Saturday, O’Connor Park, Tullamore, 3.30pm, (Ref: Joe McQuillan, Cavan)
Latest from the medics and management…There’s just the one Laois change and given their shooting troubles in that close-run game in Carrick-on-Shannon, it’s a little surprising it’s an alteration in defence as Darren Strong comes in at wing-back, taking the place of Pádraig McMahon. At the other end of the field, the attack again remains settled with Colm Kelly continuing to impress, and that means there’s still no role for MJ Tierney who will get to add to his considerable bench time.
LAOIS: Eoin Culliton (Timahoe); Cahir Healy (Portlaoise), Kevin Meaney (Arles-Kilcruise), Jamie Kavanagh (Stradbally); Darren Strong (Emo), John O’Loughlin (St Brigid’s), Conor Boyle (Portlaoise); Brendan Quigley (Timahoe), Colm Begley (Parnells); Ross Munnelly (Arles-Kilcruise), Billy Sheehan (Emo), Gary Walsh (Ballylinan); Damien O’Connor (Timahoe), Padraig Clancy (Timahoe), Colm Kelly (Stradbally).
Stephen Bray is out through injury and is replaced by Cian Ward but unless Banty was bluffing last week there’ll be at least one more switch in personnel and several positional changes. Last Sunday, the manager talked about Kevin Reilly’s season being in jeopardy due to an Achilles injury. If he goes, the standard reshuffle has been to move Bryan Menton into full-back with Eoghan Harrington taking his place at wing-back.
MEATH SF: David Gallagher (St.Peters Dunboyne); Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), Kevin Reilly (NavanO’Mahonys), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Donnacha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels), Shane McAnarney (Clann na nGael), Micky Burke (Longwood); Conor Gillespie (Summerhill), Brian Meade (Rathkenny); Alan Forde (Navan O’Mahonys), Damien Carroll (Ballinabrackey), Graham Reilly (St.Colmcilles); Brian Farrell (Nobber), Joe Sheridan (Seneschalstown), Cian Ward (Wolfe Tones).
Checking the odds…Only one provincial final loser has ever gotten the better of the six-day turnaround but that doesn’t stop Meath being priced at 1/2 while Laois are 2/1. Meath are two-point favourites in the handicap market while on a side note, Joe Sheridan is 11/2 for first goalscorer. You’ve been warned.
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Clues from the form guide…Meath seem to have turned around their season and are unrecognisable from the side that fell from Division Two and sensationally, very nearly fell against Carlow. They were excellent against Kildare, and even though Dublin were worth more than their three-point win in the Leinster final, Meath were still very good for long spells of the second half.
As for Laois, we need far more proof to believe that they have turned a corner. Yes, they were surprisingly good against Monaghan and yes, they did just enough against Leitrim, but each of those wins must be taken in perspective and the standard of the opposition has to be taken into account. As for head-to-head, it took a replay for Meath to prevail on their way to a Leinster crown in 2010.
Meath’s Joe Sheridan. Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
The game breakers are…Joe Sheridan and how to and where to contain him. His speedy return to form after returning from the States has been exceptional and he is what will make this Meath side tick. If he can trouble Laois close to goal not only can he take a score himself, but he has the ability to attract other defenders and that will create room for the in-form Brian Farrell and Cian Ward.
If that happens and Graham Reilly keeps breaking and opening up space from deep, there’s the potential for a big score. And given their full-back line, Laois will need to hope to take over in centrefield, have Reilly chasing Brendan Quigley rather than the other way around and have Colm Begley getting above Conor Gillispie. In that scenario, then Sheridan may be called into the centre where he’s still immense but at least he’s further from the posts.
Gazing into the crystal ball…Last Sunday, the press pack left Banty’s press conference pumped up by his words. He was that adamant that his side would win this and be back in a quarter-final. If he has his players that pumped then there’s no reason why they can’t advance because they have the better team, particularly if Donal Keoghan continues his remarkable rise and Donnacha Tobin and Damien Carroll hit the highs they did against Kildare.
They certainly have far greater scoring power as Laois for a couple of seasons now have failed to impress in front of the posts and even if they look to finally have bought into Justin McNulty’s defensive set-up, it won’t be enough. In fact they’ll have to dominate possession to create enough chances to match Meath and we just cannot see that happening.
