15 for 30 is a weekly GAA series where we ask the public to vote for different counties' best teams of the last 30 years, alternating between football and hurling every week. We will tally the votes over the course of the week revealing the county's top XV, as voted by you. With the new poll being launched each Monday, 15 for 30 also features a weekly podcast with a personality from within the county in question to give their best 15 and their thinking behind the selection.
We've already picked the best XV of Donegal footballers and Waterford hurlers. This week we're back with football, focusing on the Meath footballers. We spoke to current Meath footballer Sean Tobin about his selection, which consists of players he "played with, had experiences with" or players he had seen "in the flesh" when he went to Croke Park during his youth.
The majority of Sean's votes include players from the second wave of brilliant players from the Sean Boylan era - the All-Ireland winners of 1996 and 1999 - while players who have stuck around during the current transition period get a worthy place in this Meath team.
You can listen and subscribe to the full podcast here, or listen below, and you can vote for your Meath 15 for 30 below. The winning team will be revealed on Saturday.
You can vote on your team below until Saturday, or email your team to thegaffer@balls.ie, or message us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Sean Tobin's Meath 15 for 30:
1. Paddy O'Rourke
Goalkeeper - 2009 - 2017
Honours:
Leinster Championship: 2011
What Sean said:
"Paddy was a passionate man and he was somewhat controversial. He got his fair share of red cards as a keeper and I think that overshadowed his quality as a keeper because he won a Leinster in 2010, he actually represented the country in International Rules.
He was considered the best keeper in the country at one time and I played with Paddy for years and to this day I'd say he's still one of the best kick passers of a ball I've ever played with."
2. Mark O'Reilly
Honours:
Cornerback - 1995 - 2006
All-Ireland Championship: 1996, 1999
Leinster Championship: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001
All Stars: 1999
What Sean said:
"He was always a player I enjoyed watching in Croke Park. He was always going to give his marker the fill of it, he was the type of corner back no one liked marking. Two-time All-Ireland winner, he won man of the match in the 99 All-Ireland Final. He was utterly fearless and a ferocious competitor."
3. Darren Fay
Fullback - 1996 - 2008
Honours:
All Ireland Championships: 1996, 1999
Leinster Championship: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001
All Star: 1996, 1999, 2001
4. Mickey Burke
Cornerback - 2004 - present
Honours:
Leinster Championship: 2010
What Sean said:
"Before Donal Keogan came onto the scene Mickey was Meath's go-to man. He actually played Meath football from 2004 to 2019. I think he has over 130 appearances for Meath in league and championship. He won a Leinster in 2010.
Mickey has a bit of a cult following around the county and I think behind the tattoos and mad hairstyles Mickey would be what sportspeople would call the perfect professional; he eats, sleeps and breathes Meath football. He had a massive influence on my career, he was always a great mentor."
5. Seamus Kenny
Wingback - 2001 - 2014
Honours:
Leinster Championship: 2001, 2010
What Sean said:
"He played for Meath for 15 years. He made his debut in 2001 and hung up the boots in 2014. He's a clubman of mine and he's a guy I looked up to when I was very young; he kinda took me under his wing, he's extremely dedicated and a great mentor.
I know firsthand what quality of player he is. He was extremely versatile, a wizard on the ball. He won a Leinster in 2010 and captained Meath in 2011 and 2012 so I'll give 'five' to Seamus."
6. Donal Keogan
Centreback - 2012 - present
What Sean said:
"I've played with Keogy for the past seven or eight years and in that time he's been the county's best and most consistent player. His application and dedication to the game is second to none.
It's no secret that Meath have been in a state of transition for the past seven or eight years and I think Donal is one of the main reasons why we've gotten back to division one. He's now joint-captain of the team, he was nominated for an All Star last year and I think he was actually unlucky not to get it."
7. Hank Traynor
Wingback - 1998 - 2004
Honours:
All-Ireland Championships : 1999
Leinster Championships: 1999, 2001
What Sean said:
"If I was going to war, he's probably the one man I'd bring with me. He was an All-Ireland winner in 1999. He's a really tough, tough footballer.
