Meath Forum

Looking Ahead

(Oldest Posts First)

Forgive me if I just focus on the Senior Championship for now - but looking ahead to 2025

Dunshaughlin - a young team with some highly talented players - will be hard to dethrone as long as they keep their focus. I'd say they will be the early favourites

Wolfe Tones - could have won yesterday and will probably feel like they should have. never easily beaten but some of their key men are getting on. Have some young guys coming through but doubt they will go as far next year!

Skryne - Mick O'Dowd has done a great job and they also have some great young talent in their squad. More will be expected of them next year which might in itself be a challenge but could see them in the mix

Dunboyne - they have a big playing pool, a good under age structure and a good team - they will be challengers again for sure I reckon.

Ratoath - Can they manage the dual aspect is a big question! They never fired in eth football this year apart from a hammering of an understrength Rathkenny. Had some injuries, some lads travelling and of course the big win in the hurling. I expect to see another new manager in the football and would be surprised if they aren't big challengers. Their second team won the Premier again so have strength in depth

Summerhill - looked a little jaded this year - but I expect they will be strong contenders next year. Eoghan Frayne is a class act and I think he will only get better.

Simonstown - had a decent year this year and look well placed to build on it. Rumours that COR is going back in - but I would leave the current management as they are for next year. Quarter finalists draw dependant.

St Colmcilles - when are they ever going to get the benefit of all the great minor teams! I think they will be a quarter finalist next year but unless the draw works for them I think that is their limit!

Na Fianna - another team who will be hoping for a favourable draw so that they avoid some of the big guns - but are too good to go down in my view

Gaeil Colmcille - Age has caught up with some of their key men and while stiff hard to play against can't see them being challengers and feel they are likely to end up in the relegation plays offs - draw dependant of course!

Ashbourne - I thought they were unlucky this year - ran close in a few games against Dunshaughlin and Dunboyne - I think they could be challengers every year - and would expect them to go better next year! But I've said that for a fair few years now!

Rathkenny - Likely to be involved in the relegation play offs again - but will have enough to hang on for another year I'd say

Trim - a bit like Ratoath in terms of balancing the hurling and football but don't appear to have the same depth. Can cause teams difficulties but could still see them in the relegation play offs. Lynch and Caulfield on their day can be game changers and they should have no problem in staying Senior

Senechalstown - seem to have had a couple of decent minor teams over the past couple of years - but need a real injection and too have their key men fit. Without Hickey and Finnegan they look lightweight - will be a contender for teh drop but should just about hang on!

Ballinabrackey - Surprised that they only barely stayed up - needing penalties against my lads at the weekend - I expected a little more form them to be honest - not just against us but all year. If they don't click they could be facing another tough year.

Meathhill - great win for them at the weekend - albeit they were favourites. Play nice football and it will be really interesting to see how they go. Some of the recent intermediate teams have found it tough - Curraha, Longwood, Nobber all gone back down - I think Meathhill will find it tough going too and suspect they will be in the relegation play offs!

As for Intermediate - C'mon the Ha!!

Roll on '25 - I far prefer the club football to the county stuff!!!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 511 - 21/10/2024 14:23:54    2576169

Link

Since 2020, below is a breakdown of the teams that played in the knockout stages with number of games played and win percentage.

Ratoath - played 11 - win rate 73%
Tones - played 10 - win rate 70%
Summerhill - played 9 - win rate 56%
Dunboyne - played 5 - win rate 60%
Dunshaughlin - played 4 - win rate 75%
Ashbourne - played 4 - win rate 50%
Na Fianna - played 4 - win rate 25%
Kells - played 4 - win rate 25%
Skryne - played 4 - win rate 25%
Cilles - played 3 - win rate 0%
Trim - played 2 - win rate 0%
Simonstown 2 - played - win rate 0%
Moynalvey - played 1 - win rate 0%

Now if you were to go on stats at the start of championship Dunshaughlin wouldn't have been within an arses roar.

Over the past 5 years Ratoath, Tones and Summerhill have all been very consistent.

It also goes to show all the underage success Cilles have had has amounted to nothing. Made 3 quarter finals and lost them all.

I expect it to be between the above 3, Dunshaughlin and maybe Dunboyne. Just can't see anyone else based on form over the past 5 years.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 402 - 21/10/2024 17:19:32    2576227

Link