Verdict… Meath by four
Join us tomorrow afternoon as we go live from Tullamore with minute-by-minute updates of Meath v Laois from 3.30pm.
When Laois beat Meath the 6 day turn around will be used as an excuse. They were no good against the dubs and only came in to the game cos the dubs eased off soooo much. 3 times in the 1st half reilly pulled his man down just outside the square and wasn’t even ticked for it, so despite the refs best efforts to keep them in the game and dublin going asleep…. they still couldn’t get the game close enough for big Joe to dive over the line and steal the cup back…….
Yeah good man there Tom your expert analysis would put Brolly, O’Rourke and Spillane to shame. If you don’t like Meath then don’t watch them and better still don’t comment on them either your only upsetting your poor little self.
Like has nothing to do with it Richie, they are a 3rd div side and that is the reality, I suggest you take off the rose coloured specks….. Laois will show you today as they won’t ease off the way the dubs did when they had it won……
Eh Richie, how about sneering my analysis now ??????/ Meath are crap, a half decent show against a Kildare side that didn’t show up and that was it for your year……. off to div 3 and start from there
Tom what you spout is not analysis, in fact your knowledge of the game I would say at best is questionable. You don’t like Meath so obviously you are now a happy man and bless your little cotton socks if that’s what makes you happy. We will start life again in division 3 with the many young footballers who were brought on this year and we will await the draw for next years championship as eagerly as ever and I along with many others will travel the lenght and breath to support them. Will you do thd same for your team Tom?? I hope you do it might open your eyes a little
Laois deserved to win but to read the crap you throw out is painful . Let’s just say your journey will be ending next week. Meath where poor but loose the cynical shit and Laois might get some respect.
Ciaran there was a lot of nonsense talked after the meath dublin game. Meath are a poor side who played one half decent game against kildare who were disappointing. I’m not surprised it’s painful for you, as they say the truth hurts + it’s never easy to see your team play s*it. I’m not a laois supporter but I think they will make it to the semi’s.
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MON THE ROYALS!!! :-)
Come on Laois!!!!
Meath will have to stop hand-passing and kicking away possession; they will have to make the ball travel instead of running around like coursed hares.
I hope both teams play FOOTball and not the pansy-passing game.
And, may the best FOOTballing team win.
When Laois beat Meath the 6 day turn around will be used as an excuse. They were no good against the dubs and only came in to the game cos the dubs eased off soooo much. 3 times in the 1st half reilly pulled his man down just outside the square and wasn’t even ticked for it, so despite the refs best efforts to keep them in the game and dublin going asleep…. they still couldn’t get the game close enough for big Joe to dive over the line and steal the cup back…….
Tom your clutching at straws I think. Anyone else you want to blame?
Yeah good man there Tom your expert analysis would put Brolly, O’Rourke and Spillane to shame. If you don’t like Meath then don’t watch them and better still don’t comment on them either your only upsetting your poor little self.
Like has nothing to do with it Richie, they are a 3rd div side and that is the reality, I suggest you take off the rose coloured specks….. Laois will show you today as they won’t ease off the way the dubs did when they had it won……
Eh Richie, how about sneering my analysis now ??????/ Meath are crap, a half decent show against a Kildare side that didn’t show up and that was it for your year……. off to div 3 and start from there
Tom what you spout is not analysis, in fact your knowledge of the game I would say at best is questionable. You don’t like Meath so obviously you are now a happy man and bless your little cotton socks if that’s what makes you happy. We will start life again in division 3 with the many young footballers who were brought on this year and we will await the draw for next years championship as eagerly as ever and I along with many others will travel the lenght and breath to support them. Will you do thd same for your team Tom?? I hope you do it might open your eyes a little
Laois deserved to win but to read the crap you throw out is painful . Let’s just say your journey will be ending next week. Meath where poor but loose the cynical shit and Laois might get some respect.
Ciaran there was a lot of nonsense talked after the meath dublin game. Meath are a poor side who played one half decent game against kildare who were disappointing. I’m not surprised it’s painful for you, as they say the truth hurts + it’s never easy to see your team play s*it. I’m not a laois supporter but I think they will make it to the semi’s.
I’ll take my prediction of Laois getting to semi’s back, I thought they got Mayo
Brian Menton
Nope, tis definitely Bryan.