The more I look at this game, the more I think that barring they eat us alive in Midfield, we should get through ok. Now all I need is a bookies office betting on the match.

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Muck Savage
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what happened

Post by Muck Savage »

Lads
I'm away from home but what happened???? How did they beat us?? Why was Jimmy Pay taken off and scoring 1-5?

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Bord na Mona man
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Post by Bord na Mona man »

Thomas Coughlan was the one taken off and not Jimmy.
We were well in it at half time, having played against the wind, with the score at 1-3 to 0-10.
Both teams had rattled the crossbar in the first half.
Offaly's goal was somewhat fortunate. A Jimmy Coughlan free from distance that held in the wind and dropped in under the bar.

The second half was frustrating. Offaly never managed to get any momentum going.
Often due to continual stoppages for "injuries". We didn't use the wind well. Though with Meath's bigger men cleaning up any long punts, it's hard to lay any blame. We didn't get enough good ball into our inside men.

Niall McNamee looked to be struggling with his injury. He kicked a couple of points while clearly hampered. He was left out in the half forwards for too long as he wasn't fit enough to compete in a sector where Meath were getting the better of us.

In truth Offaly lacked leaders on the pitch. Overall Meath's 15 was weaker than ours, but the difference was, they drew inspiration from Sheridan, Farrell, the two Wards and especially King at centre back.

In hindsight we should have spoiled the game a lot more in the first half when Meath had the wind.

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U-21 match

Post by Lone Shark »

Didn't get around to posting on this earlier, was busy over the weekend. Sorry about that folks....


Very disappointing display in Tullamore. In hindsight having seen the two teams, I'd still say we'd be slightly the better side, but were just badly managed and let ourselves down. That said, neither team looked like they'd have the measure of the Laois team to come, if it's half as good as it's supposed to be.

As you say, the time was the issue. Meath never let our lads get up any momentum, was either unsportsmanly or what we should have done in the first half, depending on your perspective. Brian Farrell also was very quick to go to ground, and needed a specialist defender on him rather than a midfielder. Donoghue should have been brought on a lot earlier, and mightn't have conceded all the frees that left us so far adrift at half time.

Anyway, player by player:

David Lowry Good kickouts, and made a couple of good saves. Certainly couldn't be faulted.

Shane Sullivan Busted himself trying, and generally was quite good. Continued his solid form of 2005, and should make a good contribution to the seniors.

James Rafferty The referee reffed it completely non contact, which did not suit a guy who plays rough and tumble midfield usually, much less marking a gravitationally challenged Meath forward. Was not suited to playing this role, and should have been swapped for O'Donoghue sooner. More than any of us though, he's entitled to bitch about that ref.

Sean Casey
Had his hands very full with Ward all day. Didn't dominate like he can do, and won't be hugely thrilled with his day.

Ciaran Kiely So so performance. He's capable of being a real attacking threat going forward, and he wasn't in this match.

James Keane Was up against Joe Sheridan, which was a huge ask, but won't be happy. Sheridan was all over the pitch and pulled a lot of strings in an attacking sense.

Paul Buckley Generally played quite well. Was up and down the pitch a lot, and was on top of his man the whole was through. A lot more attacks came down Kiely's side.

Joe Quinn Great display from the Clara man, making rubbish of my assertion that he can't catch high ball. Was energetic, usually delivered good ball in, and was one of our best players. His touch still lets him down on occasion though - and it can break your heart when he fumbles a ball away out of nothing.

Padraig Bracken Met his match in that monster he was up against. Bracken was absolutely dwarved, and was not able for it at all. How much of this was down to his illness and how much was down to how good the Meath fella was is the only unknown.

Tom Fitzpatrick Good performance - showed for the ball, was busy, picked up breaks, and can't be faulted.

Niall McNamee Clearly was not fit at all - but was played anyway, and the fact that he kicked two good points probably justified that to a degree - however - Caoimhin King ran riot from centre back, and was the platform on which Meath built most of their attacks. He hoovered up breaks, charged forward, and Niall just couldn't run with him. This was let go for 60 mins, and was ultimately I think why we lost. Management can hang their heads in shame over this. If you must play him unfit, then put him in at FF, where he'll have less distance to run and he won't have as much defensive duty - witness Sunday against Cork - worked a lot better.

Thomas Coughlan Won't be happy. Never featured in the game, and didn't look like a guy who was pushing for the seniors at all.

David Egan Another disappointment - wasn't in a good position to win ball that came into him, and generally didn't get involved until the last quarter. Some would say he did all that you'd expect - I've great time for this lad, and I expected more.

Shane Dooley He's not at this level, and never looked like it. Tried hard, but never looked like he had the tools to make something happen. Amazingly was left on to the end.

Jimmy Coughlan Great display - close call between him and Quinn for our man of the match. Didn't deserve to have that last free hanging over his head, because he nailed all the others. Unlucky to not have a second goal when rattling the crossbar as well.

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