I remember when I was 17 and in one of my first training sessions for Simonstown seniors I went in on Hank and he went through me for a shortcut. I used to hate marking him. He definitely toughened me up as a young lad. He's a pure warrior, he plays with plenty of heart and he's a player that everyone wants on their team."
8. John McDermott
Midfield - 1991 - 2001
Honours:
All-Ireland Championships: 1996, 1999
Leinster Championships: 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001
National League: 1994
All Stars: 1998, 1999
9. Brian Menton
Midfield - 2010 - present
Honours:
Leinster Championship: 2010
What Sean said:
"It's important to note the lads who have stayed with Meath football during transition and have got us back near top flight. That's why I'm going to pick Brian Menton. He's currently joint captain of the Meath team with Keogy. He was nominated last year for an All Star.
He's one of my longest county teammates. Myself and himself have played on every team for Meath since we were 16 years of age. We're now 29 and we're still going to training together so there's sentimental value. He's a very athletic man, he's ruthless at kicking scores on the run and he's another key ingredient for where we are today. He's a fantastic teammate."
10. Evan Kelly
Wingforward - 1995 - 2007
Honours:
All-Ireland Championships: 1996, 1999
Leinster Championships: 1996, 1999, 2001
All Star: 2001
What Sean said:
"He's a two-time All-Ireland winner and won an All Star in 2001. In my first adult game for Simonstown, I wore 13 and Evan wore 15 and he came over to me before the game and I was a bit nervous. I had never spoken a word to him in my life. I was thinking 'what is this man going to say to me?' Is he gonna say 'keep it simple' or 'pass the ball to me'.
But what he said was: 'if you get that ball, you turn onto your left and swing. Don't mind me or any other eejit on this team, you turn and swing. And if it goes wide, what about it? You get it again and swing again.'"
11. Tommy Dowd
Centreforward - 1990 - 2001
Honours:
All-Ireland Championships: 1996, 1999
Leinster Championships: 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999
National League: 1994
All Stars: 1991, 1994, 1995
12. Trevor Giles
Wingforward - 1994 - 2005
Honours:
All-Ireland Championships: 1996, 1999
U21 All-Ireland Championships: 1993
Minor All-Ireland Championships: 1992
Leinster All-Irelands: 1996, 1999, 2001
All Stars: 1997, 1999
Footballer of the Year: 1999
What Sean said:
"One of the best footballers of his generation, has won every medal in the game. He's won a Minor All-Ireland, a U21 All-Ireland, two Senior All-Irelands, he's three All Stars and he won Footballer of the Year twice.
He was an all-round class act and someone I aspired to be growing up, I always aspired to be like Trevor Giles."
13. Ollie Murphy
Cornerforward - 1995 - 2006
Honours:
All-Ireland Championships: 1996, 1999
Leinster Championships: 1996, 1999, 2001
All Star: 2001
14. Graham Geraghty
Fullforward - 1991 - 2012
Honours:
All-Ireland Championships: 1996, 1999
Leinster Championships: 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2010
U21 All-Ireland Championship: 1993
Minor All-Ireland Championship: 1992
National League: 1994
All Stars: 1994, 1999
What Sean said:
"Like Giles, he's won every medal in the game, the Minor, the U21 and two Senior titles at country level and he captained the 99 team, two All Stars. He is an athletic powerhouse, he has pure natural ability and he's just brilliant to watch. He was always a fan favourite. I suppose you couldn't pick a Meath team without Graham Geraghty.
15. Stephen Bray
Cornerforward - 2005 - 2015
Honours:
Leinster Championship: 2010
All Star: 2007
What Sean said:
"He's another fella who took me under his wing and I got to be fairly close with him ... He's probably the best player that I ever played with. His consistency over the years is incredible, probably the best forward I've ever seen to show for the ball. [He was] just a great servant to Meath football."
