U21 Leinster Championship Meath Scouting report

Meath Under 21

v Louth 

Scouting report.

I regretted not doing one of these last season and swore I'd do one for this year. The more information and familiarity we have on our opponents the better. Here goes.



1. Andy Colgan (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
In Meath's Fitzsimons cup panel early on in the season.
Large presence. Booming Kickout.

 

2. Simon Carty,(Dunderry) 3. Conor McGill,(Rathoath) 4. David McQuillan(Pats)
Both corner backs played in this fixture last year, While McGill is the first of the Ratoath crew, he is a real leader, 2011 minor captain. Conor Grimes will certainly have the size and strength to cause problems and then hopefully Burns and Doyle can work off this platform.


5. Padraig Harnan, 6. Shane Melia, 7.Shane McEntee;
Two UCD men play at wingback. Looks to be a very hardworking line. What they lack in flair they make up in mobility.
Quigley and Mckeever on our wings will have to be on their toes.

8. Adam Flanagan (Clonard), 9. Conor Sheridan (Simonstown);
Out and Out power houses, Flanagan can play abit too. While Sheridan has featured for Meath earlier this season.

10.Charles Brogan(Carnaross), 11.Bobby O'Brien (Ratoath), 12.Neil Shortall (Curraha);
Bobby O'Brien played full forward last year and moves out to the forty. 
He is the key to their forwards being from Rataoth he will look to link up with his whole Ratoath full forward line. Man Mark him and frustrate him and we frustrate their supply. He also lacks size so our CB be it Brodigan or Reilly can attack opposing kickouts as well as being an option for our own.

On the wings Captain Shortall (left footer) will play the defensive role as he played wing back for the under21's last season, Brogan a natural midfielder is on the other wing. Hopefully Gers man Sean Thornton who is a forward by trade can cause him problems going forward from half back.

13. Eamon Wallace (Ratoath), 14. Bryan McMahon (Ratoath),15. Joey Wallace (Ratoath). 
The Wallace brothers in each corner pose a huge threat to us. How we handle their pace is going to be interesting. Don't be surprised if eldest and Starman Eamon starts further out the field and attack us from deep. McMahon (white boot merchant) started in the corner last season and he is their free taker also.
They lack height, so we can afford to play in front and risk a high ball over the top. We need to apply pressure on their Half backline stopping the supply at source.

Their Form in 2014
Meath were able to play in the Hastings cup for the first time this year.

In their Group they beat
Wicklow 2-18 to 1-6, 
Leitrim 1-12 to 13
and 
Tipperary

Semi final 
They beat Longford 0-8 to 0-5

Final 
They lost to Roscommon
13 to 1-3

 
Quick Recap

7 played in this fixture last season.
Carty, McQuillan, Sheridan, Shortall, O'Brien, Eamonn Wallace and McMahon

3 Players  are part of the current meath senior panel.
Eamonn Wallace, Padraig Harnan and Bryan McMahon.

7 in total of this team have played with the seniors this season.
The 3 above with Colgan,McQuillan McEntee, and Sheridan



Backboned by a good Ratoath underage side, 5 players in total and like last season they provide the whole full forwardline! 
 
Conclusion

They will be fluid. They will be mobile but, if we clogg up the D force them wide, stop the supply at source we have a chance.

We will have to work extremely hard especially across the midfield to do so.

Turing them over, frustrating them will take discipline and Luckily, we have the reliver option of a long ball to Grimes at full forward if needs be. We can utilise his ball winning strength inside. It is the perfect ploy to our counter attacking gameplan.
 
Thanks for reading, Hope it helps

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